Ja'Kayden Ferguson decommits from Kentucky

High three-star wide receiver Ja’Kayden Ferguson reaffirmed his commitment to Kentucky on Sunday after taking a visit to LSU over the weekend. Three days later, the Texas native has decided to re-open his recruitment.

College football recruiting is anything but predictable.

“My recruitment is 100% back open. I am no longer committed to the University of Kentucky,” Ferguson posted on X. “Please respect my decision.”

My recruitment is %100 back open I am no longer committed to the University of Kentucky please respect my decision 🙏

— Ja’kayden Ferguson (@jakayden_) November 14, 2024

Ja’Kayden Ferguson committed to Kentucky on June 16 giving wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts Jr. his first recruiting win as a member of UK’s staff. The wideout backed off that pledge five months later. Ferguson was one of four wide receivers in Kentucky’s high school class as the program looks to fill Shorts’ position room with some young talent. The Wildcats are now down to three wideout commitments with Preston Bowman, Quintin Simmons, and Montavin Quisenberry all still locked in with the program.

Kentucky currently has 20 commitments in the 2025 high school class and is firmly ranked inside the top 25. The early signing period has been moved up two weeks this season going from the Wednesday before Christmas to the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving.

With scholarship numbers staying at 85 in the SEC for the 2025 season, Kentucky’s staff is having to complete a numbers crunch. The loss of Ja’Kayden Ferguson’s commitment could give the program an extra scholarship to use in the free agent market when the winter transfer portal window opens on Dec. 9.

Why sticking at 85 scholarships could mean small transfer portal haul for Kentucky (KSR+)

Take advantage of our KSR+ Introductory Offer to get bonus coverage of the Cats, including game threads, in-depth scouting reports, and the latest recruiting and roster intel. $1 for seven days and 50% off an entire year.

Kentucky’s Class of 2025

Player	High School	Position	Ranking
Javeon Campbell	Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills	DL (6-5, 260)	4-star (No. 163 overall)
Marquise Davis	Cleveland (Ohio) Heights	RB (5-11, 200)	4-star (No. 188 overall)
Martels Carter	Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman	S (6-1, 185)	4-star (No. 215 overall)
Cedric Works	Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass	EDGE (6-5, 230)	4-star (No. 251 overall)
Andrew Purcell	Enterprise (Ala.) High	CB (5-9, 185)	4-star (No. 276 overall)
Kalen Edwards	Dyersburg (Tenn.) High	iDL (6-4, 325)	4-star (No. 375 overall)
Mikkel Skinner	Greer (S.C.) Riverside	TE (6-3, 220)	High 3-star (No. 406 overall)
Darrin Strey	Paw Paw (Mich.) High	T (6-6, 295)	High 3-star (No. 434 overall)
Quintin Simmons	Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow	WR (6-0, 170)	High 3-star (No. 547 overall)
Demarcus Gardner	Cedartown (Ga.) High	CB (6-0, 165)	High 3-star (No. 592 overall)
Preston Bowman	Pickerington (Ohio) North	WR (6-0, 196)	3-star (No. 620 overall)
Dyllon Williams	Demopolis (Ala.) High	S (6-2, 180)	3-star (No. 707 overall)
Stone Saunders	Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt	QB (6-0, 205)	3-star (No. 714 overall)
Montavin Quisenberry	Danville (Ky.) Boyle County	WR (5-9, 175)	3-star (No. 798 overall)
Brennen Ward	Gahanna (Ohio) Lincoln	QB (6-2, 205)	3-star (No. 822 overall)
Jermiel Atkins	Trotwood (Ohio) Madison	T (6-8, 270)	3-star (No. 934 overall)
Jayden Clark	Clayton (Ohio) Northmont	OL (6-5, 250)	3-star (No. 1,067 overall)
Nicholas Smith	Loganville (Ga.) Walnut Grove	DL (6-5, 275)	3-star (No. 1,134 overall)
Bryan Auguste	Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch	T (6-6, 285)	3-star (No. 1,201 overall)
Tucker Kattus	Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier	OL (6-5, 300)	3-star (No. 1,277 overall)