How Kentucky football's 2025 commits performed during Week 8

Another week of high school football is in the books.

Even though Kentucky couldn’t find much success of its own this week, plenty of future Wildcats were able to make up for it. Only four of Kentucky’s 18 class of 2025 commits (which ranks 23rd in the country and 12th in the SEC) were off this week due to byes. Nearly all of the remaining 14 commits starred in wins for their respective teams.

The best performers of Week 8 action were RB Marquise Davis and WR Preston Bowman, but the likes of EDGE Cedric Works, OT Darrin Strey, WR Ja’Kayden Ferguson, CB Demarcus Gardner, and QB Stone Saunders all showed out, as well. For more on how they all performed, dive in below, but first, let’s hear a quick word from our loyal sponsor.

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How Kentucky commits performed in Week 8

*Player rankings courtesy of the On3 Industry Ranking*

Cedric Works (EDGE) 6-5, 230 | Frederick Douglass (Dayton, OH)
4-star: No. 148 overall, No. 18 EDGE

• Cedric Works and No. 7 Frederick Douglass (4-3) snuck past No. 19 Madison Central (KY) by a score of 21-14. Works finished with a team-high 13 tackles, including one tackle for loss. One of his tackles was a third down stop in the red zone. From a pure numbers standpoint, it was his best performance of the season. Of note, Works announced an offer from LSU on Saturday. You can watch his midseason highlight tape through the Hudl video below.

Javeon Campbell (DL) 6-5, 260 | Western Hills (Frankfort, KY)
4-star: No. 154 overall, No. 16 DL

• Javeon Campbell and Western Hills (6-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season last week by taking care of Henry County (KY) in a tight 18-13 win. Individual stats were not made available.

Martels Carter Jr. (S) 6-1, 185 | Paducah Tilghman (Paducah, KY)
4-star: No. 175 overall, No. 15 S

• Martels Carter and No. 2 Paducah Tilghman (7-0) were on a bye this week. They’ll return to action on Friday, Oct. 18 against Warren East (KY).

Marquise Davis (RB) 5-11, 200 | Cleveland Heights (Cleveland, OH)
4-star: No. 189 overall, No. 14 RB

• Marquise Davis and Cleveland Heights (4-4) had no problem shutting out Medina (OH) 44-0. Davis ran the ball 19 times for 165 yards and four total touchdowns in just the first half alone. It was Medina’s worst loss in five years.

Kentucky 4-star RB commit Marquise Davis barges through a sea of yellow for his 4th touchdown in the first half💪

(🎥 @SOTPodcast)https://t.co/RXaouKOhdl

pic.twitter.com/yWarakwQRw

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) October 12, 2024

Quintin Simmons (WR) 6-0, 170 | Withrow (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 339 overall, No. 52 WR

• Quintin Simmons and Withrow (2-5) were on a bye this week. They’ll return to action on Friday, Oct. 18 against Cincinnati College Prep Academy (OH).

Kalen Edwards (DL) 6-4, 325 | Dyersburg (Dyersburg, TN)
4-star: No. 366 overall, No. 31 DL

• Kalen Edwards and Dyersburg (4-3) were on a bye this week. They’ll return to action on Friday, Oct. 18 against Scotts Hill (TN).

Darrin Strey (OT) 6-6, 295 | Paw Paw (Paw Paw, MI)
3-star: No. 420 overall, No. 29 OT

• Darrin Strey and Paw Paw (7-0) remain undefeated after shutting out Three Rivers (MI) 41-0. Strey finished with four tackles (four tackles for loss) on defense. With Strey leading the offensive line, Paw Paw totaled more than 450 total yards of offense. The win marked Paw Paw’s second shutout of the season.

Andrew Purcell (CB) 5-10, 185 | Enterprise (Enterprise, AL)
3-star: No. 508 overall, No. 45 CB

• Andrew Purcell and Enterprise (3-4) came up short 30-13 against Opelika (AL). Individual statistics were not made available. Enterprise’s head coach was not in attendance as he was suspended for one game by the AHSAA due to a rules violation.

Ja’Kayden Ferguson (WR) 6-2, 175 | Fort Bend Marshall (Houston, TX)
3-star: No. 514 overall, No. 87 WR

• Ja’Kayden Ferguson and Fort Bend Marshall (5-1) came out and smacked Lamar Consolidated (TX) on Thursday night in a 61-6 victory. Individual stats were not made available, but we know that Ferguson caught at least one touchdown pass — a 21-yard completion for the first score of the game, which you can view through the Hudl video below.

Demarcus Gardner (CB) 6-0, 165 | Cedartown (Cedartown, GA)
3-star: No. 587 overall, No. 51 CB

• Demarcus Gardner and Cedartown (8-0) can’t stop winning after taking down winless Dalton (GA) by a score of 44-13. Gardner was credited with one rushing attempt for 44 yards and three receptions for 31 additional yards.

Preston Bowman (WR) 6-0, 195 | Pickerington North (Pickerington, OH)
3-star: No. 678 overall, No. 106 WR

• Preston Bowman and Pickerington North (7-1) won their seventh straight game by taking down Grove City (OH) 28-7. Bowman finished with four receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns. One touchdown was a 49-yard reception with the other being a 66-yarder. Also serving as his team’s kicker and punter, Bowman kicked off four times for 217 total yards (one touchback) and punted the ball five times for 181 total yards (all five landing inside the opposing 20-yard line). He even nailed his lone extra-point attempt of the night. Watch him work in the Hudl video below.

Stone Saunders (QB) 6-0, 205 | Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, PA)
3-star: No. 703 overall, No. 41 QB

• Stone Saunders and Bishop McDevitt (7-1) took down Central Dauphin (PA) by a score of 28-10. Saunders opened the game with a 29-yard touchdown strike midway through the second quarter. He finished with 251 yards through the air and the lone score on 21-32 passing. He did throw an interception right before the end of the first half though, but still led his team to another big win.

Brennen Ward (QB) 6-3, 215 | Gahanna Lincoln (Gahanna, OH)
3-star: No. 804 overall, No. 49 QB

• Brennen Ward and Gahanna Lincoln (6-2) won their fifth straight game with a 35-0 shutout of Westerville Central (OH). Individual statistics were not made available.

Jermiel Atkins (OT) 6-8, 270 | Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, OH)
3-star: No. 923 overall, No. 54 OT

• Jermiel Atkins and Trotwood-Madison (3-5) blitzed Dunbar (OH) with a dominant 67-0 shutout win. Individual statistics were not made available.

Jayden Clark (OT) 6-5, 250 | Northmont (Clayton, OH)
3-star: No. 1,042 overall, No. 67 OT

• Jayden Clark and Northmont (2-6) dropped their fourth straight loss, this one coming in a 45-0 shutout defeat at the hands of Centerville (OH). Northmont trailed 38-0 at the halftime break. Individual statistics were not made available, but you can watch Clark in action through the Hudl video below.

Nicholas Smith (DL) 6-5, 275 | Walnut Grove (Loganville, GA)
3-star: No. 1,111 overall, No. 115 DL

• Nicholas Smith and Walnut Grove (4-3) couldn’t get the better of East Forsyth (GA) in a 34-15 loss. Individual statistics were not made available.

Bryan Auguste (OT) 6-6, 285 | Monarch (Coconut Creek, FL)
3-star: No. 1,175 overall, No. 74 OT

• Bryan Auguste and Monarch (4-2) were on a bye this week. They’ll return to action on Friday, Oct. 18 against St. Thomas Aquinas (FL).

Tucker Kattus (IOL) 6-5, 300 | St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH)
3-star: No. 1,246 overall, No. 104 OT

• Tucker Kattus and St. Xavier (5-3) won a 9-0 low-scoring battle against La Salle (OH). Individual statistics were not made available.

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