Kentucky football coaches hit recruiting trail by handing out 20+ offers this week

College football coaches across the country have been hunting on the recruiting trail all week long.

The Kentucky Wildcats have been active, visiting prospects in person and handing out roughly two dozen scholarship offers over the last several days. The UK staff made stops in states such as Ohio, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and more. With all eyes turning to the class of 2025 and beyond, Kentucky spent the week identifying and targeting new talent.

By our count, 22 (at the very least) high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors — ranging from Texas all the way up to Pennsylvania — were extended scholarship opportunities by the Wildcats coaching staff. We’re here to break them all down one by one.

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Class of 2025 offers

Christian Garrett (DL) 6-3, 260 | Prince Avenue Christian School (Bogart, GA)
4-star: No. 100 overall, No. 11 DL

• This one is interesting. Christian Garrett is a top 100 high school junior and announced an offer from Kentucky on Tuesday, tagging both defensive coordinator Brad White and defensive line coach Anwar Stewart. But that’s not what’s interesting. Garrett plays for Prince Avenue Christian School, which is coached by Greg Vandagriff, the father of new Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff. Garrett holds offers from Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, and dozens more, but there’s a fresh UK connection that could give the ‘Cats a foot in the door.

Myron Charles (DL) 6-5, 260 | Port Charlotte (Port Charlotte, FL)
4-star: No. 128 overall, No. 16 DL

• Another prospect offered by Kentucky’s Anwar Stewart, Myron Charles announced his on Tuesday — the same day Georgia reached out with an offer of its own. Charles already has visits planned for the rest of this month to Florida, Florida State, and Miami (FL). He announced a top 12 list in November that did not include UK, but more schools continue to recruit the four-star defensive lineman.

Matt Zollers (QB) 6-3, 200 | Spring-Ford (Royersford, PA)
4-star: No. 204 overall, No. 15 QB

• Kentucky already has one class of 2025 quarterback committed in Stone Saunders, but offensive coordinator Liam Coen appears set on trying to add a second in this cycle. Matt Zollers is one of two QBs offered this week by Coen. Zollers announced his UK offer on Wednesday and has since hauled in scholarships from the likes of Georgia and Florida. He’ll visit Penn State this weekend. His older brother is a current walk-on at Pittsburgh.

Tae Harris (CB) 6-0, 180 | Cedartown (Cedartown, GA) GEORGIA COMMIT
4-star: No. 231 overall, No. 27 CB

• Committed to Georgia since June 2023, Tae Harris announced his offer from Kentucky on Thursday from Coach Stewart and defensive backs coach Chris Collins. Florida, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, and Southern California have also offered him this week. On3’s Chad Simmons reported on Wednesday that Harris’ commitment to UGA might not be as strong as previously thought. Harris visited Florida last weekend and will be at Georgia Tech this weekend.

Jamarion Parker (RB) 6-0, 185 | Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St. Louis MO) ARKANSAS COMMIT
4-star: No. 293 overall, No. 23 RB

• Another committed prospect to pick up a Kentucky offer this week, Jamarion Parker announced his on Thursday by way of running backs/special teams coach Jay Boulware. Parker has been locked in with Arkansas since September 2023 but appears to be keeping his options open. He’s expected to visit Nebraska this weekend and also announced an offer on Thursday from Indiana.

Kamare Williams (WR) 6-1, 175 | Palm Beach Central (Boynton Beach, FL)
3-star: No. 354 overall, No. 51 WR

• Four-star pass-catcher Kamare Williams is a hot commodity right now. On Friday, he announced offers from Kentucky, Pitt, and Indiana. UK inside linebackers coach Mike Stoops, who handles recruiting in the Sunshine State, was the one who passed it along. Oregon, Michigan, Miami (FL), Florida, Florida State, and Penn State have also extended offers.

Darrin Strey (OT) 6-6, 295 | Paw Paw (Paw Paw, MI)
3-star: No. 421 overall, No. 30 OT

• Darrin Strey could be on the cusp of a recruiting blowup. Coming into this week, he already held offers from Oregon, Nebraska, Michigan State, and others, but over the last couple of days, Kentucky, Baylor, and Illinois have reached out. Strey announced his UK offer on Thursday from offensive line coach Zach Yenser. Michigan State will host him early next month for a visit.

Luke Nickel (QB) 6-1, 200 | Milton (Alpharetta, GA) MIAMI (FL) COMMIT
3-star: No. 435 overall, No. 33 QB

• The second quarterback to receive a Kentucky offer from Coach Coen this week was Luke Nickel, who has been committed to the Miami Hurricanes since August 2023 and is coming off a Georgia state championship over the fall. Nickel also tagged Coach Stewart in his offer announcement on Wednesday. Interestingly enough, his Kentucky offer is the first one he’s posted on social media since committing to Miami last summer. Florida State and Georgia staff members paid him a visit last week.

Shaun Terry (WR) 5-10, 165 | Ironton (Ironton, OH)
3-star: No. 529 overall, No. 84 WR

• Suiting up for Ironton (OH) High, Shaun Terry announced his Kentucky offer from associate head coach Vince Marrow on Monday. Marrow is very familiar with the Ironton program, and UK currently rosters a former Ironton player, running back Jaquez Keyes. Terry will visit Notre Dame this weekend and announced an offer from Arkansas a couple of days ago. Auburn, Michigan, Penn State, and Southern California have also offered Terry.

Sah’nye Degraffenreidt (WR) 6-0, 200 | Atlantic City (Altantic City, NJ)
3-star: No. 581 overall, No. 93 WR

• Kentucky’s new wide receivers coach, Daikiel Shorts, is hitting the ground running on the recruiting trail. New Jersey product Sah’nye Degraffenreidt announced his UK offer on Wednesday, adding to a list that already includes Georgia, Penn State, Michigan, and many more.

Hollis Davidson III (TE) 6-6, 230 | Mcintosh (Peachtree City, GA)

• 6-foot-6 tight end Hollis Davidson III is only nationally ranked by two of the four major recruiting services, but he’s up to 20-plus Division I offers now. Coach Collins reached out with the 20th offer on Thursday. He’s since picked up scholarships from Mississippi State and Arkansas. However, earlier on Friday, he announced a top seven that included Georgia Tech, Florida State, Florida, Cincinnati, Miami (FL), Penn State, and Auburn.

Grant Beerman (LB) 6-4, 205 | Lakota West (West Chester, OH)

• Grant Beerman is of two Lakota West (OH) products — another program Coach Marrow is very familiar with — to announce a Kentucky offer this week. Both Marrow and Coach White paid an in-person visit to Beerman on Wednesday, which is when the offer came in. The likes of Michigan State, Indiana, Duke, and West Virginia are among the other schools involved in Beerman’s recruitment.

Carson Lawrence (S) 6-2, 185 | McCallie School (Chattanooga, TN) VANDERBILT COMMIT KSR+ interview

• Committed to Vanderbilt since June 2023, Carson Lawrence announced a Kentucky offer from Coach White and safeties coach Frank Buffano on Tuesday. Despite his pledge to the Commodores, Lawrence is still considering other options. He’s already visited Lexington in the past and has picked up offers from the likes of West Virginia, Purdue, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech since his initial commitment.

Chance Ables (WR) 6-3, 175 | Naaman Forest (Garland, TX)

• The only Texas product to pick up a Kentucky offer this week was Chance Ables, who announced his scholarship on Tuesday. Although he’s not ranked by any of the four major recruiting outlets, he holds offers from the likes of Baylor and TCU. Coach Shorts, who has ties to the Lonestar State, will lead this recruitment.

James Johnson (WR) 6-0, 175 | Douglas County (Douglasville, GA)

• On3 is the only service to rank James Johnson (three-star), but that could change soon. Kentucky’s Coach Stewart offered Johnson on Wednesday, joining a group of offers this week that also includes Ohio State, Southern California, Texas, and Tennessee.

Malik Clark (WR) 6-3, 180 | Rock Hill (Rock Hill, SC)

• Kentucky is one of a few P5 schools to extend Malik Clark an offer this week. NC State, Duke, and Vanderbilt have also done the same. In-state South Carolina offered Clark last week, as well. Maryland and Nebraska are also involved. Coach Stewart is leading the charge for UK.

Class of 2026 offers

J’Zavien Currence (S) 6-2, 200 | South Pointe (Rock Hill, SC) KSR+ interview
4-star: No. 56 overall, No. 7 S

• J’Zavien Currence is just a high school sophomore, but he’s already heralded as one of the nation’s top prospects. The likes of Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and South Carolina are on him heavily. On Tuesday, Currence announced an offer from Kentucky, courtesy of defensive backs coach Chris Collins. A visit to Lexington could happen as soon as the spring.

Cam Thomas (ATH) 6-0, 180 | Lakota West (West Chester, OH) KSR+ interview

• Our second Lakota West product, Cam Thomas announced his offer from associate head coach Vince Marrow on Wednesday. The likes of Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech have also offered the Ohio native, who lives near the family of current Kentucky player Alex Afari, who also attended Lakota West.

Clifton Hester (WR) 6-1, 175 | Cocoa (Cocoa, FL)

• It was Thursday morning when Clifton Hester announced a scholarship offer from Kentucky that came by way of inside linebackers coach Mike Stoops. Hester has also picked up offers from the likes of Indiana, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, and Central Florida, in addition to a handful of G5 schools.

Class of 2027 offers

Amarri Irvin (RB) 5-11, 190 | Woodward Academy (Atlanta, GA)

• Thursday was a busy one for Amarri Irvin, who announced five P5 offers on social media. Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas State, Duke, and LSU are all now involved with the high school freshman. Georgia, Texas A&M, Auburn, Miami (FL), Penn State, and plenty more have already been recruiting him prior to then. Irvin’s UK offer came via defensive line coach Anwar Stewart.

Virgil Lemons (RB) 5-8, 165 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

• Just a high school freshman, Virgil Lemons is now up to four P5 offers. Missouri, Indiana, and Purdue have been in the mix since early December. Kentucky jumped in with an offer on Tuesday.

Anthony Jennings (WR) 6-0,1 60 | Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

• After Anthony Jennings earned his first Divison I offer from Florida International on Thursday, Kentucky came in with his second on Friday. Inside linebackers coach Mike Stoops extended Jennings the offer.

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