Mark Stoops’ 2025 recruiting class continues to gain momentum.
On Friday, ESPN released its updated 2025 college football recruiting class rankings ($). Kentucky jumped seven spots to No. 18 in ESPN’s latest rankings. Eight SEC teams were ranked ahead of the Wildcats, including Alabama at No. 2 and Georgia at No. 3.
Four-star running back Marquise Davis (Cleveland, Ohio) is listed as the Wildcats’ top offensive recruit by ESPN with four-star EDGE Javeon Campbell named the top defensive recruit.
Campbell committed to Kentucky earlier this month. His recruitment is considered a major win by Stoops. Campbell chose to remain in state over offers from Alabama, Auburn and others, He is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 recruit in the Bluegrass State.
Per ESPN’s Craig Haubert:
“The Wildcats’ offense featured Ray Davis, one of the top rushers in the SEC now with the Buffalo Bills, in 2023. Marquise Davis gives them another talented rusher, even if it’ll be another season before he arrives. A versatile player who could also project to defense, Davis has a sturdy build at 5-foot-11, 204 pounds with a nice blend of speed and quickness. He’s a productive runner who rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a junior.
“Kentucky has used transfers in recent years at quarterback, but ESPN 300 QB Stone Saunders give the Wildcats a promising option to develop within the system. A competitive player with good arm strength, Saunders will be a four-year starter in high school. He threw for more than 3,000 yards and 50 touchdowns as a junior.”
On defense, Kentucky had already received a commitment from defensive back Martels Carter Jr. in May, giving Stoops the No. 1 and No. 2 overall players in the State as ranked by 247Sports.
Kentucky has five players total in the ESPN 300 recruiting database: Davis, Saunders, Campbell (Western Hills High School, Frankfort), Carter (Paducah Tilghman) and defensive end Cedric Works (Dayton, Ohio).
Haubert added:
“Carter has good speed, ball skills and can contribute in the return game. Campbell is a basketball player with limited prep football experience having started playing as a junior but has shown he is a quick study notching over a dozen sacks last year and still has room to grow as a player and could be a disruptive and versatile defensive lineman for the Wildcats.”
The Wildcats’ 2025 class is currently ranked No. 19 overall by 247Sports while On3 has them at No. 20.
REKATED: Kentucky football has four Top247 recruits in new rankings
Among the teams Kentucky currently ranks ahead of on ESPN’s list are Texas (No. 21), Florida State (No. 22) and Southern Cal (No. 23).
Follow us @UKWildcatsWire on X and on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Kentucky Wildcats news, notes and commentary.