Liam Coen is Looking Ahead to the Future at Quarterback

Liam Coen is already on the recruiting trail looking for the quarterback of the future.

On Saturday, Kentucky offered two quarterbacks: one in the 2024 class and the other in 2025.

The quarterback in the 2024 class is Maealiuaki Smith, a 6’3 pro-style QB from Sacramento who currently holds offers from Kentucky, Florida State, San Jose State, and UNLV, but more are bound to come in his future.

I want to thank Coach Coen and the the UK staff for a great visit. I am honored and blessed to have received my first SEC offer from the University of Kentucky! pic.twitter.com/hgvSQruFhV

— Maealiuaki Smith 🇹🇴 (@maealiuaki) August 1, 2021

Enjoyed my day at UK!😼 https://t.co/q2RS2fGxXM

— Maealiuaki Smith 🇹🇴 (@maealiuaki) August 1, 2021

It’s a Lifestyle…@CoachDanny10 @jakemaier15 @StvnBrrn pic.twitter.com/dTGhfKbARS

— Maealiuaki Smith 🇹🇴 (@maealiuaki) October 13, 2020

Smith is the sixth quarterback Kentucky has offered in the 2024 class.

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Alonzo Esparza was the other quarterback offered. The 2025 6-foot dual-threat is from the west coast as well. Ahead of high school, Esparza already has offers from Purdue, Texas A&M, Florida State, and now Kentucky.

After an amazing unofficial visit and talk with @LiamCoen , I am very excited to announce that I have received an offer from the University of Kentucky 💙🤍 @CoachDanny10 @premiumsportsla @247Sports @UKFootball @QBCollective @adamgorney @GregBiggins @RyanWrightRNG @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/exYFNDgEdx

— Alonzo Esparza (@AlonzoEsparza1) July 31, 2021

He caught up with On3’s Chad Simmons in July to talk about what he brings to the table.

2025 QB @AlonzoEsparza1 of @CulverCityFB visited #Kentucky today and left with an offer.

Esparza said, “The people and staff were super nice… I liked the amazing hospitality, the jerseys, coach Coen’s knowledge of the game and the campus.”@KySportsRadio @On3Recruits pic.twitter.com/eGlyPYQs9F

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) July 31, 2021

. @On3sports visited 2025 QB @AlonzoEsparza1 of @CulverCityFB recently and he is a rising freshman with offers from schools like #FSU, #TAMU and #Purdue already.

He talks a June visit to College Station and more. pic.twitter.com/Fu7l2EUqEa

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) July 13, 2021

Throws from yesterday’s practice 🤙 @CulverCityFB @CoachDanny10 pic.twitter.com/qrnjLrri9H

— Alonzo Esparza (@AlonzoEsparza1) June 19, 2021

Esparza is the second quarterback Kentucky has offered in the 2025 class, but the first QB in the class offered by Liam Coen. Bryce Underwood is the other, but considering he’s a Belleville (Michigan) kid who was recruited by Steve Clinkscale, that recruitment may be a bit shaky as he progresses.

Kentucky has struck gold on the quarterback recruiting trail recently. Kentucky currently has a quarterback room with three presumed legitimate starters, a former QB1 star in Nik Scalzo, and one of the best players out of high school in the Bluegrass State with Kaiya Sheron. The depth is there already. Now that Coen is on the trail Kentucky may see more recruiting success at the position.

With Beau Allen still being pegged as the future at the position while Gatewood and Levis are reportedly are battling it out for QB1 in the 2021 season, it’s paramount that Kentucky gets a head start on the kids in the class of 2024 and beyond.

It appears Coen is doing just that.