Kentucky could have massive 2025 recruiting haul in Ohio

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Kentucky Football transfer portal tracker — (Dr. Michael Huang, KSR)

Kentucky has signed over 50 high school prospects from Ohio during the Mark Stoops era. Recruiting the Buckeye State has been a top priority for the Wildcats over the last decade. Since there is typically a lack of high-end college football talent in Kentucky, Ohio has given UK a home territory outside of the state.

Vince Marrow is in the process of producing perhaps the program’s best Ohio class in the 2025 cycle. The Wildcats are currently loading up in the Buckeye State.

Following the commitment of Pickerington (Ohio) North wide receiver Preston Bowman, Kentucky now has five Ohio players in the program’s 2025 recruiting class with Bowman joining Cleveland Heights tailback Marquise Davis, Cincinnati Withrow wide receiver Quintin Simmons, Gahanna Lincoln quarterback Brennen Ward, and Cincinnati St. Xavier offensive lineman Tucker Kattus. That already gives the Wildcats more Ohio players than the 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 signing classes.

2013: 3
2014: 11
2015: 4
2016: 10
2017: 6
2018: 5
2019: 3
2020: 6
2021: 3
2022: 3
2023: 2
2024: 3

Kentucky does not appear to be done in Ohio. Clayton (Ohio) Northmont EDGE Cedric Works, Columbus (Ohio) Marion-Franklin cornerback Dawayne Galloway, and Trotwood (Ohio) Madison tackle Jermiel Atkins are currently each trending for Kentucky on On3‘s Recruiting Prediction Machine. Marrow is also battling Ohio State for Gates Mills (Ohio) Gilmour Academy tight end Brody Lennon.

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The Wildcats might not hit double-digits, but this haul could go down as one of the biggest in Ohio. The star power stands out. Marquise Davis, Cedric Works, and Dawayne Galloway are all top-200 prospects. Kentucky has only signed three top-200 prospects in a single class once (2022). Kentucky could reach that mark in 2025 just by recruiting Ohio.

Marrow is taking advantage of a deep class in the Buckeye State. The Wildcats have recorded recruiting wins in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus. You could add Dayton to that list soon if Atkins and Works are added to the class. The 2025 haul could be defined by how the Ohio signees perform in Lexington.