Kentucky football 2025 commits begin senior seasons this weekend

In the state of Kentucky, the 2024 high school football begins today and Saturday. But the Bluegrass isn’t the only state kicking off the fall sports season this weekend — the Kentucky football program will see all of its 17 class of 2025 commits (ranked No. 21 in the country by On3) in action very soon. Most of Mark Stoops‘ future Wildcats begin their senior seasons within the next 36 hours, with some having started last week and a couple waiting until next week to get things rolling.

Notably, a pair of Kentucky commits — CB Demarcus Gardner (GA) and DL Nicholas Smith (GA) — are going into Week 2 this weekend after their respective seasons began last week. Gardner and Cedartown actually played its second game of the season on Thursday, a 27-7 win over Berkmar. Meanwhile, Smith and Walnut Grove go into Friday night’s game with a 1-0 record after beating Discovery 31-0 last Friday.

Two more pledges — OT Darrin Strey (MI) and WR Ja’Kayden Ferguson (TX) — won’t officially begin the regular season until next week. Additionally, WR Quintin Simmons (OH) got his first taste of action on Thursday night in Withrow’s season-opening loss to Elder, 28-7.

If there’s one game to monitor this weekend, it would be the battle between two Ohio teams: Cleveland Heights and Trotwood-Madison. The former features four-star RB Marquise Davis while the latter includes three-star OT Jermiel Atkins. Kickoff is set for tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST. Don’t be shocked if Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow makes the trip up north for this one.

In total, 14 of Kentucky’s 17 commits from 2025 will take the field on Friday or Saturday. Both of the in-state products — DL Javeon Campbell (Western Hills) and S Martels Carter Jr. (Paducah Tilghman) — will take the field on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.

Below you’ll find all of the matchups this weekend for every future Wildcat in action along with score predictions from On3’s Massey Ratings. But before we dive into those, a quick word from our loyal sponsor.

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Where Kentucky commits will play this weekend

*Player rankings courtesy of the On3 Industry Ranking*

Cedric Works (EDGE) 6-5, 230 | Northmont (Dayton, OH)
4-star: No. 147 overall, No. 18 EDGE

• Friday, August 23 vs. Butler (OH) | Massey Ratings prediction: 41-7 W

Javeon Campbell (DL) 6-5, 260 | Western Hills (Frankfort, KY)
4-star: No. 155 overall, No. 15 DL

• Friday, August 23 @ Bourbon County (KY) | Massey Ratings prediction: 28-27 L

Marquise Davis (RB) 5-11, 200 | Cleveland Heights (Cleveland, OH)
4-star: No. 159 overall, No. 10 RB

• Friday, August 23 vs. Trotwood-Madison (OH) | Massey Ratings prediction: 35-14 W

Martels Carter Jr. (S) 6-1, 185 | Paducah Tilghman (Paducah, KY)
4-star: No. 171 overall, No. 16 S

• Saturday, August 24 @ Madisonville-North Hopkins (KY) | Massey Ratings prediction: 41-14 W

Quintin Simmons (WR) 6-0, 170 | Withrow (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 330 overall, No. 50 WR

• Thursday, August 22 vs. Elder (OH) | Final score: 28-6 L

Kalen Edwards (DL) 6-4, 325 | Dyersburg (Dyersburg, TN)
4-star: No. 357 overall, No. 31 DL

• Friday, August 23 @ Dyer County (TN) | Massey Ratings prediction: 35-26 L

Darrin Strey (OT) 6-6, 295 | Paw Paw (Paw Paw, MI)
3-star: No. 404 overall, No. 28 OT

• Thursday, August 29 @ Big Rapids (MI) | Massey Ratings prediction: 28-27 L

Ja’Kayden Ferguson (WR) 6-2, 175 | Fort Bend Marshall (Houston, TX)
3-star: No. 433 overall, No. 70 WR

• Thursday, August 29 vs. Friendswood (TX) | Massey Ratings prediction: 35-14 W

Andrew Purcell (CB) 5-10, 185 | Enterprise (Enterprise, AL)
3-star: No. 485 overall, No. 43 CB

• Friday, August 23 @ Andalusia (AL) | Massey Ratings prediction: 40-14 W

Preston Bowman (WR) 6-0, 195 | Pickerington North (Pickerington, OH)
3-star: No. 651 overall, No. 100 WR

• Friday, August 23 vs. St. Edward (OH) | Massey Ratings prediction: 35-7 L

Stone Saunders (QB) 6-0, 205 | Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, PA)
3-star: No. 676 overall, No. 41 QB

• Saturday, August 24 @ Mount Saint Joseph (MD) | Massey Ratings prediction: 35-20 W

Demarcus Gardner (CB) 6-0, 165 | Cedartown (Cedartown, GA)
3-star: No. 703 overall, No. 69 CB

• Thursday, August 22 vs. Berkmar (GA) | Final score: 27-7 W

Brennen Ward (QB) 6-3, 215 | Gahanna Lincoln (Gahanna, OH)
3-star: No. 777 overall, No. 47 QB

• Friday, August 23 vs. William Mason (OH) | Massey Ratings prediction: 31-13 W

Jermiel Atkins (OT) 6-8, 270 | Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood, OH)
3-star: No. 894 overall, No. 48 OT

• Friday, August 23 @ Cleveland Heights (OH) | Massey Ratings prediction: 35-14 L

Nicholas Smith (DL) 6-5, 275 | Walnut Grove (Loganville, GA)
3-star: No. 1,066 overall, No. 111 DL

• Friday, August 23 @ Loganville (GA) | Massey Ratings prediction: 34-20 L

Bryan Auguste (OT) 6-6, 285 | Monarch (Coconut Creek, FL)
3-star: No. 1,125 overall, No. 70 OT

• Thursday, August 22 vs. Peachtree Ridge (FL) | Final score: 30-29 W

Tucker Kattus (IOL) 6-5, 300 | St. Xavier (Cincinnati, OH)
3-star: No. 1,193 overall, No. 99 OT

• Friday, August 23 @ Lakota West (OH) | Massey Ratings prediction: 20-14 L

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