First Down Kentucky: Ohio State is sniffing around on the recruiting trail

Kentucky secured a massive recruiting win this week when Cleveland (Ohio) Heights junior Marquise Davis picked the Wildcats over Michigan. That gave the Wildcats a pair of top-500 recruits in the fold at tailback. Running backs coach Jay Boulware has his two guys in the class of 2025.

Not so fast, my friend.

Ohio State recently made a running backs coach change after Tony Alford headed to Michigan. Ryan Day hired Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn. The Buckeyes staffer made a trip to visit the Mid-Atlantic this week, and a Kentucky commit received a visit.

Ohio State has some interest level in Kentucky commit Isaiah West. The Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep junior committed to the Wildcats on March 1 and recently received a significant rankings bump from 247 Sports. The Buckeyes are now sniffing around. The Buckeyes are heavily recruiting high four-star Bo Jackson and will get an official visit from the top-100 recruit.

West remains a Kentucky commit, but we should all be watching closely with official visit season right around the corner.

Need some recruiting intel?

Want to know what else is going on with Kentucky in the class of 2025. A new Recruiting Notebook dropped at KSR+ on Friday afternoon. A couple of blue-chip prospects are coming off the board for Kentucky, but some other recruitments are trending in the right direction for the Big Blue.

The Wildcats are making a big push for a four-star wideout in the Midwest, and a heated recruitment for Isaac “Spike” Sowells Jr. will be one of the biggest storylines of the official visit season that begins in only four weeks.

Kentucky Recruiting Notebook

Want more Kentucky football recruiting intel? Join KSR Plus for the most comprehensive coverage of the Cats on the internet. With a KSR membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

Kentucky will not be the landing spot for Brandon Lane

Stephen F. Austin defensive tackle Brandon Lane is now back on the market. After committing to Michigan State on April 25, the FCS transfer backed off that commitment a week later. Lane is back on the market, but Lexington will not be the destination.

Sources tell KSR that Kentucky will not pursue the defensive tackle transfer. The Wildcats did make immediate contact with Lane, but transfer defensive tackle help will come from another place. Kentucky just hosted Grand Valley State transfer Jay’viar Suggs for an official visit.

Expect some more transfer portal developments to occur throughout the weekend.

Will Levis and friends at the Kentucky Oaks

The city of Louisville is currently the center of the sports world this weekend with the 150th Kentucky Derby taking place on Saturday. The party got started on Friday with the Kentucky Oaks. Former Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is becoming a frequent visitor to Louisville for the event and got together with some friends in the Derby City this weekend.

Levis was joined by former teammates Josh Ali, Chris Rodriguez Jr., and Wan’Dale Robinson in Louisville on Friday.

Everyone in the group was on an NFL roster last season. The 2021 offensive teammates are having their own little reunion at Churchill Downs sporting pink suits for the Kentucky Oaks. Expect to see some more former Wildcats at the track on Saturday.