Kentucky football has pulled off one of its biggest early recruiting wins of the offseason, landing 4-star wide receiver Kenny Darby, who announced his commitment to the Wildcats during a Friday ceremony. Darby is expected to make it official during the early signing period.
Darby, who was previously committed to LSU, becomes one of the highest-rated wide receivers to ever choose Kentucky. His flip appears closely tied to former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, who is expected to take the same role on new head coach Will Stein’s staff in Lexington.
A consensus 4-star recruit, Darby is ranked No. 203 nationally, No. 27 among wide receivers, and No. 9 in Louisiana, according to 247Sports. The 6-foot, 175-pound pass-catcher from Airline High School (LA) held offers from major programs including Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Florida State.
For Stein—who has barely completed his first week as Kentucky’s head coach—this is a statement victory on the recruiting trail. Adding a nationally ranked receiver with SEC-ready talent gives the Wildcats a significant boost heading into what promises to be a very busy offseason of roster and staff rebuilding.
This commitment sets the tone for the new era of Kentucky football and signals that Stein and his incoming staff intend to aggressively compete for top-tier talent from day one.