The dice are hot as Kentucky has made a huge splash this week to improve the 2023 roster.
Adding top transfers and great high school players to improve a recruiting class that seemed bleak just a few weeks ago. Once outside the top 50, Kentucky’s recruiting class is now up to No. 39 via 247Sports and No. 6 in the transfer portal.
With that said, the staff isn’t done either, but let’s check out the players that have committed to Kentucky this past week.
Note: Rankings from 247Sports.
Khamari Anderson (Tight End, Detroit, MI)
High School Ranking: ★★★, No. 24 TE, No. 454 Overall
Anderson is a monster that comes from a UK pipeline in the making, Cass Tech in Detroit, who produced Deandre Square and Deone Walker. Anderson is a 6’4 230 pound tight end ranked as the 25th tight end in the class of 2023.
With a 6-foot-4, 225 frame, Anderson can be great in the Kentucky offense helping to be elite in the passing game. With Liam Coen and his playcalling, Kentucky’s offense will warrant fantastic tight end play, and that’s what he brings to a talented position group already.
Max DeGraff (Kicker, Lexington, KY)
High School Ranking: N/A
Coming out of Lexington Catholic, DeGraff is the 65th-rated kicker in the 2023 class with a 4.5-star rating, according to Kohl’s Kicking – a training academy that specializes in kicking.
Kohl’s Kicking notes that DeGraff is smooth with his leg swing and has improving power, which could help the special teams unit after the struggles they had this past season. He joins punter Carter Schwartz from Trinity High School in Louisville as the second kicking prospect for the Wildcats in the class.
Lincoln Billiter (Tight End, Pikeville, KY)
High School Ranking: N/A
Playing both tight end and linebacker for Shelby Valley this season, Billiter committed to the Wildcats over Louisville, EKU, and other programs including Harvard and Yale.
Along with his 6-foot-4, 260-pound frame, Billiter brings a very physical skill set to Kentucky as a tight end to help us in the blocking game, especially during goal-line situations.
Marques Cox (Left Tackle, Northern Illinois)
High School Ranking (2018): ★★★, No. 119 OT, No. 1306 overall
Transfer Ranking: ★★★, No. 51 OT
With a 6-foot-6, 310-pound frame, Marques Cox has the size to play in the SEC. Originally from Illinois, Cox a 3-star prospect out of high school in 2018. He is a fantastic tackle for Northern Illinois who had his season cut short against Kentucky in their game in September.
Last season, PFF awarded Cox a 66.8 overall grade but an 88.8 in pass blocking this year. For reference, the top overall tackle graded at 85.6 in pass blocking. In addition, per PFF data, the left tackle has given up just three sacks in his career on 1,052 pass snaps.
Given their struggles on the offensive line in 2022, Cox is a huge addition for the Wildcats and will likely be a day 1 starter that will help try to rebuild the Big Blue Wall.
JQ Hardaway (Cornerback, Cincinnati)
High School Ranking (2022): ★★★★, No. 27 Safety, No. 340 overall
Transfer Ranking: ★★★★, No. 3 CB
Originally a recruit in the 2022 class, Hardaway was a 4-star recruit that committed to Cincinnati over multiple SEC schools. In his only season at Cincy, he played 95 defensive snaps getting 7 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
With the loss of Carrington Valentine to the NFL Draft, Hardaway was a key get for the Wildcats to help fill the gap of the NFL prospect. Hardaway brings a lot of size at corner at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, and is a great get for an SEC defense.
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