When Will Stein took the reins of the Kentucky football program, the biggest question mark was how a first-time head coach would handle the shark tank that is the Transfer Portal and high school recruiting. Could he swim with the big fish? Could he close the deal?
According to one of the most connected insiders in the sport, the answer isn't just yes. It’s that he is devouring the competition.
Pete Nakos, a leading college football recruiting analyst who breaks news daily, recently weighed in on Stein’s first full cycle in Lexington. His verdict was blunt and incredibly encouraging for Big Blue Nation.
"To put it simply, he's killing it," Nakos said. "He's doing a (expletive) of a job getting this roster together... I think there's a lot of people impressed right now across the country about what he was able to do in the portal."
The 'wild' 40-Minute flip of Kenny Minchey
The defining moment of Stein's offseason was landing quarterback Kenny Minchey, but until now, we didn't know just how chaotic that recruitment actually was. Nakos pulled back the curtain on the "wild" timeline, revealing that the flip from Nebraska to Kentucky happened in the blink of an eye.
"Honestly, that was a situation where I got a phone call and it came together really fast," Nakos explained. "He let Nebraska know what was coming down and then within 40 minutes he made the flip."
Nakos noted that while Nebraska seemed like a lock, a clerical opening allowed Stein to swoop in and steal the show.
"He committed before he ever visited Nebraska...Never signed the contract, which kind of opened up the opportunity for him to land at Kentucky," Nakos said. "It's probably one of the wilder situations that I can recall recently... and just how it all kind of came down."
The Cats won out on this one.
Rebuilding the trenches
It wasn't just the quarterback. Nakos was visibly impressed by how Stein and his new front office prioritized the offensive line to ensure their new QB stays upright. The additions of Tegra Tshabola (Ohio State) and Lance Heard (Tennessee) were highlighted as massive wins.
"You got Tegra Tshabola... who is definitely a role player, a contributor at Ohio State... beyond that too, there's the pickup of Lance Heard from Tennessee who was a starter there," Nakos noted. "So, you kind of like what they're doing on the offensive line to try to protect Kenny Minchey."
Winning the offseason
Nakos cautioned that "winning the offseason" is only step one. The real pressure comes when the pads pop in August.
"I think the biggest thing for him now is he's definitely winning the offseason, but how does the season go?" Nakos asked. "Is it as good as we think it could be on paper with these portal additions?"
Specifically, the "unknown" of Minchey in a real SEC game is the variable that will define Stein's debut season. But as far as roster building goes? The rookie head coach is already operating like a veteran.