Will Stein, the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, has been on the job for less than two days and is already making waves on the recruiting trail. He has signed Kenny Darby, one of the top wide receivers in the state of Louisiana.
Darby is ranked 203rd nationally, 27th among wide receivers, and ninth in Louisiana by 247 Sports. This is a big win for Stein and the Kentucky staff. Darby had committed to the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the summer of his junior year. Near the end of the 2024 season, the LSU Tigers came calling, and he switched his commitment to the home state school.
One of the biggest reasons he committed to LSU was offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, who’s now taking over as OC in Lexington under Stein and his staff. Sloan had built a strong bond with the coach, giving Kentucky a shot at pulling off a surprise win on early signing day. He also had offers from the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss Rebels, Colorado Buffaloes, Mississippi State, Alabama Crimson Tide, and several others before ultimately choosing the Wildcats.
At his introductory press conference at Kentucky on Wednesday, December 3rd, Will Stein shared his motto:
“We win the relationships.”
Stein explained, “I worked somewhere everyone thinks of Phil Knight, Nike, and all that money. Sure, there’s money, but we landed recruits because we built relationships. That’s where it starts. Guys still want to be recruited the old-school way—you’ve got to know mom, grandma, aunt, coach. You have to be fully involved in their lives. When you do that, you don’t always need to be the highest bidder.”
In Kentucky, winning and putting a quality product on the field is everything. A strong start is key, and more changes are expected through the winter and spring with transfers and a new recruiting class coming in. The goal is clear: get the Wildcats back on the map and competing at the highest level. It all begins with resources and relationships, and right now, he’s building something Kentucky fans have long been anticipating.
Bossier City (La.) Airline four-star wide receiver Kenny Darby put on a show during his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, he led Louisiana with 1,764 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns, and as a senior, he added 1,124 yards and eight touchdowns. Over those two years, he racked up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with a total of 32 touchdowns.
This is easily one of the most exciting hires of the coaching cycle so far, and Stein has already made an impact in just his first few days, with plenty more big moments ahead. He is known for his love of offense and reputation as one of the nation’s top coordinators. The addition of Darby brings the explosiveness the Wildcats’ offense has been craving.
The transfer portal will be a key part of Stein’s process in building the roster in Lexington. He believes in this program and made it clear that the time for excuses is over—it’s time to work, improve, and focus on the present.
Big Blue Nation, it’s going to be a fun offseason and summer, so enjoy the waiting game.
For more coverage of Jon, Click here. Kentucky Football’s Next Chapter Begins With Offensive Guru Will Stein
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