Recruiting Nuggets: Commitments and new competition

After the latest college football recruiting dead period ended on July 24, programs were looking to make another quick push for 2024 prospects before fall camp begins. Many schools hosted huge unofficial visit weekends. Kentucky had a different approach, but those goals were the same.

With four recruiting commitments scheduled for this week, UK got off to a bad start when four-star tailback Jason Patterson picked Cincinnati over the Cats, and Ohio State decided to take Northwestern linebacker transfer Nigel Glover. However, things turned in a good way on Wednesday when three-star EDGE Steven Soles Jr. committed to the Kentucky and the Big Blue could get its 2025 recruiting class started on Friday when four-star quarterback Stone Saunders makes his decision.

Despite real football starting on Wednesday on the practice fields at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility, there is still important recruiting work being done. New competition has arrived for a pair of Peach State prospects, and one big announcement is on deck.

Let’s get caught up to speed.

New school enters the chat for blue-chipper Kam Mikell

Over at KSR+, we have talked extensively about Statesboro (Ga.) wide receiver/cornerback Kam Mikell. The top-150 prospect is being recruited by most schools to play defense, but UK wants Mikell on offense. That has made the Cats a real player in this recruitment with an official visit scheduled for September. However, the competition is steep.

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Georgia has long been considered the favorite for the four-star prospect. Tennessee also has a fall official visit scheduled. Georgia Tech and South Carolina are also in the race. Another SEC program joined the fight this week.

Dawgs HQ’s Jeremy Johnson has reported that Mikell took an unofficial visit to College Station last week for Texas A&M’s pool party. The Aggies will now get an official visit in October. Colorado is also in the hunt.

There is a long way to go in this recruitment, but Mikell is one of the most popular uncommitted prospects in the 2024 class entering the fall.

Georgia is keeping tabs on Kentucky target Amontrae Bradford

Another Statesboro (Ga.) High product will make the official visit trip visit to Kentucky with Mikell. Amontrae Bradford is a mid three-star prospect who took official visits to Georgia Tech, Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Virginia Tech in June.

After landing Steven Soles Jr. on Wednesday, the Cats also have Caleb Redd in class and are in heavy pursuit of top-150 prospect Brian Robinson. That might take Bradford off the board. Johnson is reporting that Georgia will be keeping tabs on the in-state recruit. A fall decision is expected but the culmination of factors tells us that UK landing the Peach State native is a long shot.

Class of 2025 is ready to get on the board

Friday will be a big day for Kentucky football. The Wildcats will wrap up practice No. 3 of fall camp and will also open their doors for media day. During the event, we will hear from offensive coordinator Liam Coen and what the offense could look like this fall. Later that day, Coen could land a huge recruiting win.

Four-star quarterback Stone Saunders will make his decision that evening, and Kentucky is considered the heavy favorite. The two-year starter with 100 career passing touchdowns before his junior season shows very good touch on tape with some off-platform playmaking despite having somewhat of a funky throwing windup. There is much to like about Saunders at this point in the process.

After some slow starts, Kentucky has a chance to get things rolling in the 2025 cycle.