Flipmas in July: Kentucky football lands 4-star WR Denairius Gray from Auburn
Kentucky football just scored a marquee win off the field—at Auburn’s expense.
On Tuesday, Mark Stoops and his staff flipped 4-star wide receiver Denairius Gray out of Florida, pulling the explosive playmaker away from the Auburn Tigers in a rare and significant SEC recruiting victory. Gray, listed at 6-foot-2 and 178 pounds, had been committed to Auburn since January 2025 but announced a change of heart, pledging his future to the Wildcats instead.
It's a major addition in a place Kentucky desperately needs. Gray is a proven end zone threat with legitimate big-play credentials. Across three high school seasons, he’s totaled 129 catches for 1,833 yards and a staggering 36 touchdowns—including 11 scores on just 25 catches in 2023. He held offers from Ole Miss, Washington, and NC State, among others, but ultimately chose to be part of what's shaping up to be one of Kentucky’s strongest receiver classes in the Stoops era.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Denairius Gray has Flipped his Commitment from Auburn to Kentucky, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 1, 2025
The 6’2 190 WR from Boynton Beach, FL had been Committed to the Tigers since January 2024
“Respect it.”https://t.co/O1RH5NqnKM pic.twitter.com/4lw2il44HZ
More than just a win on paper, this is a momentum-grabber for a program looking to reassert itself on the recruiting trail. Historically, Auburn has been a tough out for Kentucky—owning a 28-6-1 record against the Wildcats. But in July, it’s Kentucky that’s handing the Tigers a loss.
What’s most encouraging for Big Blue Nation is that elite receivers are still buying into the vision despite Kentucky’s recent offensive identity as a run-first, ball-control team. The addition of offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan signaled an intent to return to the ground and pound days. For Kentucky to take the next step, it needs balance—something Stoops has rarely achieved outside of Liam Coen’s brief but electric tenure(s).
Flipping Gray doesn’t just fill a position of need. It sends a message. Kentucky is no longer content to be second in line for top-tier skill talent. But for this summer success to matter, the Wildcats must deliver results in the fall. Another 4-8 letdown—especially on offense—could unravel the work being done now.
Mark Stoops and Bush Hamdan don’t just need wins in July. They need them in October and November. Because keeping prospects like Denairius Gray in the fold depends on it. But for now, Merry Flipmas in July BBN!