{"id":9288,"date":"2026-07-18T05:42:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T00:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9288"},"modified":"2026-07-18T05:42:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T00:42:34","slug":"kentuckys-brutal-track-record-with-5-star-recruits-is-something-will-stein-must-fix-fast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9288","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky&#8217;s brutal track record with 5-star recruits is something Will Stein must fix fast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div on-document:qinit=\"q-C9vkSXu6.js#_hW[0]\" q:key=\"QW_9\" q:id=\"5d\"><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=5e q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Obviously, Kentucky Football&#39;s miserable recruiting history, at least as far as the best of the best goes, is no fault of Will Stein&#39;s. The new head coach has done everything in his power since being hired in December to overturn those pitiful expectations, and already, he&#39;s off to a hot start.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5f q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5g\">Obviously, Kentucky Football&#8217;s miserable recruiting history, at least as far as the best of the best goes, is no fault of Will Stein&#8217;s. The new head coach has done everything in his power since being hired in December to overturn those pitiful expectations, and already, he&#8217;s off to a hot start.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=5h q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Four-star quarterback Jake Nawrot ranks as Kentucky&#39;s fourth highest recruit of all time, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/college\/kentucky\/sport\/football\/alltimerecruits\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">247Sports. <\/a>That&#39;s incredible, of course, but there&#39;s an issue in there that has nothing to do with Nawrot; on that very same list, the three recruits above him are all well removed from the team now.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5i q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5j\">Four-star quarterback Jake Nawrot ranks as Kentucky&#8217;s fourth highest recruit of all time, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/college\/kentucky\/sport\/football\/alltimerecruits\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">247Sports. <\/a>That&#8217;s incredible, of course, but there&#8217;s an issue in there that has nothing to do with Nawrot; on that very same list, the three recruits above him are all well removed from the team now.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=5k q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Kentucky&#39;s last five-star recruit came in the form of offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin in 2022... who would promptly transfer to Florida less than one year after his enrollment. Linebacker Micah Johnson and tackle Antonio Hall come in above him, but each of those guys were in Lexington in 2006 or earlier.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5l q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5m\">Kentucky&#8217;s last five-star recruit came in the form of offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin in 2022&#8230; who would promptly transfer to Florida less than one year after his enrollment. Linebacker Micah Johnson and tackle Antonio Hall come in above him, but each of those guys were in Lexington in 2006 or earlier.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=5n q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>This is a program that, in spite of some intermittent recruiting successes, has consistently failed to bring in five-star talent, or compete on the national scale. We know Will Stein intends to change the latter, but to do that, he&#39;ll have to address the former problem first... and fast.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=5o q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"5p\">This is a program that, in spite of some intermittent recruiting successes, has consistently failed to bring in five-star talent, or compete on the national scale. We know Will Stein intends to change the latter, but to do that, he&#8217;ll have to address the former problem first&#8230; and fast.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=5q q:key=vcaa:https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_3767,h_2118,x_485,y_357\/images\/ReutersImages\/mmsport\/198\/01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg--><!--qv q:id=5r q:key=VjqC:mL_1--><!--qv q:id=5s q:key=deAA:7d_3--><!--qv q:s q:sref=5s q:key=--><!--qv q:id=5t q:key=deAA:7d_2--><!--qv q:s q:sref=5t q:key=--><!--qv q:id=5u q:key=cHU9:7d_1--><!--qv q:id=5v q:key=deAA:e2_0--><!--qv q:id=5w q:key=B0c2:SZ_1--><\/p>\n<figure q:key=\"9m_3\" q:id=\"5x\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=5w q:key=--><!--qv q:s q:sref=5v q:key=--><\/p>\n<div class=\"overflow-hidden undefined\" on:qvisible=\"q-HNKMx1Ny.js#_hW[0]\" on-document:qinit=\"q-BXWQ7fFR.js#_hW[1]\" q:id=\"5y\"><picture style=\"aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_360,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 1x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 2x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 1x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 2x, &#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 1x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 2x,&#10;    https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FReutersImages%2Fmmsport%2F198%2F01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_485,y_357,w_3767,h_2118\/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ReutersImages\/mmsport\/198\/01kxs3azke72hfg6143m.jpg\" alt=\"Former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein\" title=\"Former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein\" width=\"360\" height=\"203\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"5z\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/p>\n<p><figcaption q:id=\"60\">Former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein speaks during a media day as the Oregon Ducks arrive on Jan. 7, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia ahead of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=61 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>That may not seem like a fair assessment upon a first glance, and if that&#39;s your perspective, you&#39;re probably right. But I&#39;m not the one hyping up this new era (at least not always) - that&#39;d be Coach Stein himself. <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcatbluenation.com\/will-stein-just-set-the-bar-at-the-national-championship-level-for-kentucky-football-fans-01kxnrx3f7yb\" target=\"_blank\">That&#39;s part of the reason why Kentucky fans love him.<\/a><\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=62 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"63\">That may not seem like a fair assessment upon a first glance, and if that&#8217;s your perspective, you&#8217;re probably right. But I&#8217;m not the one hyping up this new era (at least not always) &#8211; that&#8217;d be Coach Stein himself. <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcatbluenation.com\/will-stein-just-set-the-bar-at-the-national-championship-level-for-kentucky-football-fans-01kxnrx3f7yb\" target=\"_blank\">That&#8217;s part of the reason why Kentucky fans love him.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=64 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>The Gap Between Four and Five-Star Talent<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=65 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"66\">The Gap Between Four and Five-Star Talent<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=67 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The 2027 class trending for a top 25 spot early is also probably a big part of his popularity in Lexington, too, and it&#39;s the best sign we&#39;ve yet received that he&#39;s got this thing trending in the right direction. But just as a win in the Citrus Bowl isn&#39;t the same thing as an appearance in the College Football Playoff, there&#39;s a gap between four and five-star talent for a reason.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=68 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"69\">The 2027 class trending for a top 25 spot early is also probably a big part of his popularity in Lexington, too, and it&#8217;s the best sign we&#8217;ve yet received that he&#8217;s got this thing trending in the right direction. But just as a win in the Citrus Bowl isn&#8217;t the same thing as an appearance in the College Football Playoff, there&#8217;s a gap between four and five-star talent for a reason.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6a q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Now, I do believe there&#39;s a chance that the aforementioned Nawrot can slide up into five-star territory; he&#39;s that good. And, in the same breath, a player&#39;s designation doesn&#39;t mean everything as to how they&#39;ll actually end up on the field.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6b q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6c\">Now, I do believe there&#8217;s a chance that the aforementioned Nawrot can slide up into five-star territory; he&#8217;s that good. And, in the same breath, a player&#8217;s designation doesn&#8217;t mean everything as to how they&#8217;ll actually end up on the field.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6d q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>But Kentucky&#39;s consistent failure to land the big names coinciding with their similarly consistent mediocrity in football, all things considered, has to mean more than nothing.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6e q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6f\">But Kentucky&#8217;s consistent failure to land the big names coinciding with their similarly consistent mediocrity in football, all things considered, has to mean more than nothing.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6g q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Getting Mark Stoops out the door was the first step, and even before hiring Stein, the program was in a good spot to take a step forward. Now, though, with a recruiting menace calling the shots, confidence is rising that Kentucky can actually silence this hiccup that has haunted <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcatbluenation.com\/kentucky-s-kroger-field-isn-t-getting-near-enough-credit-amongst-other-sec-stadiums-01kxjwav2fb6\" target=\"_blank\">Kroger Field<\/a> for literal decades.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6h q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6i\">Getting Mark Stoops out the door was the first step, and even before hiring Stein, the program was in a good spot to take a step forward. Now, though, with a recruiting menace calling the shots, confidence is rising that Kentucky can actually silence this hiccup that has haunted <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcatbluenation.com\/kentucky-s-kroger-field-isn-t-getting-near-enough-credit-amongst-other-sec-stadiums-01kxjwav2fb6\" target=\"_blank\">Kroger Field<\/a> for literal decades.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_6--><!--qv q:id=6j q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>To boot, I imagine a big part of future recruiting efforts will be how <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcatbluenation.com\/will-stein-s-eye-for-talent-will-be-immediately-obvious-in-his-first-kentucky-season-01kxp36ty7h0\" target=\"_blank\">Stein-coached teams<\/a> actually play. For that, of course, we&#39;ll have to hold on just a little bit longer.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6k q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6l\">To boot, I imagine a big part of future recruiting efforts will be how <a href=\"https:\/\/wildcatbluenation.com\/will-stein-s-eye-for-talent-will-be-immediately-obvious-in-his-first-kentucky-season-01kxp36ty7h0\" target=\"_blank\">Stein-coached teams<\/a> actually play. For that, of course, we&#8217;ll have to hold on just a little bit longer.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=6m q:key=1jXG:QW_7--><!--qv q:id=6n q:key=9yVI:Ef_0--><\/p>\n<div on:click=\"q-PR6RmUkK.js#s_Ytib2zHV0Tc[0 1]\" q:key=\"WY_1\" q:id=\"6o\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=6n q:key=--><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"google-news-widget\" class=\"voltax-google-preferred-source my-5 p-4 flex items-center gap-4 rounded-lg bg-[#F0F0F0]\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/><span class=\"font-group-big text-black text-[16px]\">Add us as a preferred source on <span class=\"font-bold\">Google<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><a aria-label=\"Follow wildcatbluenation.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=wildcatbluenation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\"><span class=\"hidden pt-[1px] leading-[1.4] md:inline\">Follow<\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 4 8\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"h-[12px] w-[6px] md:h-[8px] md:w-[4px]\"><path d=\"M0.5 0.5L3.5 4L0.5 7.5\" stroke=\"white\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Obviously, Kentucky Football&#8217;s miserable recruiting history, at least as far as the best of the best goes, is no fault of Will Stein&#8217;s. The new head coach has done everything in his power since being hired in December to overturn those pitiful expectations, and already, he&#8217;s off to a hot start. Four-star quarterback Jake Nawrot&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_397,y_48,w_4964,h_2792\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_1440:810,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ReutersImages\/mmsport\/198\/01kxs13cfm3y448mvxgs.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9288\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}