Will Stein is recruiting like a man possessed. The Cats' head coach is seemingly everywhere at once. He is coaching up spring practices, breaking down film with elite prospects, and hitting the media circuit to sell his vision. After a two-day visit this week, Rivals’ No. 2 QB Jake Nawrot summarized the experience perfectly: “Loved being around the coaches and their complex brains.”
The QB renaissance
For the last two years, Kentucky’s high school recruiting had taken a backseat to a portal-heavy approach. That worked for Mark Stoops. Reports around the program said the head coach was more interested in talking to those who would for sure be there than spending time recruiting guys to be there. While that brought in veteran talent, it left the 2026 class with just 15 players, after Stein flipped a few recruits. That is a number Stein is determined to never see again.
The Cats are currently pursuing three of the top 10 quarterbacks in the country. Along with Nawrot, the Cats are firmly in the mix for 4-star Israel Abrams, who recently named Kentucky in his final five. Abrams, an Illinois native with back-to-back state titles, spent time this week with Stein and OC Joe Sloan breaking down game film. "I had a great time... thank you for taking the time," Abrams posted on X.
When you take time to showcase what you can do and how it fits individual players, it is much easier for them to see your vision of what they could be.
The Texas connection: 5-star Ismael Camara
It’s not just about the signal-callers, though. Stein is using his deep Texas roots to rebuild the "Big Blue Wall." 5-star offensive lineman Ismael Camara, a top-30 national player from Gilmer (TX), was on campus and felt an immediate connection.
“Coach Stein and Coach Leftwich are very close to me," Camara said. "We always say Coach Stein is a Gilmer Buckeye just without the diploma.” In recruiting, those personal ties are the difference between a "visit" and a "commitment."
Will Stein is excellent at time management
I don't know where Stein is finding the time to manage a spring practice and a top-tier recruiting weekend simultaneously, but the energy is undeniable. And I hope it doesn't go anywhere.
He is waking a sleeping giant in Lexington, and for the first time in a long time, the hype in Lexington might match the hope.