Biggest win? Instant impact? Sleeper to watch? Breaking down UK football’s 2023 class.

Freshmen and transfers played an essential role in Kentucky football’s 2022 season. Now, the next group of Wildcats newcomers will attempt to follow the example of Barion Brown, Deone Walker, Dane Key, Keidron Smith and others.

Here is what you need to know about the Wildcats’ 2023 class.

Biggest win: Devin Leary

High school signees Shamar Porter, Avery Stuart, Grant Godfrey and Jaremiah Anglin are all consensus four-star prospects according to the 247Sports Composite, but no recruiting battle was more important than securing the commitment of Leary as a transfer from North Carolina State. Kentucky landed the top-ranked quarterback in the transfer portal despite him taking a late visit to Auburn. If Leary can regain his 2021 form after returning from a torn pectoral muscle, Kentucky’s offense could soar next season.

Instant impact: Anthony Brown

All of Kentucky’s transfers will be needed to contribute immediately next fall, but among the high school signees Brown might be the safest bet for early snaps. If Barion Brown, Key and Tayvion Robinson all return, UK’s wide receiver starting lineup is set, but almost all of Kentucky’s experienced backups have transferred out of the program since November. There should be reps available for the freshmen, and Brown fits at the slot receiver position where depth is most concerning.

Biggest loss: Cristian Conyer

There was no lower point in UK’s 2023 recruiting cycle than when the South Warren defensive back committed to Tennessee rather than play for his home-state school. A four-star prospect according to Rivals, Conyer would have had a chance to play as a freshman for Kentucky with heavy turnover at cornerback on the roster. UK was able to replace him with some other hyped recruits, but losing one of the best players in your state to a rival will always sting.

Sleeper: Ty Bryant

The commitment from a three-star defensive back who reclassified to spend an extra season in high school will not make waves nationally, but keeping the Frederick Douglass star home could prove to be one of the biggest wins in the cycle for UK. Bryant’s early commitment also established some positive momentum for the class as he became Kentucky’s first initial verbal commitment to stick through signing day since Landon Young in the class of 2016. Bryant played on both sides of the ball in high school but will be able to focus on defense at Kentucky.

Best NFL prospect: Grant Godfrey

One of four consensus four-star prospects in the high school class, Godfrey has the bloodlines to project a future NFL career. Godfrey’s father, Randall, played in the NFL from 1996 to 2007 with Dallas, Tennessee, Seattle, San Diego and Washington. Grant is a strong prospect in his own right as one of the highest-rated recruits in the class. Stoops compared him to UK alumnus and first-round pick Jamin Davis at his signing day news conference.

Hometown heroes: Ty Bryant, Jakob Dixon, Malachi Wood, Tommy Ziesmer, Tanner Bowles, Jantzen Dunn

As normal, the Bluegrass State was a heavy point of emphasis for Kentucky’s 2023 class. Bryant stayed home in Lexington. Dixon continued UK’s recent success in Louisville. Perhaps most importantly, Kentucky coaches proved the ties they develop with local players last over time as Bowles and Dunn transferred home after initially signing with out-of-state powers out of high school.

Inside the rankings

As of Wednesday afternoon, Kentucky’s high school class was ranked 33rd nationally and 12th in the Southeastern Conference by the 247Sports Composite, which averages the ratings of the major recruiting services. That ranking is in line with where most of Stoops’ UK classes finished, but is a significant step back from a year ago when the Wildcats’ 2022 class ranked 11th nationally. It would be a mistake to read too much into the high school ranking though as the 247Sports Composite ranks UK’s transfer class seventh nationally. The combined class checks in at No. 25 in the 247Sports Composite.

At the finish line

Kentucky landed four-star linebacker Jayvant Brown and three-star defensive lineman Tavion Gadson on signing day but lost four-star wide receiver Karmello English to Michigan. Stoops made it clear there is still work to do in the class though, mentioning running back specifically as a position there was still a recruit on the table. That was almost certainly a reference to four-star recruit Jamarion Wilcox.

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