Will Stein is not just looking to overhaul the Xs and Os in Lexington; he is completely rebuilding the Kentucky football recruiting machine from the ground up.
The Wildcats are heading into a massive recruiting weekend with elite visitors from all over the country. And to keep the huge momentum going, Stein just made an addition to the front office, officially announcing the hiring of Erynn Love as the new Director of Recruiting.
Erynn Love brings a relentless approach to Lexington
Love will work hand-in-hand with Director of Player Personnel Jerrett McElwain to run all aspects of Kentucky's recruiting operations. Finding the person who can run the operation and find the right players is huge, and it sounds like Stein did it.
“We are excited to welcome Erynn to Kentucky,” Stein said regarding the hire. “She is exactly what we’re looking for in this role. She is smart, energetic, and a natural fit for the culture we’re building. She brings a relentless, proactive approach to recruiting and has a genuine passion for connecting with people. That ability shows in the relationships she builds with prospects and their families. We’re excited about the vision and energy she brings to our program.”
Elite 4-star targets trim their lists and hit campus
That new vision in the recruiting department is already being put to the test. The Wildcats are in the thick of several high-profile battles, and some massive dominoes are starting to fall even though the Cats haven't caught a big fish just yet.
Four-star cornerback Joshua Vilmael is actually in Lexington right now taking in the campus, and all indications point to the Wildcats leading in this one. Meanwhile, a pair of highly coveted 2027 prospects just officially trimmed their lists, and Kentucky made the cut for both:
Jatori Williams, a massive 6-foot-4, 330-pound 4-star interior offensive lineman out of Alabama, is officially down to a final five of Kentucky, Georgia, Florida State, Auburn, and Miami.
Jabari Watkins, the dynamic 4-star wide receiver from Georgia (ranked as a Top 25 WR in the class), has narrowed his recruitment down to Kentucky, Louisville, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and West Virginia.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kentucky is perfectly positioned for 4-star linebacker Jalaythan "JJ" Mayfield. Mayfield has announced a commitment date of July 17th, which is massive news for the Wildcats because they will get his final official visit in June.
The newest Kentucky football scholarship offers
While hosting visitors and closing in on commitments, the coaching staff has also been actively throwing out new offers to lay the foundation for the next few recruiting cycles. Here are the latest prospects to receive a scholarship offer from the Wildcats:
- J.C. Wessel | 4-Star | Class of 2028
- Keith Nolen | 4-Star | Class of 2028
- Lee Steele | 4-Star | Class of 2027
- Wesley Gover | Unranked | Class of 2027
- Arnold Mugerwa | Unranked | Class of 2027
- Za’khari Greene | Unranked | Class of 2028
- Ezarian Fields | Unranked | Class of 2029
Whether it is revamping the front office, locking in the final visits for priority 4-star targets, or aggressively scouting future classes, the message coming out of the Joe Craft Center is incredibly clear.
Will Stein isn't slowing down anytime soon.