Top-200 LB Gabriel Williams is interested in Kentucky

Off-ball linebacker was a position Kentucky had to address in the transfer portal. It’s also a position that must be addressed in the class of 2024.

Kentucky enters the upcoming season with only six off-ball linebackers on the roster for assistant coach Mike Stoops after adding Northern Illinois transfer Daveren Rayner to the program. That room needs to get younger fairly quickly. Some prospects are starting to emerge in this cycle. The Cats are currently making a significant push for four-star recruit Gabriel Williams.

The Washington (D.C.) St. Vincent Pallotti product is the No. 176 ranked prospect in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. On3 is specifically high on the DMV prospect ranking Williams No. 85 overall in the latest edition of the 2024 rankings. The blue-chip prospect has official visits with Pittsburgh (June 2), Virginia Tech (June 9), and Duke (June 23) scheduled. According to On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, Kentucky, Miami, and Penn State are three other programs that could receive an official visit from Williams.

Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White is making a strong play for the four-star recruit.

“I love Coach White,” Williams said. “He came to visit me and we talked for like an hour. I could tell that he really believes in me. I tried to get on campus last month but it didn’t work out but I’m definitely getting up there.”

June is setting up to be a very busy month for Kentucky football. One week after locking up top-100 quarterback Cutter Boley, all attention is now going to official visits. Linebacker must be addressed this cycle. Gabriel Williams could emerge into one of the top targets on Kentucky’s recruiting board.