While Kentucky basketball fans have been worried about the sky falling - or at least they were before Mark Pope reeled a strong first commitment - those setting up shop at Kroger Field couldn't be more thrilled with where Will Stein currently has the football program.
Not only did he just land the No. 2 quarterback in the 2027 class, in Jake Nawrot, but Stein has Kentucky up to No. 11 nationally on 247Sports' portal class rankings. You read that right: Kentucky is on the brink of a top 10 portal class in all of college football.
And with another pledge in the pipeline, Stein and his revamped Wildcats are now set to eclipse that number. Three-star, 2027 tight end Tank Proctor has flipped his commitment to Kentucky from Auburn, per Rivals.
Stein Forcing a Flip
Following his Kentucky visit, Steve Wiltfong reported that Proctor was on 'high flip alert,' suggesting the likelihood of yet another Coach Stein commitment in an unstoppable string of momentum for the Wildcats on turf. Now that it's official, Cats fans can officially celebrate Kentucky's continued rise in the SEC.
In a post from Rivals, Proctor outlined what stood out to him about his visit to Lexington, prior to his breaking pledge:
"“What stood out to me is the facility and how the coaching staff and players are all locked in together and are like a family.""
Auburn commit Tank Proctor on 'high flip alert' after Kentucky visit. More on that here: https://t.co/859xNLv0Fg
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) April 16, 2026
For Stein to have created a familial environment less than half an offseason at the helm is a miracle that Mark Stoops failed to accomplish for any significant stretch of his now (thankfully) foregone tenure.
Snagging commits from SEC rivals is a new feeling for Kentucky's football program; Stein pulling this off is the latest in a series of messages the new staff is sending to the most competitive conference in football.
Sending a Message to the SEC
As Kentucky continues to find their name in the hat for some of the nation's top recruits - whether still undecided or having already chosen somewhere, as in Proctor's case - the Big Blue Nation's confidence undoubtedly grows in what the head coach can accomplish in his first season.
Proctor specifically brings steely bit of development to the offensive end, likely to get touches (to a relative extent) alongside No. 2 quarterback Jake Nawrotin the 2027-28 class. His six-foot-five, 220-pound frame makes him an immediate "go up and get it" pass-catcher in Stein's offense.
The Cats are officially playing spoiler in the SEC, and fans are having more fun than ever following along. Will Stein just can't be stopped.
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