Kentucky hosting big group of high school recruits for Spring Game

Spring football is in the air, even if the weather still thinks we’re in winter.

On Saturday at 1:00 p.m. EST, Kroger Field will be packed with members of the Big Blue Nation as fans converge in Lexington for the football team’s annual Blue-White Game. It’s a chance for the staff to put some plays into a more “live” setting following a dozen spring practices while also letting the athletes get into a grove of playing in front of a crowd. Admission is free for any fan who wants to get a sneak peek at what is expected to be another impressive Kentucky team.

But Saturday isn’t big solely because of what will be happening on the field. The Kentucky coaching staff expects a busy recruiting weekend with droves of Wildcat targets coming down for a visit. The list below doesn’t cover every single one of them — a lot of recruits prefer to wait until after visits before discussing them publicly — but it does highlight plenty of the big names that we should keep an eye on moving forward.

Nearly all of the recruits below are from the class of 2023, with a few 2024 candidates sprinkled in. In total, roughly 100 prospects are expected in Lexington for a visit this weekend. Let’s dive right in.

4-stars

Jaden Robinson (2023) 6-1, 210-pound LB – Lake City, FL (Columbia)
No. 344 overall, per On3 Consensus

• Last month, Jaden Robinson “trimmed” his list down to 14 schools as Kentucky made the cut along with the likes of Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Penn State, and others. Robinson told On3’s Jeremy Johnson that his list of 14 consisted of the schools contacting him daily, however, two specific schools, South Carolina and Louisville, have “somewhat of [an] edge”, he says. He’s also coming off a visit to Florida, a school he’s hoping to eventually earn an offer from. Kentucky will have an excellent chance this weekend to gain some ground in Robinson’s recruitment before he makes a return trip to South Carolina next weekend. Robinson also plans to visit Maryland in the future.

I’Marion Stewart (2024) 6-0, 165-pound WR – Bolingbrook, IL (Bolingbrook)
No. 216 overall, per On3 Consensus

• While he technically arrived in Lexington on Friday, we still have to mention I’Marion Stewart, who might be the most talented recruit to visit campus this weekend. Despite just finishing up his sophomore season of high school, Stewart already holds a dozen Division I offers from the likes of Tennessee, Penn State, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and several others. Kentucky has yet to extend a scholarship, but one could be in his hands by the end of the weekend. He recently paid visits to Tennessee and Michigan State.

3-stars

Amare Ferrell (2023) 6-1, 195-pound S – Lake City, FL (Columbia)
No. 401 overall, per On3 Consensus

• Columbia High School is bringing quote the talented duo down to Lexington, as Amare Ferrell will join 4-star teammate Jaden Robinson on campus this Saturday. Ferrell cut his list of top schools down to just eight last month, which included UK. He recently took a visit to Florida State and expects to check out South Carolina and Cincinnati. Ferrell already holds offers from big-name programs such as Ole Miss and Miami (FL). Kentucky has maintained regular contact since offering in January.

Kamari Burns (2023) 6-4, 250-pound DL – Columbus, OH (Gahanna Lincoln)
No. 503 overall, per On3 Consensus

• KSR recently profiled Kamari Burns, who dropped his top six earlier this week — which included Kentucky — and now plans to visit Lexington on Saturday. This will mark his second trip to campus, this first coming during a game visit back in the fall. Associate head coach Vince Marrow has been all over Burns, taking initiative as one of the first programs to offer him. Defensive line coach Anwar Stewart is also in contact with Burns. Cincinnati and Tennessee stand out as the biggest threats to Kentucky among his top six, which rounds out with West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Indiana. Burns will visit Ohio State next week, so making another good impression will be important for UK.

Breeon Ishmail (2023) 6-4, 215-pound ATH – Hamilton, OH (Hamilton)

• A couple of weeks ago, Breeon Ishmail teased on social media that he’ll be dropping his top five soon. So a trip to Lexington on Saturday could help bump Kentucky into that group — if they aren’t there already. The Ohio native has hauled in offers from the likes of Purdue, Louisville, Tennessee, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. Kentucky offered him in January, but getting in late hasn’t stopped the staff from making a push.

Kaden Moorman (2023, committed to UK) 5-10, 205-pound ATH – Frankfort, KY (Franklin County)
No. 578 overall, per On3 Consensus

• Kentucky’s top unpaid recruiter, where else would Kaden Moorman be on Saturday? After committing to the Wildcats back in Oct. 2021, there hasn’t been a high schooler more engaging with other prospects than the Frankfort native. Moorman has been to campus more times than we can count and continues to shower the program with love on his social media. It’s always good when he’s in town to help praise Kentucky to other targets.

Ones to keep an eye on

Brian Robinson (2024) 6-4, 220-pound ATH – Austintown, OH (Austintown Fitch)

• We mentioned the name Brian Robinson on the site earlier this week as a recruit who was on campus last weekend. Well, the rising star out of Ohio is coming back to Lexington for the Spring Game. Since he’s in the class of 2024, Robinson doesn’t have a clear ranking as of right now, but recent offers from Michigan and Pittsburgh would indicate he’s on the rise. He was at Ohio State for an unofficial visit in March, as well. Kentucky offered Robinson in the middle of March and has been maintaining heavy contact every since.

Adrian Griffin (2023) 6-4, 260-pound DL – Fairfield, AL (Fairfield Preparatory School)

• No stranger to this website, Adrian “Big Snacks” (a nickname he received from UK head coach Mark Stoops) Griffin is expected to make his college decision on May 21. He’s down to just five schools: Kentucky, West Virginia, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Troy. That being said, the sense is it’ll be a battle between UK and Troy, the latter of which is coached by former Wildcat assistant Jon Sumrall. Saturday’s visit could be a chance for Kentucky to close on Griffin if the staff prefers to go that route.

Eric Handley (2024) 6-2, 180-pound QB – Pinson, AL (Pinson Valley)

• A former Fairfield teammate with Griffin, Eric Handley is a steadily rising quarterback out of Alabama who recently transferred over to Pinson Valley High. He’s one of the few sophomores expected on campus and appears to be an early Kentucky lean. His only Power 5 offer so far came from the ‘Cats back in June 2021, but he’s on the cusp of a breakout. Handley has taken recent visits to the likes of UCF, Alabama, and Mississippi State with a trip to Lexington planned for Saturday. UAB and Troy have also offered.

Jaden Yates (2023) 6-1, 205-pound LB – Columbus, OH (Gahanna Lincoln)

• Teammates with Kamari Burns at Gahanna Lincoln, Jaden Yates isn’t as highly rated as his fellow Ohioan, but he does appear to be picking up some momentum. He was recently named MVP of the linebackers at an Under Armour camp and has picked up offers from the likes of Eastern Michigan, Akron, Illinois State, and Western Michigan. Yates took visits at the beginning of the year to West Virginia and Cincinnati and will join Burns in Lexington for a group visit on Saturday.

Antonio Fondren (2023) 6-5, 270-pound DE – Osseo, MN (Osseo Senior)

• Kentucky doesn’t dabble in the state of Minnesota often, but Antonio Fondren has the staff’s attention as of late, as do plenty of other Power 5 schools. Heading into April, his offer sheet included just three schools: South Alabama, Eastern Kentucky, and Florida A&M, but Louisville offered earlier this week. Fondren will be in Lexington on Saturday before taking unofficials to Iowa and Minnesota this summer, along with a camp visit to Notre Dame.

Keiton Murray (2023) 6-2, 180-pound ATH – Cleveland, OH (Glenville)

• As of right now, Kentucky is the only Divison I offer for Keiton Murray, but outside interest is building. He took visits to Penn State and Michigan over the last two weeks and now has a trip to Lexington set for Saturday. He’s one of the first prospects that UK’s new offensive line coach, Zach Yenser, extended an offer to.

Danny Novickas (2023) 6-3, 205-pound EDGE – Chicago, IL (Mount Carmel)

• His offer sheet only includes the likes of Western Michigan, Western Illinois, Long Island, and Kent State, but Danny Novickas could see that change with a productive summer. A trip to Kentucky should help boost his notoriety. While he’s not yet ranked by On3, 247Sports does have Novickas tabbed as a three-star.

Daveion Harley (2023) 6-2, 290-pound OL – Quincy, FL (Gadsen County)

Braylon Smith (2023) 6-3, 320-pound OL – Cleveland, OH (Glenville)

Amare Townsend (2023) 6-1, 175-pound DB – Louisville, KY (DuPont Manual)

Johnnie Robertson (2023) 5-10, 175-pound WR – Carol Stream, IL (Glenbard North)

Tristan Cook (2023) 6-5, 300-pound OL – Versailles, KY (Woodford County)

Hayden Healey (2023) 6-3, 275-pound OL – East Lansing, MI (East Lansing)

David Santiago (2023) 6-3, 230-pound LB – Raleigh, NC (Millbrook)

Jake Crocker (2023) 6-6, 295-pound OL – Princeton, NC (Princeton)

Trey Miller (2023) 6-4, 285-pound OL – Owensboro, KY (Owensboro)

Collin Butler (2023) 6-4, 270-pound OL – Leo, IN (Leo)

Zach Clark (2023) 6-2, 185-pound DB – Owensboro, KY (Owensboro)

Mason Lawson (2023) 6-2, 195-pound ATH – Paintsville, KY (Johnson Central)

Caden Davis (2023) 6-5, 230-pound OT – Mason, OH (William Mason)