Under Mark Stoops, Kentucky has created a recruiting backbone for the first time in modern history. With Vince Marrow leading the way, the Wildcats have been able to successfully recruit Ohio tagged with successful in-state recruiting. That has helped raise both the ceiling and floor for Kentucky football.
Since Marrow became the primary in-state recruiter for the Kentucky staff, the Wildcats have averaged nine high school signees from Kentucky and Ohio combined per class. Among the 13 verbal commitments in the 2023 cycle, seven of those players hail from those two states. These players create the foundation for Kentucky’s roster building.