UK Athletics Photo
Freshman receiver Kenny Darby, a former LSU commit, already had fans expecting big things from him during the 2026 season but the expectations might be even higher after his performance in the Blue-White Game.
He was the first high school recruit to commit to Kentucky coach Will Stein four days after Stein was hired at UK. Kentucky offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, the former offensive coordinator at LSU, played a big part in Darby’s commitment.
Darby had 100 catches for 1,754 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2024 as a junior. In his senior season, he came back with 83 catches for 1,124 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s almost 2,900 receiving yards and 32 scores in two seasons. He was unranked nationally as a junior but vaulted into the top 30 of the national receiver rankings his senior season.
Darby had a solid spring practice and caught a touchdown pass in the Blue-White Game from receiver Shane Carr on a trick play. Darby earned consistent praise from coaches and teammates during practice and did again after the game.
“Kenny is really talented, really talented,” Stein said. “He catches the ball away from his body, and he’s a natural ball carrier. He’s got some freakish abilities that I’m really excited about.”
“He’s a really good player,” UK quarterback Kenny Minchey said. “You guys saw it today, and if you’ve seen any of the other practices, he’s really shifty, really athletic. He’s just a baller. You put the ball in his hands, he could take it to the crib (end zone) from 70, 80 yards.”
Kentucky added receivers Nic Anderson, Shane Carr, Xavier Daisy and Hardley Gilmore in the transfer portal who all have collegiate experience. However, don’t be surprised to see the true freshman playing a lot next season.
Receivers coach Joe Price said Darby doesn’t feel pressure and “feels a tremendous responsibility” to do well this season. Stein talked about the “juice” that Darby provided in the spring.
Stein doesn’t seem afraid to play a true freshman receiver.
“If you are good enough, you are old enough,” Stein said. “If you can come in and be physically strong enough to play in the SEC and play against other good competition throughout the country and you’ve shown the ability to learn what to do, this isn’t high school ball, daddy ball.
“We are putting the best dudes out there. If you can ball, you can ball.”
One Response
It's so refreshing to have Will Stein as the head coach. I'm glad we didn't fire Stoops after the 2024 season or we would have Jon Sumrall and I think Sumrall is a good coach but I think Will Stein will be a even better head coach. He has what it takes to be one of the best coaches. This will be his first recruiting class as a head coach and we have a top 5 recruiting class. This has never happened at Kentucky. We have the #2 QB in high school football. I'm anxious to see who Florida gets to lead there program. I do know one thing they wont get a better QB than us. Stein also prioritizes the offensive line and the defensive line. You have to win the line of scrimmage in the SEC. You can have elite wide receivers and running backs and QB but it doesnt matter if the QB doesn't get enough time to throw the football. Bad line play was the downfall of Stoops. He would rather pay millions for a QB and and pay the offensive line all together a million. That's backwards. Stein will open the eyes of everyone around college football this year. He has a team that can not only easily make a bowl game but can also compete with anyone around the nation. We will have the most talented And experienced offensive and defensive lines in the county. Not in a couple of years but this year. That gives a punchers chance against anyone. Stein knew that's what we needed to compete in the first year. He then added two running backs that could start for any team in the country. He also brought in a proven winner and genius in Minchey. I was worried about the wide receiver room until Hardly Gilmore came back. Once he came back my worries about the receiver room went out the window. We have 4 receivers who could start for any team. Anderson, Miller, Gilmore, and Carr are 4 great receivers to start with and Rodriguez Skinner and Boyer are all capable tight ends.