Final 2023 Kentucky Football Recruiting Big Board: Offense

We are one week away from the Early Signing Period. A year removed from late recruiting theatrics, this final push for high school football players does not appear to feature as much drama. Still, the Kentucky has a few holes to fill in the 2023 recruiting class.

The Wildcats currently have 15 commits in a class ranked 33rd in America, right around the average for Mark Stoops. Adam Luckett shared the seven defensive players Kentucky is actively pursuing. On offense, the Cats have three tight ends, three receivers and three offensive linemen locked in. Closing on a pair of running backs is of the utmost importance entering the homestretch of the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Trey Cornist

• Measurables: 5-10, 220
• Position: RB
• High School: Cincinnati (OH) Winton Woods
• On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 70 RB (three-star)
• Competition: East Carolina, Kansas State, Louisville, Michigan State, Tulane, and West Virginia

Vince Marrow is a frequent visitor to Winton Woods High School. After a couple of Warrior cornerbacks decided to take their talents to the Big Ten, Kentucky is trying to get their tailback to play football in Lexington. A one-time Georgia Tech commit, the powerful running back tallied more 1,600 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior.

Cornist officially visited Kentucky last month and the Cats appear to be the team to beat. However, Ohio State has been kicking the tires on Cornist ahead of his Dec. 21 decision date.

Jamarion Wilcox

• Measurables: 5-10, 195
• Position: RB
• High School: Douglasville (GA) South Paulding
• On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 40 RB (three-star)
• Competition: Auburn, Ohio State, Clemson

Recently upgraded to the No. 146 prospect overall and No. 9 RB by Rivals, Wilcox rushed for 2,059 yards and 29 touchdowns on 229 carries as a senior. He officially visited Kentucky in October, but Hugh Freeze has made him a priority in his first recruiting class at Auburn. The Tigers offered him in early December, visited Wilcox in-person yesterday and he recently told Auburn Live an official visit will “most likely” follow this weekend.

Kentucky was the first of his finalists to issue him a scholarship offer. The lengthy connection appears to have pushed them ahead of Clemson, but they will have to hold off a late charge by Auburn to secure a signature in the Early Signing Period.

Karmello English

• Measurables: 5-11, 185
• Position: WR
• High School: Phenix City (AL) Central
• On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 191, No. 25 WR (four-star)
• Competition: Auburn, Alabama, Michigan

It felt like Kentucky was the leader for the four-star receiver in the spring. Despite Liam Coen’s departure, Scott Woodward had the Wildcats in a good place following an official visit in June. After taking a visit to Auburn, he announced a commitment date. He delayed it at the eleventh hour, then ultimately decided to commit to Auburn, yet he had second thoughts again and reopened his recruitment a month later.

Michigan feels like Kentucky’s biggest threat, while Alabama looms in the background. Now that Liam Coen is expected to return to Lexington, this could be a second straight UK flip from Auburn on signing day.

Demitrius Bell

• Measurables: 6-0, 175
• Position: WR
• High School: Nashville (TN) McGavock
• On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 396 (four-star)
• Competition: Michigan State, Alabama

Kentucky has developed quite a pipeline in the Nashville area over the last two cycles, particularly with the 7-on-7 group NPA. After producing players like Barion Brown and the Wades, Bell is the latest athlete to take a keen interest in the Cats. He officially visited Lexington in October, not long after decommitting from Michigan State.

Kentucky already has three wide receivers committed in the 2023 recruiting class. There’s room for a slot receiver. Will it be English or Bell? We’ll find out within the next seven days.

William “Woo” Spencer

• Measurables: 6-5, 315
• Position: IOL
• High School: New Albany (IN)
• On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 34 IOL (three-star)
• Competition: Louisville

Woo Spencer was a mainstay at Louisville Male until he moved across the river to Southern Indiana for his senior season of high school football. A two-way player, he has the right tools to play interior offensive line at the next level. Vince Marrow has kept a close relationship with Spencer throughout his recruitment, but Jeff Brohm’s arrival at UofL may throw a wrinkle into things.

Just like Vince Marrow, the new Louisville head coach has an established relationship with Chris Vaughn, Spencer’s trainer at Aspirations Gym. It feels like a battle is brewing between the two schools to see who will stake the primary claim for those prospects in the future, and it all may start with Spencer.