Kentucky Lands Rare Out Of State, Top-300 WR Hardley Gilmore

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Several weeks ago Josh Edwards, a Kentucky football recruiting writer for The Cats Pause/247 and CBS Sports NFL draft writer, predicted that Florida receiver Hardley Gilmore would commit to the Wildcats.

Friday his prediction came true when the 6-1, 165-pound receiver from Pahokee, Fla., picked UK over Penn State, Texas A&M and Central Florida. He also had offers from Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Miami (Fla.), Florida State and others.

“There was a lot of buzz in the 7-on-7 community about Gilmore picking UK even when he had just re-classified to the 2024 class,” said Edwards.  “As other schools showed interest, he never wavered and I think that was a testament to the job the coaching staff did in recruiting him.”

He is currently a four-star prospect on the verge of moving to the five-star ranking. He is a top 300 player nationally and is ranked as high as 159th overall by Rivals and the nation’s 28th best receiver.

Lynn Bowden (Ohio) and Barion Brown (Tennessee)  are the only top 300 overall players from out of state that Stoops has signed at the receiver position.

“Gilmore is just a well-rounded player. He has shown the ability to win at the contact point and the speed to separate against a higher tier of competition in Florida,” Edwards said.

“He also plays defensive back but is widely expected to play receiver at the collegiate level. On defense, he plays an aggressive style of football.

“(Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam) Coen is building a wide receiver room that is deep and stylistically different, similar to the one he had in Los Angeles with the Rams.”

He joins a 2024 recruiting class that includes Lexington Christian quarterback Cutter Boley, who went on social media to thank Gilmore for the birthday present he gave him with his commitment, and Florida running back Tovani Mizell.

Kentucky should also return receivers Barion Brown, Dane Key, Anthony Brown, Shamar Porter and others next season.