Ben Duncum, a three-star defensive lineman from the class of 2026, committed to the Kentucky Wildcats on June 25, adding more firepower to a busy month of recruiting for Mark Stoops and company.

Duncum, standing at 6-foot-6, recently sat down with Kentucky Insider to talk about what motivated him to join Kentucky, his personal aspirations, and more!

Q: I believe you were really warm on Oklahoma State and Wisconsin. Were they your final three along with Kentucky?

Yeah, it was pretty much Oklahoma State and Wisconsin, but Kentucky was kind of number one the whole way through. Whenever they first recruited me, they kind of threw me off on like, what they were telling me and stuff. I decided earlier, but I didn’t really decide earlier. I just kind of had to make sure the OV (official visit) went well and that everything checked out before I actually committed.

Q: Being from Texas, is there a specific thing that really drew you towards Kentucky and to go so far from home?

Kentucky is kind of like where I live, it’s like Austin. We went to some cool stuff on the visit and met this tailor at a horse farm and met this billionaire. They got to be with this $50 million horse or whatever. It was really cool, kind of doing all that. My mom’s a big horse person. But no, leaving Texas wasn’t ever an issue for me. I just wanted to stay somewhere in the south, and Kentucky was the best opportunity for me.

Q: Following the elite defensive prowess we’ve seen from Kentucky in the past couple of years, Deone Walker and Maxwell Hairston just got drafted in the NFL this year – what separates you to be one of those guys in the 2026 class that leads another defense at Kentucky?

Oh yeah. I mean, I think my game is different than a lot of other guys. I don’t know if there’s a lot of guys that are kind of tall and lanky that can move pretty decent now, even though my film I didn’t, wasn’t moving too good. In spring, I kind of changed my body. I think, you know, I’m not worried about any of the transfers or any of the other kids. I’m kind of worried about my own stuff. I mean, I’m going to go in there and I think I’m going to start. The fact that I’m going to go in and start as a true freshman is my goal and mindset.

Q: In today’s age, with the transfer portal, how do you think you’ll maintain your high hopes? With high school recruiting and obviously the portal too, there’s probably thousands of people contacted by Kentucky across all sports. How relieved are you to go into your senior season knowing you already have an elite school choosing you?

Guys that come in from the transfer portal, you know, there’s a reason they’re in there. There’s something wrong with them. So, I mean, if they’re going to the transfer portal, there’s a point. You can’t really, I mean, you can’t really trust kids. There’s always something like, if they’re in the portal, there’s something wrong with them..but yeah, I definitely, I’ve been kind of worried the past month or two about that decision. This is a big relief, kind of committing before and kind of being more calm about it all. I think it’s good I can really focus on my training now and getting ready for senior year, getting bigger, faster, stronger, and then get ready, you know, to go up to Kentucky and go in there and take a spot. That’s my goal.

Q: The consensus around Kentucky is that, if they have another bad season, that a coaching change could take place. How does that make you feel as a player, knowing that someone that lead in recruiting you may not be the coach when you arrive?

I mean, I think there’s a lot of rumors with that stuff, but that staff has been there, at least Stoops has been there for a while. I don’t know if he he could have a bad year or whatever, but I don’t think he should go, to be honest, he’s had too many good years ago for him to get punished for a few bad years. I think the staff is, is great. I don’t know, I have seen stuff. I don’t know who that (Vince) Marrow guy is, but he left, he had no value to that staff. He was just a recruiter guy, and they lost one commit who wasn’t even good. I think a lot of this stuff, I think it’s rumors and people like, you know, shouldn’t really worry about all that. I think the staff will stay.

Q: Did you know you were committed to Kentucky when you visited, or was it directly after?

I’ve kind of known, but, like, didn’t know that I was going to commit to Kentucky until they came to my spring practice. Coach Stoops first came in and I, whenever I was getting recruited by them I didn’t think I was very big recruit. A lot of my offers, I didn’t have any offers until February, and I got them all at once. Most of them aren’t actual, like, most of them are group of five. Whenever they offered me, I thought I wasn’t very high on their board or whatever, and, like, I was kind of like a mid recruit that they’ll pull if they don’t get a commit.

He called the DC. I talked to the DC after, but coach Stoops called the DC and said ‘he’s the kid that we want’ and they moved me to number one in their defensive board. I kind of knew I was going to come here because they’re the staff that believed in me the most, and it’s SEC ball.

In breaking news long foreshadowed and often feared, Vince Marrow, Kentucky’s recruiting coordinator and associate head coach, has left the program for a similar role with the in-state rival Louisville Cardinals.

The announcement came as a shock to many Kentucky fans who, despite rumors of such a
move swirling in years past, expected the coach’s longevity in Lexington to play a role in his
staying. Back in December, he even told fans himself that he would be in Lexington for this season.

Clearly, this was not the case.

Marrow is expected to finalize a three-year deal as the Cardinals’ new general manager, handling roster management, recruiting, and transfer portal operations for the team down the road.

Since his hiring in 2012 as the tight ends coach, among other roles, Marrow had become a
Kentucky football mainstay. To many, he was one of the few constants for a program that has
suffered serious change throughout the years.

His departure comes on the heels of the Wildcats’ worst season on this side of 2020, finishing at 4-8 and, of course, missing any possible chance at playing in the postseason.

Despite this loss, the program will attempt to look forward with a relatively finished roster and a clear goal on the horizon: somehow, someway, don’t be worse than last year.

The Cats and Cardinals will meet in Louisville on Nov. 29 later this year, for the final game of the season, as is tradition. Now more than ever, the stakes are red-hot with the program’s former fan-favorite wearing red on the other sideline.

Davis McCray, a San Antonio, Texas native committed to the Wildcats on June 3, marking the second commitment from the 2026 class for Mark Stoops and company.

McCray tallied 639 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 32 receptions last season will also contributing on the defensive side of the ball and maintaining an impressive track and field career.

The 6-foot-2 receiver sat down with Kentucky Insider to tell us about why he chose Kentucky and who he compares his versatile play style to.

Q: With 16 different offers, why did you choose Kentucky?

What stood out to me is definitely being in the biggest conference in the nation, for sure. Also coach Bush (Hamdan) and coach L’Damian Washington, and then also coach (Mark) Stoops. He’s been there 13 years, which I feel like that shows a lot. They’re really great guys. They’re really down to earth people, and I really feel like I could see myself developing with them in the future.

Q: Does your national ranking matter to you at all? Are you in that stage where you want to get it at high as possible or do you just go out there and play?

I mean yeah, a little bit. I mean, me personally, I feel like I’m better than some of the highest ranked players in the nation. So, I feel like if I just keep on going out there, balling, proving myself, it will come naturally, you know what I mean?

Q: What motivated you to make such an early decision on Kentucky?

I feel like I definitely have to lock in the spot somewhere, and I feel like I can definitely develop at the highest level at Kentucky, and I can see myself there for however long I play in college.

Q: Say someone else came down the line after this year and offered you a spot. Would you even think about decommitting and going somewhere else?

No sir, I really probably wouldn’t. It depends, like, how late into the process it would be, but if it’s like during the season, no I wouldn’t. I would say I’m locked into Kentucky.

Q: What do you bring to Kentucky, on and off the field? Who would you compare your game to?

I’d probably compare myself to like a Ja’Marr Chase type of guy. I’m pretty quick, I have the size, I have the frame, and I’m like, a physical receiver. Even if we’re running the ball, I’m still going to give it my all to go block the defender just so we can get an extra maybe couple yards. Off the field, I feel like I’m a great kid. I’m good with my books, pretty smart student. I plan on graduating early and coming down there early. I don’t really like to party or anything like that. I’m more of just like a stay at home video game type of guy.

Q: What’s an interesting fact that you would tell Big Blue Nation about you to kind of show them who you are?

I would say I’m a pretty humble kid, and I’m very disciplined. Most people, like, make a big catch and they want to go celebrate or something. I’m more of a guy, to like, make a big play and line up on the line and get ready for the next one and try to make another big play or even a bigger play.

Q: The transfer portal is so prominent in the world of college football now. How do you think that culture affects players like you that want to stay at one school for their whole career?

There’s coaches always trying to bring guys in from the other schools and from the portal. It’s almost like you’re always trying to fight for your spot. I feel like it also keeps you motivated to keep working for that spot, and doesn’t keep you complacent.