Groves siblings could see themselves playing with older brother Elijah at Kentucky

Not only are the Groves brothers a tight-knit group of siblings separated by just three years in age, they’re also three of the most talented and competitive football prospects in the northern Tennessee area.

Kentucky fans are likely familiar with the eldest of the group, Elijah Groves, a four-star class of 2024 linebacker who committed to the Wildcats on July 1. But the good genes don’t end with him. Younger brothers Isaiah (6-foot, 185 pounds: C/O 2025) and Zach (6-foot-4, 225 pounds: C/O 2026) are equally impressive Cross Plains (TN) East Robertson products. Both received offers from Kentucky earlier this week as head coach Mark Stoops and his staff look to build a pipeline with the family.

UK certainly has the upper hand at this stage in their respective recruitments too. Kentucky is pitching the idea of all three Groves brothers one day taking the gridiron in Lexington. Isaiah is being recruited as a running back and Isaiah as a defensive end. Elijah is even doing his part to convince them both that Kentucky is the move. All three will take a gameday visit or two to Kroger Field this fall.

“We kinda got (the offers) at the same time,” Isaiah told KSR on Thursday. “We were with each other. But we were ecstatic because Elijah’s already committed there so we knew that for the next three to four years we could all play together, so that was kind of amazing.”

“It feels good, to get the chance to play with my older brother and get to keep playing with him,” Zach said.

All three Groves brothers are incredibly close, which is why the idea of potentially teaming up again at the college level is especially appealing, even at this early stage in their recruiting processes. As you might expect, that closeness bleeds into constant competition.

“We’re super competitive, we compete in anything we do,” Isaiah said. “We always ask for mom, she’s got to be the judge — who’s better at this, who’s better at that. The other day we were competing over who could eat the most.”

Spoiler: the winner was Zach (pictured on the right in the photo below), who is already bigger than both of his older brothers.

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The term “family-oriented” came up multiple times in my conversation with Isaiah, the middle brother of the group. When both of the younger siblings joined Elijah on his official visit to UK in June, their main takeaway was how the program felt more like a family than just a collection of football players.

“I like how family-oriented they are,” Isaiah said. “Coach Stoops produces running backs like Benny Snell, and I feel like that’s a player who I play like and have similarities. I just like the family program and how close it is to home.

“The facilities were a lot better than I thought they would be. We just had a really good time down there, we had a really good time in Lexington. It was just really nice.”

That same home-like feel is what helped land a commitment from Elijah. Well, that, and his relationship with defensive coordinator Brad White, who is already making an impact on the youngest brother, Zach.

“I like the defense, the defensive coordinator,” Zach said. “I like everything about it and the way they play, the way their defense is set up.”

“(Elijah) liked Coach White a lot and he loved how family-oriented they are because we come from a small town,” said Isaiah, who was reflecting on his talks with Elijah on why the latter chose Kentucky. “He mentioned how family-oriented they were and how we like that and how he can kind of mold into a Josh Allen-type player under Coach White. That’s what he was raving about the most.”

Isaiah and Zach will be sought-after commodities moving forward. They both picked up NC State offers earlier in the month while Zach added one from Purdue back in June. Kentucky already has the first piece on board with Elijah, but with the other two rising up big boards, all options will be on the table.

“I’m just looking for a school and a team that’s super family-oriented,” Isaiah said. “I just want a place that’s gonna take care of us. A place I know I’m gonna be safe and just a real family-oriented environment is really what I’m looking forward to. That’s the number one priority.”

“I would love to play with (Elijah), but it’s my choice,” Zach said. “I’m gonna go wherever it fits me.”