Kentucky Football is currently in its most inspiring state in recent memory. Even if most people outside of Lexington don't seem to expect much in Will Stein's first season, the Big Blue Nation far and wide have bought into the new head coach's fiery vision for the program.
Regardless of how the 2026-27 season pans out (that team may be better than many expect), the class that follows the one at hand has garnered a lot of early momentum as one of the nation's fastest risers. Stein's recruiting run has given way to a wave of positive press.
On X, Rivals posted an early SEC ranking based on 2027-28 recruiting. And while Kentucky (expectedly) isn't at the top of college football's best conference, the Wildcats are listed above a handful of conference rivals.
At No. 8 in the ranking, Stein's Cats are above Ole Miss and Tennessee both, and just one spot behind Lane Kiffin and LSU. That class is bound to change, but as it does, we have no reason to expect Stein and his staff to slow down at all.
This is what it looks like to follow through on a lot of big-time talk.
Updated Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings for the SEC👀https://t.co/R5XwHON8pI pic.twitter.com/6QKc85v15p
— Rivals (@Rivals) June 17, 2026
Coach Stein Keeps Promises
Every Cats fan knows all too well that Stein wants to turn Kentucky Football into a real collegiate powerhouse. The offensive savant, in spite of entering his first gig as a head coach, has no shortage of confidence as to the ceiling of this program.
In that, according to Stein, there isn't one.
Kentucky's 2027 pool appeared already deep enough when Stein managed to pull No. 2 overall quarterback Jake Nawrot into the water. That's an athlete with pro potential that you can absolutely build around in the future.
It certainly helps that, beyond Nawrot, Stein has put together a class that has comfortably sat within the top 20 (according to 247Sports), even at times hovering around and within the top 10. Four-star offensive tackle Dominic Black leads the way alongside Nawrot in a group that could fully push our beloved program over the line and back into relevancy.
But we'll have to wait an entire season to even begin considering that team and, in the meantime, have a squad more than worth pulling for working to hit the field this fall. The Kenny Minchey-led Wildcats will be the first to take Kroger Field under Coach Stein's banner.
As recruiting carries on and Stein keeps building what's to come, it's to the benefit of the BBN that we can be excited about both what's in front of us and what will come after it.
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