Dylan Berymon locks in official visit as Will Stein chases massive defensive lineman

Will Stein promised that his new staff would attack the recruiting trail with a different level of energy. Less than a month into the job, we are seeing exactly what that looks like.

According to Sam Spiegelman of Rivals, four-star defensive lineman Dylan Berymon has locked in an official visit to Lexington for Jan. 16-18.

This isn't just a standard visit. This is Kentucky trying to swipe a legitimate SEC-caliber nose tackle who was committed to Texas until November.

Kentucky football is involved in a "Big Boy" recruitment

If high school recruiting is the lifeblood of a program like Will Stein wants, then you have to win battles for guys like Berymon.

The Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish product is a mountain of a human being at 6-foot-2, 330 pounds, rated as the No. 211 overall recruit in Rivals' class of 2026. But don't let the size fool you, this isn't just a space-eater.

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports describes Berymon as a "bona fide SEC-style" interior lineman who uses his "broad trunk" to two-gap and disrupt the run game. What makes him different is the athleticism; Berymon has a background in the shot put, which usually translates to the kind of explosive, short-area power that blows up plays before they start.

He isn't a project. He is a "point-of-attack assailant" and will be ready to contribute to an SEC line.

Kentucky isn't alone in this fight though, Berymon visits Nebraska on Jan. 9-11, but getting the final visit right before Signing Day is a massive strategic win for Stein’s crew.

Jay Bateman and Anwar Stewart play the connection game

This recruitment highlights why retention matters. Berymon announced his offer from defensive line coach Anwar Stewart, one of the few holdovers from the Mark Stoops era who knows exactly what it takes to develop NFL linemen in Lexington.

But the new staff is doing the heavy lifting too. Berymon has been recruited in the past by new coordinators Joe Sloan and Jay Bateman, meaning there is already a relationship foundation here.

Kentucky is gaining real momentum

Berymon was originally committed to Texas. When a player of that caliber comes back on the market, usually the "Blue Bloods" just recycle him.

For Kentucky to be in the driver's seat for his final visit signals that the new staff has real juice. Landing a 330-pound anchor for the middle of the defense would be the perfect way to close out the 2026 class and prove that the "new energy" in Lexington is real.

Stein said they would do the work. The work is happening. Now they have to close.