South Carolina lands 3-star linebacker Jaiden Braker
The biggest commitment window of the 2025 high school recruiting calendar wrapped up on Saturday. One day after seeing blue-chip cornerback Dawayne Galloway commit to Purdue, another Kentucky defensive target came of the board on Saturday afternoon.
Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett linebacker Jaiden Braker committed to South Carolina. The three-star recruit will be a Gamecock.
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Shane Beamer‘s program got the first official visit in June before Braker made trips to Rutgers, Utah, NC State, and Kentucky. The Wildcats made a push for the defensive prospect, but the Gamecocks were largely considered the favorite throughout the process.
Kentucky has zero off-linebacker commits in the class of 2025. But that is not a reason for concern after the program loaded up at the position in the 2024 cycle. Devin Smith, Antwan Smith, and Quintavion Norman will each be first-year players in Mike Stoops‘ position room this fall. Jaden Smith and Steven Soles Jr. are versatile players who could play both inside and outside in Kentucky’s 3-4 scheme.
Kentucky’s Class of 2025
| Player | High School | Position | Ranking |
| Cedric Works | Clayton (Ohio) Northmont | EDGE (6-5, 230) | 4-star (No. 144 overall) |
| Javeon Campbell | Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills | DL (6-5, 260) | 4-star (No. 167 overall) |
| Marquise Davis | Cleveland (Ohio) Heights | RB (5-11, 200) | 4-star (No. 186 overall) |
| Martels Carter | Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman | S (6-1, 185) | 4-star (No. 198 overall) |
| Kalen Edwards | Dyersburg (Tenn.) High | iDL (6-4, 325) | 4-star (No. 320 overall) |
| Quintin Simmons | Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow | WR (6-0, 170) | 4-star (No. 328 overall) |
| Darrin Strey | Paw Paw (Mich.) High | T (6-6, 295) | 4-star (No. 397 overall) |
| Ja’Kayden Ferguson | Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall | WR (6-2, 175) | High 3-star (No. 420 overall) |
| Andrew Purcell | Enterprise (Ala.) High | CB (5-10, 185) | High 3-star (No. 472 overall) |
| Stone Saunders | Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt | QB (6-0, 205) | 3-star (No. 651 overall) |
| Demarcus Gardner | Cedartown (Ga.) High | CB (6-0, 165) | 3-star (No. 676 overall) |
| Brennen Ward | Gahanna (Ohio) Lincoln | QB (6-2, 205) | 3-star (No. 736 overall) |
| Tucker Kattus | Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier | OL (6-5, 300) | 3-star (No. 1,094 overall) |
| Bryan Auguste | Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch | T (6-6, 285) | 3-star (No. 1,299 overall) |
| Nicholas Smith | Loganville (Ga.) Walnut Grove | DL (6-7, 255) | 3-star (No. 1,347 overall) |
| Preston Bowman | Pickerington (Ohio) North | WR (6-0, 196) | 3-star (No. 1,386 overall) |
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