Will Stein's 2026-27 Kentucky roster is one thing; I'm among a (gradually growing) crowd of folks that believes we could be surprised by just how disruptive the head coach's first ever Wildcats team could end up being in the SEC. But it doesn't take the same out-on-a-limb optimism to feel the same way about Stein's second class in Lexington.
The 2027-28 Wildcats are shaping up to make national noise before the season so much as kicks off, and even after a wild recruiting week headlined by Rivals' Summer Signing Day, Kentucky remains in Rivals' Top 25 recruiting rankings, coming in at No. 21.
Stein didn't have to make a splash on signing day, or pick anybody up over the weekend, for that matter, to remain in the mix for national consideration. Kentucky Football, especially when it comes to their rebuilding phase, is far ahead of schedule.
Updated Rivals Industry Teams Recruiting Rankings following a busy start to July🎆https://t.co/pT5tmMCdqN pic.twitter.com/1IvzWfn5KH
— Rivals (@Rivals) July 6, 2026
Kentucky's position with Rivals also has the Cats currently slated at No. 9 in the SEC; that's a massive one-year leap from their widely projected bottom (or near-bottom) spot for Coach Stein's first season.
The Wildcats are climbing the rankings for many reasons, but above all else, Stein has exhibited the ability to pivot when the rare occasion that he's chosen against comes to pass.
Stein's Ability to Positively Pivot
The most recent example of Stein's pivot foot came when, just days after four-star wide receiver Iveon Lewis flipped his commitment from Kentucky to South Carolina, the Cats were able to turn and flip fellow four-star receiver Tyler Fryman from Louisville.
Just like that, a painful loss was immediately replaced by a comparable prospect. Even in absence of direct replacement like these, Stein has made his buck all offseason by quickly patching bad news with better news.
The result is a program trending toward national relevance for the first time in a long time. Now, it's just about keeping commits, well, committed, and focusing on the season ahead.
Keeping Commits Committed
Although, the former can be a more compicated task than it should be. Players are constantly entertaining other suitors post-commitment in the new age of college athletics; guys are even taking visits to other schools after verbally pledging somewhere. That's just plain wrong.
Still, part of moving on from Mark Stoops was finding someone who is willing to embrace the bumpier recruiting landscape and all of the challenges that come attached to NIL rules. Stein has already proven his competency on that front.
Between the inevitable holdovers from this year's roster and top prospects like quarterback Jake Nawrot and linebacker Sean Fox, Will Stein's second batch of Cats holds the potential promise of a Kentucky team ranked in the preseason.
That alone will be enough to bring Kroger Field to the ground against whatever poor team is tasked with facing the Cats down in week one.
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