When Will Stein was hired on as Kentucky's head coach last December, much of his initial merit was based on his nationally-revered success as the Oregon Ducks' offensive coordinator. There, he sent multiple quarterbacks to the NFL (Bo Nix leading the pack) and garnered a reputation as one of college football's best scoring minds.
That was enough to get many folks on board with his coming to Lexington, and when he landed No. 2 overall quarterback Jake Nawrot for the 2027 class, any leftover doubts about what he was planning for the Wildcats' offense, now and in the future, seemed to pale.
But Stein, in a knockout run on the recruiting trail, has left no doubt on the defensive side of the ball either. After landing four-star defensive lineman Malachi Brown just earlier today, Stein turned and doubled down with another defensive commitment.
Per Hayes Fawcett on X, three-star linebacker Drew Williams has committed to Kentucky over the aforementioned Oregon, Florida, and Miami, among others.
"AG2G, BBN Let's work!!" he said upon the announcement. Big Blue Nation, our coach got another stud.
BREAKING: Class of 2027 LB Drew Williams has Committed to Kentucky, he tells me for @Rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 7, 2026
The 6’2 205 LB chose the Wildcats over Oregon, Florida, and Miami
“AG2G, BBN Let’s work🔵⚪️!!”https://t.co/90u4X4l0P7 pic.twitter.com/Xu056EvsCb
Drew Williams is Stein's Latest Stud
Perhaps the biggest running detail in Stein's continued succes on the recruiting front, beyond actually landing guys, is just who he's beating out to do so.
Not only is his former suitor, in Oregon, one of the nation's recruiting powerhouses, but Florida (in addition to Tennessee and Texas A&M, who were also in on Williams) are in-conference opponents that are actively recruiting against Kentucky. Wins like those just mean a little more.
As far as what Williams himself brings to the 2027-28 class, the linebacker's 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame joins running mate Ty Ashley at the position as the second of two explosive options therein. Ashley even posted a photo with Stein and Williams on X, foreshadowing a dangerous connection between the two for opposing offenses.
Last fall, with Sequoyah, Williams tallied six sacks, one forced fumble, and a whopping 23 total quarterback pressures. The guy gets to the passer on a regular basis, and his three-star status may not do Williams' ceiling full justice.
As Stein's 2027 class floats around the national top 10-15, Williams' addition, alongside Brown's from earlier, should push that group toward the former, higher ranking. It takes an elite defense to survive in the often low-scoring, play-by-play SEC, and Coach Stein is doing all he can to ensure that Kentucky can keep up.
For the second time on this especially exciting Sunday, welcome your newest Wildcat to Lexington, Cats fans!
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