Will Stein knows exactly how important an elite quarterback is to a college football team. If you have a high-level signal-caller running your offense, the entire roster immediately gets lifted.
Because of that reality, Stein is willing to do a lot of things to get one of the top quarterbacks in the country to commit to playing in Lexington. But to borrow a line from Meat Loaf, he won't do that.
"One thing I'm not going to do is beg and plead." That is a definig quote for a young coach. Get on board or get out of the way.
Stein's response came after a reporter asked about the quarterback recruiting that is currently happening in Lexington. There is no doubt that there is a star-studded list of quarterbacks who have Kentucky as a possible destination. It is a list that includes highly coveted recruits Jake Nawrot, Israel Abrams, and Andre Adams.
He acknowledged that the staff is in a really strong position with a handful of those elite talents, and he also made it crystal clear how this new coaching staff is going to operate on the recruiting trail.
"I'm not going to get on my hands and knees"
While the spring is dominated by recruiting hype and official visits, Stein isn't interested in groveling for commitments.
"We've had really good quarterbacks come through here. So, one thing I'm not going to do is beg and plead," Stein said bluntly. "I'm not going to get on my hands and knees and say, 'Please come to Kentucky.' No, they better want to be here. They better want to play for the blue and the white. They better want to play in Kroger Field."
I can't begin to tell you how happy that answer makes me. For years, Kentucky's recruiting has felt like an endless cycle of coaches desperately catering to the whims of 17-year-olds. Stein is completely flipping that script.
He knows he has a premium product, and he expects recruits to recognize the value of what is being built in Lexington. And if not? Hit the road.
With Stein's track record, he has the credentials to do that.
The ultimate offensive flex
And let's be honest about the product Stein is selling. Results back up that attitude.
"We have every resource that we need right now to go field an elite '27 class," Stein continued. "Why wouldn't you want to play in this offense? Why wouldn't you want to play for me and for Joe Sloan? I mean, you're talking about guys that have taken guys to New York recently, not 25 years ago... right now, and have had elite quarterback play and guys have translated to great play in the National Football League."
It isn't just coach-speak; it is an undeniable fact. Joe Sloan just helped guide Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy as his QB coach at LSU. Will Stein has developed guys like Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel into elite NFL starters.
Combine that offensive pedigree with a rabid Big Blue Nation that continued to sell out Kroger Field even while the previous regime suffered through a miserable 10-game SEC home losing streak, and the pitch makes itself. Recruits should want to come play for a school that will sell tickets and merchandise even when times are bad. Imagine how good it would be if times were good?
The list of names coming to visit Lexington is undeniably impressive.
Kentucky doesn’t need to beg for quarterbacks if the product is as good as Will Stein believes it is. The pitch is simple now: come be developed, or don’t.
The difference is, this time, Kentucky is betting the results will be so good that it won't have to ask twice.