Kentucky is a Finalist for a Top-200 Quarterback

High school recruiting has not consistently created headlines this offseason for the Kentucky football program. That’s what happens when you go 4-8. The 2026 recruiting class is off to a slower start, but they could pick up a big piece to build some momentum.

Oscar Rios is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the high school recruiting ranks. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound passer is a four-star prospect. He’s the twelfth-ranked quarterback in the country and the No. 188 overall prospect, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Typically, most quarterbacks are already off the board ahead of their senior seasons. Rios initially planned on playing for Graham Harrell at Purdue. When Ryan Walters fired the offensive coordinator to save his own job, Rios reopened his recruitment.

Kentucky offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan has not shown us much as a recruiter since he arrived in Lexington. He’s showing us what he’s got in the recruitment of Rios. Kentucky received the first official visit and appears to have made a strong impression.

“Coach (Mark) Stoops and Coach Bush stood out to me because of how they were with me. They treated me like one of their players,” Rios recently told On3’s Chad Simmons.

“Coach Bush and I have built a great relationship. A big plus with Kentucky is competing in the SEC too. Having an opportunity to be the guy at that level is the real deal.”

That is why Kentucky is considered among the quarterback’s seven finalists. In addition to Kentucky, Rios is also considering Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. He has official visits scheduled to Virginia Tech (May 30), Utah (June 6), Arizona (June 13), and Colorado (June 20).

Kentucky could use a big pop from the recruiting pop. Oscar Rios could provide it. Last year, the quarterback threw for 2,554 passing yards and 22 passing touchdowns, while picking up 735 rushing yards and 11 more scores on the ground. It shouldn’t take too long to learn if the early visit paid off, or if Rios arrived on campus too far ahead of summer commitment season.

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