Will Stein wants to elevate Kentucky Football to the level of a national championship-competing program. Of course, Will Stein understands that he's got a lot of work to do to get Kentucky to that point; after all, we're talking about a team fresh off a coach firing and a no-bowl campaign. It isn't an easy gig.
But Stein, upon his arrival, wasted no time in working to rebuild this Wildcats squad from the ground up. On3's Transfer Portal posted a list of the SEC teams and their transfer portal additions, from most to least.
Unsurprisingly, the new-look Cats come in all the way up at No. 5. The Big Blue Nation in attendance at Kroger Field are about to see a much different product trot out there this September, but given Stein's proven eye for professional talent, that shouldn't be a problem.
SEC football programs with the most transfers entering the 2026 season🔥https://t.co/yFkbbxQFAR pic.twitter.com/xhZyhAXWOl
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) July 16, 2026
With 42 transfers, Stein and Kentucky come in just behind Ole Miss and LSU (44), Auburn (46) ,and Arkansas (48). There's a pattern there, and it's no accident; every team in that top five is operating under a new head coach this season. The further you get down this list, the more mainstay the team seems to be.
Stein's NFL-Related Hot Streak
The busiest offseasons in the SEC have been by programs working to get ahead of one another. But, if Will Stein is to establish Kentucky as a conference powerhouse in the long run, we'll have to hope that his NFL-related hot streak with Oregon quarterbacks extends to the rest of his team as a head coach.
Bo Nix has become the go-to example for Stein's ability to scout and develop talent under center. And regarding quarterbacks Kenny Minchey, Matt Ponatoski, and Jake Nawrot, I don't think Kentucky fans are necessarily worried about their signal callers.
It was the rest of the squad that could be initially perceived as a sticking point. After all, Stein hasn't coached in this capacity before... who am I kidding? He's way ahead of schedule all around.
Kentucky is Ahead of Schedule on the Recruiting Trail
Kentucky, according to 247Sports, has a top 10 transfer class for this coming season. Stein was just hired in December - the dude is a madman.
On top of that, the Wildcats are positioned for a top 25 class in the 2027 pool by the time that season rolls around, too. Stein isn't just landing anyone who picks up the phone, rather, he's fast-tracking this program's rebuild right before the BBN's eyes.
It won't take any time at all for fans and onlookers alike to see Coach Stein's ability to both spot and land talent in action.
The toughest conference in college football is going to give Will Stein all he can handle, but if the walk matches the talk (and all the numbers), Kentucky will be in for a lot of fun at Kroger Field in the fall and for years to come.
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