Will Stein is in the middle of a recruiting masterclass that could change Kentucky Football forever. After securing a commitment from the country's No. 2 overall quarterback, Jake Nawrot, the staff is doing all they can to land elite-level playmaker 4-star RB Myson Johnson-Cook in his wake. This is a revolution.
Nawrot isn't one to sit idly by and watch the coaching staff do all the heavy lifting, though; the expected centerpiece of Kentucky’s 2027 class is now actively recruiting the No. 4 running back in the country to join him in Lexington. According to Rivals, the Wildcats have gained significant ground in that regard, putting themselves in a prime position to beat out Miami (FL), Auburn, LSU, and Ole Miss for his signature.
To see Kentucky leading that list is, truly, insane.
And understand why Nawrot and Stein are so aggressive in trying to land Johnson-Cook, you only have to look at the prospect's intangibles. At six-foot-two, 235 pounds, he's a huge back whose speed is surprisingly what sets him apart.
Myson Johnson-Cook is a "Hulking" Pro Prospect
Andrew Ivins, Director of Scouting for 247Sports, compared Johnson-Cook to Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr., describing him as a "hulking running back with elite straight-line speed." Johnson-Cook clocked back-to-back 4.44-second 40-yard dash times.
For reference, former Kentucky speedster Barion Brown ran a 4.40 at the NFL Combine, weighing in at 177 pounds. That's a wideout who excelled in kick returns as-is; add 50 pounds to that frame and lose little to no speed, and then shift him to running back. Crazy, to say the least.
Ivins also noted that Johnson-Cook is a threat to go the distance any time he clears the first wave of tacklers, and he possesses a size/speed combination that'd do for top NFL draft picks.
In Stein's system, a back who can simply "get downhill and go" is a perfect fit for a high-powered offense. Stein loves using draws and counters, and if the line opens up a hole, Johnson-Cook is a threat to "house" it every time he touches the ball.
Nawrot Hitting the Recruiting Trail
When Rivals reported that Kentucky was gaining ground in his recruitment, Johnson-Cook retweeted the news and tagged the aforementioned Nawrot with a series of telling eye emojis.
@JakeNawrot 👀👀👀👀 https://t.co/ukGU9T5INQ
— Myson Johnson-Cook (@mysonn2x) April 22, 2026
Nawrot wasted no time jumping into the replies, stating: "You know where home is at brother!!"
A Championship Ceiling
It's incredibly rare, if not downright unheard of, for Kentucky to be in a position to land a top-five quarterback and a top-five running back in the same recruiting year. Will Stein is proving that not only is he "expecting" to win, but he's putting in the necessary work to get it done.
If Kentucky can close the deal on Johnson-Cook, they'll have the foundational talent to battle on the back of a conference championship-level offense. There's no such thing as a "feel good" story in the bluegrass, let alone the SEC, and Coach Stein knows it.
Bringing in this level of high-end, blue-chip talent truly changes the reality of what is possible for the Cats on turf. The heat is rising, and the Wildcats are the ones turning the knob.
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