Kentucky football’s 2025 recruiting class is taking shape, but it’s clear that this year’s group lacks the high-end talent the Wildcats have landed in recent cycles. With only one player ranked inside the Top 200 of 247Sports’ composite rankings, Mark Stoops and his staff will have their work cut out for them to develop this class into SEC-level contributors.
Andrew Purcell Stands Alone in the Top 200
Congratulations to Andrew Purcell on being named 2024 ASWA All-State First Team!
— Enterprise Football (@EHS__Football) December 22, 2024
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The Wildcats’ highest-rated recruit, Andrew Purcell, is ranked No. 173 overall and the 20th-best cornerback in the nation. While Purcell is a solid pickup and a player with legitimate upside, Kentucky’s lack of elite blue-chip talent is a concern in an SEC landscape where top-ranked classes are the norm.
For reference, Kentucky has signed multiple Top 200 players in each of the last five recruiting cycles, making this year an outlier. The Wildcats’ 26th-ranked class currently sits in the middle of the pack nationally but falls well short of the top SEC contenders.
A Solid Foundation of Four-Star Talent
While Purcell is the lone Top 200 prospect, Kentucky has still managed to land six additional four-star players in the 2025 class:
- Mikkel Skinner (TE)
- Darrin Stry (OT)
- Javeon Campbell (DL)
- Cedric Works (EDGE)
- Demarcus Gardner (CB)
- Matels Carter Jr. (S)
This group provides a solid foundation, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where Kentucky has traditionally excelled in recruiting under Stoops. The additions of Gardner and Carter Jr. in the secondary, along with Campbell and Works in the front seven, could give the Wildcats a defensive core to build around.
Concerns About Competing in the SEC
While Kentucky’s class features some quality pieces, the lack of elite prospects raises concerns about their ability to compete in an increasingly loaded SEC. Programs like Georgia, Alabama, and LSU continue to dominate on the recruiting trail, meaning the Wildcats will have to rely on player development and transfer portal additions to close the talent gap.
Stoops has built a reputation for turning three- and four-star recruits into NFL-caliber players, and this class will require that same approach. While Kentucky’s ranking at No. 26 nationally is respectable, the Wildcats must find ways to elevate their talent acquisition if they want to remain competitive in the conference.
Final Thoughts
Freshman QB Stone Saunders was announced as the 2024 recipient of the Maxwell Football Club’s Pennsylvania Player of the Year and was named the 40th winner of the Jim Henry Award as the tri-state player who demonstrates excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the… pic.twitter.com/63AW7XRuGC
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) February 3, 2025
Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class lacks the high-end star power that fans have come to expect in recent years, but there are still some quality players in the mix. Andrew Purcell leads the way as the team’s lone Top 200 recruit, while a solid group of six additional four-stars provides hope for development in the coming years.
Still, in the SEC, stacking top-tier talent is essential. As National Signing Day approaches, Kentucky may need to hit the portal hard to supplement this class and keep pace with the conference’s elite programs.