Blue-chip EDGE Jackson Samuels-Ford locks in official visit with Kentucky

A huge June is right around the corner for the Kentucky football program. The Wildcats have just one commit in the 2026 high school class and must add some more soon. Some important prospects will be on campus soon. Jackson Samuels-Ford will be one of numerous key targets making his way through Lexington in June.

The Malvern (Pa.) Prep blue-chipper has locked in an official visit to Kentucky. The No. 242 overall recruit in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking will be in Lexington from June 2-4. Ford will also make stops at Wisconsin (May 30-June 1), Penn State (June 6-8), Ohio State (June 13-15), and Michigan (June 20-22).

Top247 ATH @Jackson_S_Ford swaps out one Big Ten visit for another @247Sports @TomLoy247 @Bill_Kurelic https://t.co/WoJbrnjWR2 pic.twitter.com/hZXpzwJIlT

— BrianDohn247 (@BrianDohn247) May 4, 2025

Jackson Samuels-Ford released his top eight schools in April. Kentucky made the cut along with Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Michigan, Stanford, Penn State, and USC. Five of those schools will get official visits from the defensive prospect. The trip to Fayette County will be a mid-week visit between weekend stops at Wisconsin and Penn State.

EDGE is standing out as a position of need for Kentucky in the 2026 cycle. The Wildcats enter the 2025 season with six scholarship outside linebackers on the roster and three of those (Sam Greene, Kam Olds, and Lorenzo Cowan) were added to the roster via the transfer portal. Olds only has one season of eligibility remaining. Kentucky is looking for help at EDGE.

Defensive coordinator Brad White is running point on this blue-chip recruitment. Kentucky faces some stiff competition but is very much in the hunt for Samuels-Ford.

Kentucky’s current official visit list

June 2-4

Malvern (Pa.) Prep EDGE Jackson Samuels-Ford (4-star, No. 242 overall)

June 6-8

Marion (Mass.) Tabor Academy defensive lineman Marcus Almada (Unranked)

Camden (N.J.) Eastside EDGE Elijah Satchell (Unranked)

Richmond (Va.) Hermitage safety Andre Clarke Jr. (4-star, No. 172 overall)

Fort Pierce (Fla.) Westwood cornerback Jordan Crutchfield (4-star, No. 331 overall)

Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee wide receiver Dallas Dickerson (unranked)

June 13-15

Evergreen (Ala.) Hillcrest defensive back J.T. Barlow (3-star, No. 943 overall)

Rome (Ga.) High wide receiver Darnell Collins (Unranked)

Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater linebacker Justin Edwards (Unranked)

Orlando (Fla.) Jones wide receiver Larry Miles (3-star, No. 422 overall)

San Antonio (Texas) Cornerstone Christian School wide receiver Davis McCray (Unranked)

June 15-17

Venice (Fla.) EDGE Asharri Charles (4-star, No. 176 overall)

June 16-18

West Chester (Pa.) East tackle Tyler Duell (3-star, No. 521 overall)

June 20-22

Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney offensive lineman Da’Ron Parks (4-star, No. 354 overall)

Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier linebacker Karsten Busch (3-star, No. 474 overall | Louisville commit)

Manchester (Ga.) High cornerback Jaedyn Terry (4-star, No. 348 overall | Georgia Tech commit)

Austin (Texas) Lake Travis EDGE Ben Duncum (Unranked)

Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley cornerback Kosci Barnes (Unranked)