Kentucky football beats out powerhouse programs for talented CB

Kentucky football picked up a monster recruit in the class of 2024. Four-star cornerback Terhyon Nichols chose the Wildcats over a handful of some of the top college football programs.

Among the teams UK beat out in pursuit of Nichols were Alabama, Michigan, and Penn State. Ultimately, the Cincinnati, Ohio native decided to stay put close to home, as Lexington is just an hour and a half away.

“When I went down on my official visit I had a great time with the players. The coaches, they were great. Everything was transparent,” Nichols told Kentucky Sports Radio.

Nichols could be the latest cornerback to make some noise out of the Kentucky football program. Five Wildcats defensive backs have been drafted since 2019.

That list includes Carrington Valentine, who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round this April.

Of course, Nichols still won’t set foot on campus until over a year from now, but he’s still a player worth getting hyped up about. 247Sports lists him as the second-best player in Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class. They also list him in the top 30 recruits in Kentucky football history.

One attribute that makes Nichols so special is his frame. At 6-foot-0 and 180 pounds, he has the build to defend taller receivers, but also stay with speedier guys.

Nichols also may have to take the first year to learn from his peers. None of the projected starters for Kentucky football in 2023 are seniors, so he might have to wait his turn. However, learning from veterans is never a bad way to develop, and with Nichols’ skill, Mark Stoops might be hard-pressed not to play him right away.

Nichols is the 12th commit in Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class. He is also the only defensive back, and just one of four defensive players, as the Wildcats are starting to round up another successful class.