After another 5-7 finish this season, it was apparent UK needed something more to next year’s team, and the years following. Though the football team already has a great amount of quality, talented players on their roster, one of the main concerns is a lack of depth to last all four quarters against top SEC programs. After competing most games in the first half, the team always seemed to falter when players got tired and the backups didn’t produce enough. This recruiting class was about adding great depth to the roster, and Kentucky absolutely flourished when it came time for the pen to hit paper.

2016 UK Football Signees:

Landon Young

Offensive Lineman – 6’7″ – 305 – Fr.-HS

UK is getting one of the biggest, most ferocious players in the entire country right out of its own backyard in Young. With offers from some of the top schools in the nation including Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State, it was a tough battle to keep the Lexington-native, but his heart was always with the Big Blue Nation.

Mark Stoops and his staff locked up a commitment from Young several months ago with great relief, realizing the incredible potential he brought to the table. Young recently played in the U.S. Army All-American game, and dominated some of the top ranked players in the country, sparking rave reviews from multiple media outlets. After the game, 247Sports couldn’t help but list Young as a five-star, top three offensive tackle in the country, and the overall No. 12 player in their 2016 recruiting rankings. In the game, Young showed off his tremendous run-blocking ability, opening up multiple gaps for the running backs, including one for an easy touchdown. With the offensive-line being one of UK’s main weaknesses, look for Young to step in early and compete for a starting position.

“I think Landon (Young) is most definitely one of the more talented true freshmen I’ve been around in any school,” Stoops said. “He has great upside. He’s a worker, humble, wants to play. I think he has a good chance.”

Drake Jackson

Offensive Lineman – 6’2″ – 302 – Fr.-HS

Like Young, UK was able to snag another one of the top offensive linemen in the nation from their own backyard, this time from Versailles, Kentucky. Though he is listed as the No. 2 center in the nation, he will play offensive guard at UK, where the coaching staff believes he will be a tremendous asset to the team in the near future. As a highly touted four-star recruit, Jackson received offers from some of the best schools in the nation such as Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Mississippi State, but knew from the start the only choice for him was to represent his home state at UK. Look for Jackson to earn playing time early in his career with the Cats and become a valuable piece for years to come.

“I think a guy like Drake is one of the most technically sound guys I’ve seen coming out of high school in a long time,” Stoops said.

Kash Daniel

Linebacker – 6’1″ – 235 – Fr.-HS 

Known as a hard-hitting, hard-nosed linebacker, Daniel was the third “Kentucky boy” Army All-American. From Paintsville, Kentucky, Daniel earned remarkable accolades by the end of his senior year, winning Kentucky Mr. Football, First Team All-State, Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year and was selected as an Army All-American. Stoops and the UK staff are already impressed with Daniel’s maturity, as he has stated multiple times he is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team. Listed as the 74^th best player in the nation and 3^rd ranked linebacker by 247Sports, it’s apparent UK had to fight off the likes of Michigan, South Carolina and Louisville for his signature — but like Young and Jackson, Daniel knew all along he wanted to represent his home state and the Big Blue Nation at UK. Look for Daniel to knock a few helmets off in his time with the Cats and become an incredible team leader early on.

“We could’t be more thrilled to welcome Kash, Kentucky’s Mr. Football, to our team,” Stoops said. “He exemplifies the definition of a blue collar player. He’s an extremely hard worker and is very driven. Kash is what you’re looking for in a middle linebacker.” 

Jordan Griffin

Defensive Back – 6’0″ – 175 – Fr.-HS

One of the most sought after recruits from this recruiting class, Griffin is a four-star cornerback from Jonesboro, Georgia. He held offers from Auburn, Clemson, Michigan State, and Louisville, and it was a fight till the end with some of the top schools in the nation. Griffin will likely come in and compete for playing time as a freshman, adding to one of the best secondaries in quite some time at UK. This is a prospect to keep an eye out for to make a Chris Westry-type splash in the upcoming season, and certainly the years to follow. 

“Jordan is (the) prototypical cornerback,” Stoops said. “He has the size, instincts and speed we are looking for in a player.”  

Gunnar Hoak

Quarterback – 6’4″ – 190 – Fr.-HS

Hoak is listed as a three-star quarterback from Dublin, Ohio. UK had to fight off Cincinnati and Syracuse for his services, with late interest coming from Ohio State. Hoak is known as a pocket passer with a very accurate arm, and has the ability to scramble outside of the pocket when necessary. Though he is very raw, the staff sees a bright future for Hoak, and believes he can become a starter during his tenure at UK.

“We’re very excited to have Gunnar in our program,” Stoops said. “He has the mental ability and the technique a quarterback needs. He has a great throwing motion, great feet and he throws the ball on target.” 

Tate Leavitt

Offensive Lineman – 6’6″ – 310 – Jr.-JC

As an early enrollee, Leavitt is a big time piece for the offensive line. Listed at 6’6”, 310 lbs., he has the frame and skill-set to become an immediate starter for a quickly progressing and talented offensive line. Coming from Hutchinson Community College, a known hotbed for JUCO talent, Leavitt dominated competition and quickly became one of the most sought after JUCO prospects in the country. With offers from Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma and Louisville, it’s easy to see why the staff is so excited to earn his signature. 

“Tate is a prototypical tackle, a complete player,” Stoops said. “Not only is he a great player but he is also a difference-maker off the field, with great presence, very confident.”

Jordan Bonner

Linebacker – 6’5″ – 220 – So.-JC

Bonner is listed as a three-star JUCO defensive-end/outside-linebacker, coming in at 6’5”, 220 lbs. He is considered the 4^th ranked outside-linebacker, and 64^th best JUCO prospect in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite ranking. With offers from schools such as Tennessee, Nebraska, and Louisville, UK had to battle up until the end to add him to this incredible recruiting class. With 7 sacks and 10 TFL last year for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Bonner is known as a prolific pass rusher and should fill an immediate role with UK losing valuable assets on the defensive line.

“Jordan is a long, explosive athlete that can play in space as well as rush the passer,” Stoops said. “He will have three years of eligibility when he arrives, which gives him the ability to develop in our system.”

Stephen Johnson II

Quarterback – 6’3″ – 190 – Jr.-JC

Johnson is considered a dual-threat quarterback, with elite speed to run outside the gaps and has a knack for making tough throws look easy. The UK staff believes he is an immediate challenger to Drew Barker for the starting position. As soon as offensive coordinator Eddie Gran and quarterback coach Darin Hinshaw got on campus, they reached out to Johnson, knowing his potential impact as a veteran leader. Many fans roll their eyes to the thought of dealing with another QB competition, but they’ll understand why when the Spring Game comes around and realize how talented Johnson is.

“We are extremely excited to add Steven to our team. He is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who has all the skills to compete in the SEC,” Stoops said. “He will be able to learn the system and compete with other quarterbacks in spring practice and as a junior he brings experience and a wealth of talent to our program.”

Dakota Holtzclaw

Wide Reciever – 6’7″ – 215 – Fr.-HS

One of the most likable players of the class, Holtzclaw, a 6’7″ tight end/receiver, is one of the most underrated prospects in the country. He is listed as a 3-star prospect with offers from Cincinnati, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Duke. Because Holtzclaw is a fairly new to football, he flew a bit under the radar in Ohio, but with Stoops’ eye for talent, he knew he had a gem from the start. With deceptive speed for a big man, he can run right by a defender to create separation for an open catch or he can jump over shorter defenders. He’ll have an opportunity to become one of the best red zone threats at UK. 

“Dakota has great size and speed. We saw him run track last spring and he ran a sub-11.0 in the 100 meters several times,” Stoops said. “He’s a 6’7″ receiver who gives us another big target on the outside.” 

Asim Rose Jr.

Running Back – 6’1″ – 200 – Fr.-HS

The Garfield Heights, Ohio, native and 3 star athlete was recruited with one purpose — to play running back at UK. He flew a little under the radar with offers from UK, Toledo and Bowling Green — ultimately chosing UK. When Rose Jr. first steps foot on campus, he will join one of the most talented groups on the roster. With tremendous playmaking ability, Rose has a bright future at UK, but will likely have to wait his turn with players such as Boom Williams and Mikel Horton ahead of him.

“AJ is another big-time athlete with the ability to play many positions,” Stoops said. “He will compete for major playing time at running back this season because he has great size and breakaway ability.”

T.J. Carter

Defensive End – 6’4″ – 245 – Fr.-HS

At 6’4, 245 lbs., Carter is a massive under the radar defensive end from Georgia. He is listed as a 3-star, but had a impressive senior year and the coaching staff sees great potential for the future. With offers from schools such as Memphis, Samford and Wyoming, UK was an easy choice with its track record with players similar to Carter. Though it may take a while to reach his potential, Carter is a forced to be reckoned with and will be a valuable role player in the future.

“TJ is an explosive athlete who we watched on tape and loved the way he made plays,” Stoops said. “He’s an aggressive player that has tremendous upside.” 

Zy’Aire Hughes

Athlete – 6’1″ – 190 – Fr.-HS

Hughes was the 2^nd recruit to commit in the 2016 class, and stayed firm the entire way. After playing both quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back in high school, he brings a dynamic talent to UK. Although he was listed as a quarterback in high school, Hughes played more of a “Randall Cobb”-like role for McCracken County in Paducah, Kentucky, being a run-first player. With an impressive 40-yard dash time, it’s easy to see why the UK staff found Hughes to be a valuable piece to this recruiting class, and will use him in a variety of ways at UK.

“Zy’Aire is another great in-state addition for us. He is an explosive wide receiver with a great ability to change direction and make big plays,” Stoops said. “He will have a bright future in our program.” 

Benny Snell

Running Back – 5’11” – 220 – Fr.-HS

A 3-star running back out of Westerville, Ohio, Snell dominated the competition at Westerville Central. After rushing for 1,826 yards, receiving for 264 yards scoring 29 total touchdowns, it’s easy to see why UK jumped on his recruitment early and made sure Snell knew he was a priority in the 2016 class. Though he received offers from nearby Cincinnati and Iowa, Snell stuck with the Cats and will be added to the dominant running back corps.

“Benny is a hard-nose downhill runner,” Stoops said. “Being the Ohio Division I player of the year it says a lot about his abilities.”

Tobias Gilliam

Defensive Back – 5’11” – 190 – Fr.-HS

Stoops and his staff continued to hit their favorite recruiting state, snagging another great prospect Ohio in Gilliam. A 3-star recruit from Dayton, Ohio, he held offers from Nebraska, West Virginia, Penn State, and had extreme interest from Ohio State late in the recruiting process. Having coached some of the top defensive backs in the NFL, Stoops is an excellent evaluator of defensive back talent — and Gilliam is no exception. The UK staff had their eyes set on signing Gilliam from the start, and in a couple years, he will likely man one of the starting spots in the secondary.

“We are very excited about Tobias,” Stoops said. “He comes from a strong high school program and knows how to win. We’ve had the opportunity to work with him in the summers at camp and we have been very impressed with his ability and work ethic.”

Jaylin Bannerman

Linebacker – 6’5″ – 220 – Fr.-HS

Bannerman is known as a pass rushing 3-star defensive end/outside linebacker from Pickerington, Ohio. He had offers from Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Illinois. At 6’5″, 220 lbs. and a quick first step, Bannerman has the size and speed to be yet another dominating pass rusher at UK. It was evident in high school why the Cats’ lead recruiter Vince Marrow pushed for a signature from Bannerman so hard — Bannerman racked up several double-digit tackles and multiple sack games. Though he may not play right away, a couple years down the road look for the Ohio native to be a key player on the defense.

“Jaylin is a dynamic athlete who has great size and length,” Stoops said. “He was a multi-sport athlete in high school who has the ability to develop as a standup edge player.”

Kordell Looney

Defensive Tackle – 6’3″ – 285 – Fr.-HS

Looney is listed as a 3-star defensive tackle from Springfield, Ohio, with offers from Louisville, Pittsburgh, and Illinois. Considering he only started playing football as a junior in high school, there’s growing excitement with bringing Kordell into the system. As new to the game as he is and how impressive he has looked already in his first two years, he has the potential to become a dominant player on defense. At 6’3″, 285 lbs., he has great size, but will need to bulk up in the weight room if he plans on sticking at defensive tackle. The staff may consider moving him to defensive end, or even possibly at linebacker, depending on how his size and skill-set develops.

“Kordell has great size and quickness to be an impact interior defensive lineman,” Stoops said. “He comes from a high school program that is coached by UK alum Maurice Douglass and he will be a great fit in our system.”

Justin Rigg

Tight End – 6’6″ – 245 – Fr.-HS

Rigg, a 6’6″, 245 lbs. tight end from Springboro, Ohio fits the mold of what new offensive coordinator Eddie Gran looks for in a tight end. When Gran got to UK, he raved about CJ Conrad and how valuable he will be to UK’s offense. With Rigg having similar size and skill-set to Conrad, it’s apparent he will be used in the coming years when he develops better route running abilities and continues to grow into a great run blocker.

“We are very excited about Justin. He has the size we are looking for in a tight end,” Stoops said. “He has the upside to be a physical presence on the line of scrimmage and he also has the ability to stretch the field.”

Grant McKinniss

Punter – 6’1″ – 210 – Fr.-HS

Listed as a 3-star kicker/punter, McKinniss was recruited to Kentucky by outside linebackers Coach Andy Buh. The coaching staff was impressed with McKinniss’ ability to kick touchbacks, as he sends the majority of his kickoffs through the back of the end-zone. He also has tremendous leg power  kicking and is capable of kicking a 50 yard field goals. Though Austin MacGinnis has the starting kicker position locked up for a couple more years, look for McKinniss to step in early as the punter for the Wildcats.

“Grant has a extremely strong leg and is versatile because he can kick off as well,” Stoops said. “We look forward to him stepping in and competing for the starting job this year.”

Luke Fortner

Offensive Lineman – 6’6″ – 305 – Fr.-HS

Fortner is listed as a 3-star offensive tackle from Sylvania, Ohio, with offers from Cincinnati, Maryland, and Marshall. At 6’6″, 305 lbs., Fortner has a nice frame to become an exceptional tackle under offensive line coach John Schlarman in the future. Fortner visited UK for Junior Day over a year ago, and the coaching staff was impressed enough to push for his signature ever since. Fortner will provide great depth for an offensive line that is racking up some nice talent in this class.

“Luke has great size,” Stoops said. “He has the ability to play three positions on the offensive line and he gives us the physical presence we are looking for up front. We are looking forward to developing Luke.”

Ja’Quize Cross

Defensive Line – 6’3″ – 315 – Fr.-HS

At 6’3, 315 lbs., Cross brings the size defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh loves in a defensive tackle. As a 3-star prospect, he also held offers from Purdue and Minnesota. With UK losing valuable talent at defensive tackle including Melvin Lewis and C.J. Johnson, they will need Cross to hit the weight room and develop into an SEC-caliber linemen as soon as possible.

“Ja’Quize came to our camp last summer and impressed us with his ability and technique,” Stoops said. “He has the size and work ethic we need and is a great addition to our team.”

Naquez Pringle

Defensive Line – 6’2″ – 330 – Jr.-JC

Pringle is listed as a 3-star JUCO defensive tackle from Georgetown, South Carolina. The staff was ecstatic to earn his signature, as Pringle is an under-the-radar prospect that the staff hopes will contribute right away. Like Melvin Lewis, Pringle was underrated as a JUCO prospect, but Mark Stoops knew the potential the minute he saw him. At 6’3, 330 lbs., Pringle has great size, and with him enrolling early, he has a head start to separate himself from the competition to play right away on the interior defensive line. 

“We are excited to have Naquez in the program,” Stoops said. “He is an extremely powerful and fundamental interior defensive lineman who was heavily recruited out of high school. We are very pleased he was able to enroll at Kentucky midyear and that he will be able to work out and participate in spring practice.”

Davonte Robinson

Cornerback – 6’2″ – 180 – Fr.-HS

UK received a letter of intent from yet another fantastic player right from their own backyard, this time from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky. Robinson is known as a versatile cornerback, with ability to play all over the field. He earned the notion of being a top cornerback in the state of Kentucky after dominating competition his senior year, earning offers from schools such as Ohio State, Louisville, and Georgia. Though he maintained a list of scholarships from some of the top schools in the country, he knew in his heart he wanted to stay home and lead the Cats to success. Robinson will easily become a hometown favorite for several years to come.

“Davonte may be the most underrated prospect in this entire class,” Stoops said. “He is a special football player and talent. He has the ability to play many positions but we will play him at corner. I can’t wait to work with him.”

Roland Walder

Linebacker – 6’3″ – 215 – Fr.-HS

Adding to the long list of Ohio signees for the 2016 class, Walder is a versatile 3-star linebacker from Dayton, Ohio. Though he can play both outside linebacker and inside linebacker, the inside is where he flourishes. He is known as a hard hitting player, and will give the defense a great sense of toughness when he is on the field. Walder signed with Kentucky over schools such as Nebraska, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Purdue. 

“Roland is an athletic linebacker with the versatility that we like,” Stoops said. “He can play inside or outside linebacker and he is very explosive with great instincts.”

Jamar Watson

Linebacker – 6’3″ – 225 – Fr.-HS

It looks like Kentucky is getting another “Boogie” to look forward to. “Boogie” Watson is listed as a 6’3, 225 lbs. linebacker from Forestville, Maryland. Though he is signed on to play football, he also received scholarship offers from various schools to play basketball. He decided to give football a try late in high school, and played his way to being a 3-star prospect and earning offers from schools such as Boston College, Virginia, and Rutgers. Watson is a fantastic athlete, and with some coaching, can become a great role player on the defense.

“He’s another great athlete who was a basketball player for most of his career, but he had a great impact on the football field the last two years,” Stoops said. “He has the athleticism and explosiveness we are looking for in an outside linebacker.”

Kayaune Ross

Wide Receiver – 6’6″ – 225 – So.-JC

Ross, a 6’6″ JUCO wide receiver from Phoenix College in Arizona. He will provide instant help for the receivers, as he will bring his length and experience with him to Lexington. The Kentucky staff loves to have height in the receiving corps, and with Blake Bone, Dorian Baker, CJ Conrad, and now Ross in fold, it will be tough for any secondary to stop UK in the red zone, as there will be mismatches all over the field.

“Kayaune is another big wide receiver target,” Stoops said. “He is 6’6″ and has the ability to go up and catch the ball at its high point. He will have three years of eligibility to play and we look forward to him having a big impact on our team.”

Stoops and his staff did an exceptional job at keeping this incredible recruiting class intact, especially after what many would deem a disappointing season. With so much talent and being right on the cusp of success in the SEC, the 2016 recruiting class fills the holes UK needed to it fill. With unbelievable talent on top, and now very impressive depth, UK football is ready to take the next step and compete in the SEC.