Even during a bye week, Kentucky football found a way to take a loss. The hits keep on coming.
Three-star offensive lineman Tyreek Jemison, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound interior lineman from Paulding County High School (Dallas, Georgia), has decommitted from the Wildcats’ 2026 class. Jemison had been verbally committed to Kentucky since June, but according to Hayes Fawcett of On3, he informed reporters this week that he was reopening his recruitment.
Jemison, who projects as an offensive tackle (OT) at the next level, currently holds over 45 scholarship offers, an impressive list that includes programs like Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, and more. His decision to back off his pledge underscores a troubling trend for Mark Stoops and his staff during what was expected to be a much-needed period of stability.
Kentucky’s offensive line woes extend beyond the field
The decommitment couldn’t come at a worse time for Kentucky offensive line coach Eric Wolford, who has faced mounting scrutiny over the unit’s performance this season. Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan openly admitted after Kentucky’s last game that the Wildcats couldn’t pass block in obvious situations, a blunt acknowledgment of a deeper issue up front.
That line of play, once the hallmark of Stoops’ program, has steadily declined since the “Big Blue Wall” era of dominant trench play under former OL coach John Schlarman. Now, the cracks are showing both on the field and on the recruiting trail.
Wolford, long considered a strong recruiter, was expected to shore up Kentucky’s offensive line depth. Instead, his unit is struggling to protect the quarterback, and his top commitments are slipping away.
A recruiting class on shaky ground
Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting class now sits at 14 verbal commitments, a number that feels thin amid growing uncertainty about the program’s direction. According to the latest composite rankings, the Wildcats’ class currently hovers in the 60s nationally, a far cry from the top-30 classes Stoops once routinely assembled.
Below are the current highlights of Kentucky’s 2026 class:
Messiah Tilson, S (Guilford – Rockford, IL) – ★★★★ (90 rating) – Committed 6/16/25
Dallas Dickerson, WR (North Oconee – Bogart, GA) – ★★★★ (89) – Committed 6/24/25
Matt Ponatoski, QB (Archbishop Moeller – Cincinnati, OH) – ★★★★ (89) – Committed 7/6/25
Denairius Gray, WR (Chaminade-Madonna – Hollywood, FL) – ★★★★ (88) – Committed 7/1/25
Jordan Crutchfield, S (Vero Beach, FL) – ★★★★ (88) – Committed 6/11/25
Lincoln Watkins, TE (Port Huron Northern – Port Huron, MI) – ★★★★ (88) – Committed 6/21/25
Ben Duncum, DL (Lake Travis – Austin, TX) – ★★★★ (87) – Committed 6/25/25
Garrett Witherington, DL (Briarwood Christian – Birmingham, AL) – ★★★ (87) – Committed 6/29/25
Isaiah McMillian, CB (Katy, TX) – ★★★ (87) – Committed 6/22/25
Max Mohring, LB (Malvern Prep – Malvern, PA) – ★★★ (87) – Committed 6/17/25
Prince Jean, WR (Valdosta, GA) – ★★★ (86) – Committed 6/9/25
Davis McCray, WR (Cornerstone Christian – San Antonio, TX) – ★★★ (86) – Committed 6/3/25
Cameron Miller, OT (Morton – Hammond, IN) – ★★★ (85) – Committed 6/13/25
Delvecchio Alston, LB (Hewitt-Trussville – Trussville, AL) – ★★★ (85) – Committed 6/18/25
Despite having several mid- to high-three-star players, Kentucky lacks the elite blue-chip anchors that used to headline Stoops’ best classes. And with other SEC programs, Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, and now even Missouri poaching talent from the same recruiting regions, the Wildcats’ hold on their current class feels tenuous.
Trouble brewing in Lexington
While the Wildcats rest during their bye week, the headlines aren’t getting any friendlier. Kentucky has dropped multiple conference games, the offense remains inconsistent, and the defensive front hasn’t been dominant enough to offset the offensive struggles. The back end of the defense has been a total disaster.
Now, with Jemison’s decommitment and rumors swirling about potential staff changes, recruiting momentum is trending in the wrong direction. Other schools smell blood in the water, and rival staffs are already circling Kentucky’s top commits.
Can Stoops and Kentucky Regroup?
For now, Kentucky fans are left to wonder whether Mark Stoops, the longest-tenured head coach in the SEC, can stop the slide. His tenure has been defined by stability, player development, and competitive toughness, but the recent dip in recruiting and performance could signal a program at a crossroads.
With seven games left on the schedule and plenty of questions surrounding staff performance—especially up front—the Wildcats need more than a midseason reset. They need results. And soon.
Because in today’s SEC, even during the bye week, losing ground means losing recruits.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion