Kentucky football has top 15 newcomer class

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kentucky-football-recruiting-news-notes-ahead-another-big-weekend — (Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio)

College football recruiting looks a lot different now. Gone are the days of the hyped-up February signing day and teams built with only high school prospects. With the one-time free transfer rule and the birth of the portal, roster-building is much different.

When it comes time to rank incoming classes, we all must remember that there are high school prospects brought in along with transfers. Handicapping in the preseason is trickier than before due to all of the player movement we’re seeing in the offseason over two portal windows.

ESPN staff writer Craig Haubert decided to try to combine the two team-building methods by ranking the top 25 newcomer classes in college football this offseason. These rankings are based on “who could see the most impactful immediate returns” in the fall.

Kentucky checks in at No. 14 overall.

“The Wildcats have been no stranger to utilizing transfers to fill a need under center, and they have done so again this time, landing one of the most coveted targets in [Devin] Leary. An injury cut his 2022 season short, but he was one of the most touted QBs after an outstanding 2021, when he threw for 3,433 yards and an NC State-record 35 touchdowns,” writes Haubert. “[Ray] Davis jumps from SEC foe Vanderbilt and gives Kentucky a proven 1,000-yard rusher.”

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“Looking to bolster the O-line, the Wildcats brought in multiple big men via the portal. Tanner Bowles returns to his home state after signing with Alabama in 2019 and should immediately improve depth. Both starting tackles also are likely to come from the portal in [Marques] Cox, who is coming off a strong spring, and more-recent addition [Courtland] Ford.

UK added 13 scholarship transfers and 19 high signees to the roster this offseason. Many of those transfers will be asked to fill starting roles this season. Haubert is specifically high on Cincinnati transfer JQ Hardaway who has three years of eligibility remaining. Meanwhile, the Cats also have some young talent at wideout.

Stoops and his coaching staff have efficiently used the transfer portal in recent seasons. The latest haul appears to have filled some real team needs and is one of the best in college football.