Kentucky Football wrapping up another big week on recruiting trail

As the workweek winds down, it’s time we do another check-in with what recruits the Kentucky Football staff has their eyes on. On Wednesday, we covered the roughly two dozen offers that were handed out since the beginning of the week, but plenty more have been extended since then. As of Friday evening, we found another dozen-plus high school prospects who received scholarship opportunities from various Wildcat staff members.

Once again, let’s dive right in.

All rankings are courtesy of the On3 Consensus.

Class of 2023

Zechariah Owens: 6-5, 285-pound OT | Eagles Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, GA)
4-star, No. 191 overall; No. 17 OT

Not only is Zechariah “Flapjack” Owens the owner of the best nickname I’ve heard all week, but he’s also one of the nation’s best-rising seniors, regardless of position. Kentucky’s defensive backs coach Chris Collins was the one who extended the offer to the top 200 prospect, which came on Thursday. Owens has been trending towards Clemson for about a month now, not long after he received an offer from the Tigers. However, Nebraska and Kentucky have now reached out and will try to get involved. Owens will take an official visit to Clemson in June. Florida State is also in the running.

Oluwatosin Babalade: 6-5, 300-pound OT | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)
3-star, 521 overall; No. 36 OT

While he’s considered a mid-three star recruit, Oluwatosin Babalade could be on the cusp of a mini-breakout this summer — if it hasn’t happened already. Kentucky’s new offensive line coach Zach Yenser offered Babalade on Wednesday, the same day as Indiana. Florida reached out with an offer on Tuesday and he also holds additional scholarships from the likes of Michigan, Penn State, Miami (FL), Ole Miss, Louisville, and plenty others. On3’s own ranking system is actually higher on Babalade than the consensus, slotting him as the 175th best player in his class. He’ll visit North Carolina this summer.

Class of 2024

Aaron Chiles: 6-3, 210-pound LB | Good Counsel (Olney, MD)
4-star, No. 48 overall; No. 7 LB

One of two players out of Good Counsel (MD), the same program that produced Josh Paschal, who was offered this week by Kentucky is Aaron Chiles, which came on Thursday from defensive coordinator Brad White. Chiles is an elite prospect with the offer sheet to back it up — Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin, Louisville, Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State, and Wake Forest have all extended scholarships since mid-April. As of right now, his only official visit for the summer will be to Florida.

Champ Thompson: 6-3, 250-pound DL | Meadowcreek (Norcross, GA)
4-star, No. 147 overall; No. 13 DL

Champ Thompson has officially blown up. The top 150 prospect has been hauling in massive offers this week, including ones from schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Texas, and Georgia. Chris Collins and defensive line coach Anwar Stewart offered Thompson on Kentucky’s behalf on Wednesday.

Dilin Jones: 6-0, 175-pound RB | Good Counsel (Olney, MD)
4-star, No. 193 overall; No. 13 RB

Steadily rising as an elite running back prospect, Dilin Jones is our second Good Counsel product. He’s considered a top 10 player from the state of Maryland, receiving his Kentucky offer on Wednesday from wide receivers coach Scott Woodward. Minnesota, Notre Dame, and Ole Miss also offered Jones this week.

Casey Etienne Jr.: 6-2, 180-pound S | Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Kentucky’s new inside linebackers coach Mike Stoops was the one who offered Casey Etienne Jr. on Thursday, his fourth Divison I scholarship. Iowa State was the first school to reach out, which happened at the beginning of the year, followed by Syracuse a couple of weeks later, then Alabama A&M in late April. Etienne isn’t ranked as of right now in the On3 database but is considered a high three-star over at 247Sports.

Jivan Baly: 6-0, 170-pound CB | Meadwocreek (Norcross, GA)

Kentucky was one of three schools to extend an offer to Jivan Baly this week, joining UCF and Arkansas State. Chris Collins was who reached out on Wednesday. Baly also holds offers from the likes of LSU, Louisville, Mississippi State, Florida State, Ole Miss, and a few others.

Jordyn Perkins: 6-2, 185-pound LB | Seminole (Sanford, FL)

Thursday was a big day for Jordyn Perkins, who earned his first two offers, one coming from Kentucky’s Mike Stoops and the other from UMass.

Class of 2025

Ethan Pritchard: 6-1, 180-pound S | Seminole (Sanford, FL)

There’s a good chance Ethan Pritchard winds up as one of the top defensive backs in his class once the rankings begin to evolve. He’s picked up offers from Kentucky, Purdue, and Iowa State this week to go along with previous ones from the likes of Minnesota and Miami (FL). Pritchard is teammates at Seminole with ’24 S Jordyn Perkins.

Jovarious Lundy: 5-10, 150-pound CB | Carrollwood Day (Tampa, FL)

Jovarious Lundy is one of the many Florida products who earned an offer from Kentucky this week courtesy of Mike Stoops, which Lundy announced on Wednesday. Duke offered him on Thursday, as well, joining the likes of Miami (FL), South Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Arkansas, Penn State, Florida State, and others.

Bo Jackson: 5-11, 170-pound RB | Villa Angela – St. Joseph (Cleveland, OH)

The very first Divison I offer for Bo Jackson (before you ask, there is no relation) came from Kentucky safeties coach Frank Buffano on Thursday. Jackson took a trip to visit nearby Ohio State back in March.

Bowen Gossett: 6-3, 270-pound IOL | Ironton (Ironton, OH)

Like Jackson, Bowen Gossett received his first-ever Divison I scholarship this week, and it also came from Kentucky. Associate head coach Vince Marrow did the honors on Thursday. The Wildcat staff has been in and out of the Ironton program frequently as of late.

DL Hardison: 5-10, 160-pound WR | Eau Gallie (Melbourne, FL)

On Wednesday, Toledo reached out and offer DL Hardison. A day later, Mike Stoops did the same for Kentucky. Hardison projects to be a highly sought-after pass-catcher as he already holds offers from the likes of Louisville, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, Florida State, and plenty more.