Biggest recruiting needs for Kentucky in class of 2023

Following a 10-3 season that finished with a national ranking, Kentucky did a great job of using momentum and making noise on the recruiting trail. The Wildcats inked a top-20 class and also added five power conference transfers into the program.

UK will have high expectations for the 2022 season, but the coaching staff at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility along with the Kentucky recruiting department has officially moved onto the 2023 class.

Currently, the Wildcats have already logged three commitments for the cycle highlighted by Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth blue-chip wide receiver Shamar Porter.

The 2023 class will give Kentucky another chance to raise the program’s ceiling as the Wildcats will look to ink another top-25 haul. KSR is here to designate the areas of need for the program to accomplish that goal.

Clean up at home

Early on, Kentucky added a pair of commitments from in-state prospects. Three-star safety Ty Bryant reclassified to 2023 and gives the Wildcats another player out of the emerging pipeline developing at Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass. On offense, Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County running back Kaden Moorman gives Kentucky a big tailback who decided to stay at home instead of heading to Wisconsin.

That should just be the tip of the iceberg for Vince Marrow as the Wildcats look to load up with a very good in-state crop in 2023.

The state should end up with at least seven top-500 prospects led by Louisville (Ky.) Male OL/DL William Spencer. Not far behind is Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren athlete Cristian Conyer. Elsewhere, Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier defensive lineman Micah Carter has long been a target to go along with Corbin (Ky.) High wideout Dakota Patterson and Danville (Ky.) Boyle County EDGE Tommy Ziesmer.

The quality does not stop there.

Henderson (Ky.) Henderson County defensive lineman Saadiq Clements, Richmond (Ky.) Madison Central offensive tackle Malachi Wood, and Radcliff (Ky.) North Hardin offensive tackle Trevon Alexander are all players who have received offers from the coaching staff.

On Jan. 30, Louisville received a commitment from high three-star cornerback Jeremiah Collins out of Louisville (Ky.) Male proving that the Cardinals could give the Wildcats some competition in Metro Louisville this cycle.

Regardless, the state doesn’t have a ton of high-level star power, but there are a plethora of quality football players who can help Kentucky. The Wildcats need to get signatures from most of them.

Address quarterback in some way

Quietly, the class of 2023 quarterbacks are all beginning to announce their future homes. Raheim Jeter (West Virginia), Grayson Loftis (Duke), and Bo Edmundson (Michigan State) were all players who offensive coordinator Liam Coen offered last summer that have announced commitments.

Throughout the process, Chris Parson and Christopher Vizzina have emerged as the top two high school targets. Parson committed to Florida State last summer, and there is buzz building that Clemson is the team to beat in the courtship of Vizzina. The Tigers currently have a 70.2 percent chance to land Vizzina according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Therefore, Kentucky could be in a tough spot quickly at quarterback.

The Wildcats will need some targets to emerge soon or there will be two options — wait for a decommitment or double down in the transfer portal again.

Kentucky could survive without landing a marquee high school quarterback in 2023, but eventually, the Wildcats will need to hit on this position.

Replenish defensive depth

Thanks to some key returnees, the Wildcats will be old once again on defense. Kentucky is set to start four super seniors — Tyrell Ajian, Jacquez Jones, DeAndre Square, Jordan Wright — and will have four other junior starters.

Expectations should be high for Kentucky due to this experience. However, the Wildcats must start thinking about future plans.

At both off-ball linebacker and EDGE, Kentucky could be gutted following the season. All the super seniors will leave, and J.J. Weaver could consider an early exit into the NFL Draft. The Wildcats need to start replenishing depth at both spots.

At both linebacker positions, there will be multiple bodies needed. Until Kentucky finds a starting-caliber answer, cornerback must remain a position of need.

UK has been able to stay old recently on defense, but that mission has been accomplished by solid recruiting and development. Kentucky must continue that by landing a solid 2023 haul.