Previewing Kentucky football's official visitors weekend for June 9-11

The time has finally arrived. Kentucky football will host its first big stretch of official visitors this coming weekend (June 9-11) with plenty of big names making the trip to Lexington. All three of the Wildcats’ current commits from the 2024 class will be in attendance to aid in recruiting pitches as UK will look to build upon its slow-developing group.

By KSR’s count, a dozen rising high school seniors will be in town this weekend, including six four-star recruits, four three-stars, and a pair of unranked prospects. There will be some serious talent roaming across UK’s campus in the coming days — and possibly some surprise visitors that we won’t know about until they arrive. Don’t be surprised if a commitment or two pops during/following the weekend.

Let’s go ahead and dive into this weekend’s official visitors list. But first, a quick word from our sponsor.

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*All player ratings are courtesy of the On3 Industry Ranking*

Kentucky’s June 9-11 official visitors

Jonathan Daniels (OT) 6-4, 275 | Pine Forest (Pensacola, FL)
4-star: No. 67 overall, No. 6 OT

• A late addition to this weekend’s visitor list, Jonathan Daniels is considered one of the top offensive tackles in the entire country. He also has official visits locked in with Georgia (June 16) and Florida State (June 23). Daniels was initially scheduled to OV at LSU over the weekend, but he canceled that trip due to a family emergency. Getting him in Lexington is a significant development for the ‘Cats, which offered in February.

Cutter Boley (QB) 6-5, 200 | Lexington Christian Academy (Hogdenville, KY) COMMITTED
4-star: No. 87 overall, No. 10 QB

• The Big Blue Nation should be quite familiar with Cutter Boley at this point. He’s arguably the most important recruit to pick Kentucky in the Mark Stoops era (and the most talented QB since Tim Couch) and will compete for the starting job from the moment he arrives on campus in January. Boley will serve as a secondary recruiter during this weekend’s visit, where he’ll do what he can to ensure the staff locks in a commitment or two once the weekend wraps up.

Brian Robinson (EDGE) 6-5, 230 | Austintown Fitch (Austintown, OH)
4-star: No. 176 overall, No. 12 EDGE

• Considering how long Kentucky has been after Brian Robinson and how talented the EDGE prospect is, he might be the most important visitor of the entire weekend. UK is trending as the favorite for the Ohio product heading into this weekend. Also of note, on Tuesday, Robinson canceled his OV to Penn State which was set for the weekend of June 16. He’s coming off an official to Michigan this past weekend. The Wolverines loom as Kentucky’s biggest threat for the four-star talent.

Jacob Smith (EDGE) 6-4, 224 | Chesire Academy (Chesire, CT)
4-star: No. 231 overall, No. 178 EDGE

• Speaking of Michigan, Jacob Smith’s recruitment is another one in which the Wolverines are heavily involved. Smith’s twin brother, Jerod, has been locked up with UM since late April. Jacob is coming off an OV to Ann Arbor over the weekend and there is a sense he’ll be Michigan’s to lose at this stage. Despite the twins being born in Lexington and growing up in the Bluegrass State, Kentucky still has ground to make up. This weekend presents the opportunity to do so.

Cameron Keys (CB) 6-0, 160 | A. Crawford Mosley (Panama City, FL)
4-star: No. 279 overall, No. 28 CB

• Kentucky will be the first of three official visits for Cameron Keys, who will also stop at Vanderbilt (June 16) and Missouri (June 23) later this month. He’s one of the most talented cornerbacks in the country and a certified four-star recruit. Keys took an unofficial visit to Lexington earlier in the year and will return this weekend as defensive backs coach Chris Collins looks to lock him into the fold.

Damarion Witten (TE) 6-2, 205 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH)
4-star: No. 365 overall, No. 22 TE

• Kentucky is in a serious battle with Ohio State for Damarion Witten, who suits up for one of the Buckeyes’ in-state pipeline schools, Glenville. Despite OSU receiving an RPM pick to land Witten earlier this week, the Wildcats still believe they’re in a good spot with the four-star tight end. UK, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Texas, and Oregon make up his list of finalists. That being said, only the ‘Cats (this weekend) and Buckeyes (June 23) have OVs scheduled. Witten’s visit to Lexington will be critical in turning the tides back in Kentucky’s favor.

Aba Selm (IOL) 6-4, 295 | Simon Kenton (Independence, KY) COMMITTED
3-star: No. 601 overall, No. 44 IOL

• The second of three commits coming to campus this weekend is Aba Selm, who will also play the role of recruiter. The in-state lineman was the second commit for the 2024 class after he chose the ‘Cats in February. Selm has visited the program over a half-dozen times already and does not have any other OVs scheduled at this time.

Antwan Smith (EDGE) 6-3, 195 | Westlake (Atlanta, GA)
3-star: No. 663 overall, No. 43 EDGE

• Like Jonathan Daniels, news of Antwan Smith’s official visit to Kentucky for this weekend didn’t surface until this week. But the three-star EDGE prospect will be in Lexington for his first and only scheduled official visit of the month. Initially offered a scholarship in February, contact with UK died down briefly for Smith but picked back up in April and has been constant ever since. NC State, Duke, and Vanderbilt are also involved with the Atlanta, GA product.

Hayes Johnson (OT) 6-3, 295 | Taylor County (Campbellsville, KY) COMMITTED
3-star: No. 1,005 overall, No. 72 OT

• The third committed Wildcat arriving this weekend is Hayes Johnson out of Taylor County, who kicked off the 2024 recruiting class as UK’s first pledge back in January. Johnson does not have any other OVs scheduled and appears fully locked into his commitment with the home state program.

Willie Rodriguez (TE) 6-4, 225 | Covington Catholic
3-star: No. 1,045 overall, No. 53 TE

• Covington Catholic’s Willie Rodriguez could be on commitment watch this weekend when he makes the short trip to Lexington. The staff bided its time with an offer for Rodriguez, but once they finally extended a scholarship, he’s been trending toward the ‘Cats. The three-star tight end did OV at Purdue last week but if all goes well at Kentucky in the next few days, signs are pointing to another in-state commitment for Stoops and company.

Cam Dooley (ATH) 6-4, 195 | Valley (Valley, AL)

• Cam Dooley has just a pair of official visits locked in — the first to Kentucky this weekend and the second to Vanderbilt the weekend after (June 16). Although Rivals is the only outlet to rank the Alabama prospect (slotting him as a three-star), Dooley recently picked up an offer from Arkansas and is viewed as an under-the-radar recruit. He visited UK unofficially in March.

Fred Johnson (OT) 6-4, 310 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH)

• Joining his Glenville teammate (Damarion Witten) in Lexington this weekend will be offensive tackle Fred Johnson, who isn’t rated by the On3 Industry Ranking but does hold three-star status from both 247Sports and Rivals. Johnson is another prospect UK has a significant shot at landing sooner rather than later if all goes well on his OV. He’ll also take officials to Louisville (June 16) and Pittsburgh (June 23) throughout the rest of the month, so getting in a good first pitch will be key for the ‘Cats.

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