First Down Kentucky: Daikiel Shorts shows off Recruiting Chops

Recruiting is dominating the conversation around Kentucky football. While Eric Wolford received most of the attention following his surprise return to Kentucky, he’s not the only new staffer showing off his recruiting chops.

Daikiel Shorts arrived in Lexington in December to coach Kentucky’s wide receivers. Within a month the former Houston coach is already cultivating those Texas connections to bring big-time players to UK for unofficial visits.

Andrew Marsh and Ja’Kayden Ferguson will be at Rupp Arena to watch the Wildcats take on the Gators after spending the day touring the Kentucky football facilities. Marsh is the No. 19 player in the 2025 class and Ferguson is a rising top 500 talent from the Houston area. Even though recruiting Texas is a little unusual, it is now officially SEC country. Shorts is ensuring Kentucky has a presence in the Long Horn State and he’s starting with a bang.

The Kentucky WRs coach has ties to Texas, but he is originally from New Jersey. He is spending time with Liam Coen working the trail in the Mid-Atlantic. Last week the two new colleagues issued scholarship offers to kids in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, most notably four-star talent Lex Cyrus.

Eric Wolford is Recruiting in Michigan

Kentucky’s new offensive line coach was visiting prospects in the Great Lakes State during his second day on the job. Offensive tackle Jim Harris and IOL Avery Gach were among the players Wolford spent time with on Tuesday.

Even though he was in Michigan, he was still in contact with Blue Chip talents elsewhere. Micah DeBose is a five-star talent and the No. 38 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. Yesterday the offensive lineman from Mobile announced a scholarship offer from Wolford.

The recruiting foundation at Kentucky is built on Vince Marrow‘s success in the Commonwealth and the state of Ohio. To raise the roof and reach a new ceiling, other assistants must branch out to land Blue Chip players from different regions. Shorts and Wolford are taking big swings in their first days on the job.

In-State Recruiting Remains a Priority

You can’t forget where you’re from and that is why Vince Marrow was at Frederick Douglass High School this week. The Cats are keeping a close eye on WR Aveion Chenault. Brad White may have been looking at a wide receiver in western Kentucky. The Kentucky defensive coordinator posed for a photo with coaches in Mayfield, which is about 25 miles from Jeremiah Jones‘ hometown of Murray. I’m curious to see how much Kentucky pursues both players over the next few months.

There is one player close to Lexington who has not received the full-court press from Kentucky. Frankfort Western Hills EDGE Jeveon Campbell is new to the game of football, but his size (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) has drawn interest from schools around the Big Ten and this week Notre Dame issued a scholarship offer.

Senior Bowl Reunion

Jon Sumrall made the short trip from New Orleans to Mobile to do a little networking and reconnect with some of his former players, including a couple of Wildcats, Dru Phillips and Trevin Wallace. Really would have loved to see Trevin develop with a few more years under Sumrall’s tutelage…

Great to see @WallaceTrevin and @AndruPhillips! Proud of the men they have become. pic.twitter.com/ADhWa3lKDH

— Jon Sumrall (@CoachJonSumrall) January 30, 2024

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