Kentucky in position for best recruiting class with possible huge weekend coming up for commitments

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Kiyanuta Goodwin (Rivals.com Photo)

One day after the top-rated in-state recruit, Owensboro quarterback Gavin Wimsatt announced Rutgers would be his college choice, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops boldly predicted that UK would have its best recruiting class in his tenure.

“Big picture recruiting, I think when all is said and done, it’ll be one of the best years we’ve had,” Stoops said. “I feel very good about where we’re going and some of the guys we have in place.”

That was not a knock on Wimsatt, a player UK wanted to add to its quarterback room. It’s just a comment on the strength of UK recruiting so far in the 2022 class.

“It is a little bit difficult. We can’t see guys. You’re not supposed to have guys on campus. I don’t know if that happens everywhere. But it’s very difficult when you can’t see guys face to face. I think that’s the big challenge,” Stoops said.

“Certainly it’s always helped us, getting kids on campus, getting around them and building the relationship and having them see the energy and the culture of our program really helps us. Without that, that’s been one of the challenges.”

Why is Stoops so happy already?

He has a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Grant Bingham of Johnson Central, who strongly considered Notre Dame. He has a commitment from three-star defensive back/receiver Treyveon Longmire of Corbin, who had an impressive offer list. He has got a yes from four-star kicker Jackson Smith of Boyle County, the top-rated 2022 kicker by ProKicker.com.

Defensive back Jeremiah Caldwell of Michigan and Andre Stewart of Georgia are also on board with the Cats.

Bingham, Longmire, Caldwell, and Stewart are all considered consensus top 500 national recruits.

But it could get a lot better this weekend. Twins Keaten and Destin Wade of Spring Hill, Tenn., will be committing Friday. Keaten is a top 200 prospect by 247Sports and the nation’s 16th-rated outside linebacker in the 2022 recruiting class and fourth-rated prospect in Tennessee. Destin is a 205-pound quarterback being recruited as an athlete. He is ranked 416th nationally by 247Sports.

The twin brothers will attend college together and big-time Tennessee targets. Virginia, Louisville, and Kentucky are their other finalists and they were in Lexington last weekend. They will commit at 5 p.m. EST at Summitt High School Friday.

On Saturday four-star offensive lineman Kiyanuta Goodwin of Charleston, Ind., will be choosing between Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State, and Kentucky. Many thought he would be headed to Ohio State but Kentucky seems to have emerged as his favorite and he would be the third highest-rated commit in the recruiting rankings era. If it happens, credit Vince Marrow.

But think about this? UK could have three top 500 players in three days. That’s an incredible feat and yet some recruiting analysts think that is exactly what will happen.

Kentucky is also doing this without players yet being able to get a look at what new offensive coordinator Liam Coen will do to change UK’s offense but recruits obviously like what they are seeing and hearing.

“We’ve gotta go out there and put it on the field and prove it. That’s why we’re not sweating it,” Stoops said. “We feel like that’s going to take care of itself. We like the playmakers we have right now. We know we’re going to build on that.

“There’s always going to be a solid foundation here. On the offensive line, we’re going to carry on that tradition right now and I really feel good about that in the future. We’re starting to get that balance I want. We do feel like that’ll take care of itself as you thrive offensively and improve.”

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