The Kentucky Wildcats welcomed 19 new players to their program during Wednesday’s early national signing day. 

Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow can finally exhale as the 2020 early signing period is officially in the books.

In total the Wildcats signed 19 players during the early signing period with more expected to sign during February’s national signing day.

Now here’s a brief introduction to each of the newest Wildcats.

Justin Rogers, DT Oak Park, Michigan

Rating: five-star  

The highest-rated player in Kentucky’s 2020 class is five-star defensive tackle, Justin Rogers. Rogers is listed as a defensive tackle but also played on the offensive line in high school. He picked Kentucky over Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Texas, among others.

Samuel Anaele, OLB, Deerfield Beach, Florida

Rating: four-star 

The second highest-rated player in the 2020 class so far for the Cats is defensive end Samuel Anaele from Florida. The 6-4 pass-rusher chose Kentucky over Florida, Georgia, Miami (FL), Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee and several others.

Joey Gatewood QB, Jacksonville, Florida

Rating: transfer (Auburn), high school: four-star 

After three quarterbacks went down with injury, Stoops and Marrow assured to grab a quarterback for next season and the future. They did just that by landing Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood. Gatewood was rated as the nation’s top athlete of the 2018 recruiting class and 49th overall prospect. At Auburn in 2019, he served as Bo Nix’s back-up but still threw for two touchdowns and ran for three more.

Josaih Hayes, DT, Horn Lake, Mississippi

Rating: four-star 

In a national signing day surprise, Kentucky reeled in four-star defensive tackle Josaih Hayes from Mississippi. Hayes is rated by 247 as the nation’s 19th best defensive tackle and third-best player in the state of Mississippi. Hayes chose the Wildcats over Alabama, Auburn, and Ole Miss, among others.

John Young, OT, Louisville, Kentucky

Rating: four-star

It appears no one is more excited to join the Wildcats in 2020 than offensive tackle John Young. The four-star offensive tackle has done recruiting of his own trying to sell several recruits on Kentucky. On the field, Young features to be a future starter at offensive tackle after redshirting next season. Young choose Kentucky over Auburn, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State, among others.

Jermey Flax, OT, Detroit, Michigan

Rating: four-star

Kentucky continued adding to the future of the big blue wall by signing four-star junior college offensive tackle Jermey Flax. Flax is originally from Detroit but spent the last two years in Independence, Kansas playing for Independence Community College. He picked Kentucky over Auburn and Texas Tech.

RJ Adams OG, Woodbridge, Virginia

Rating: four-star

Kentucky reeled in yet another potential star in the trenches with the addition of four-star offensive guard RJ Adams. Adams comes from the Washington D.C. area as he’s from Woodbridge, Virginia. Adams chose Kentucky over Alabama, N.C. State and the school he originality committed to in Penn State, among others.

Octavious Oxendine, DT, Radcliff, Kentucky

Rating: four-star

The Wildcats continued to beef up their defensive line with the addition of four-star defensive tackle Octavious Oxendine. Stoops and company were able to keep the Commonwealth native home despite offers from Tennessee and Texas among others.

Jutahn McClain, RB, Fairfield, Ohio

Rating: three-star

Kentucky running backs have been extremely successful in the Stoops era and three-star prospect Jutahn McClain hopes to be the next great running back in Lexington. The Ohio native comes to Kentucky after choosing the Wildcats over Louisville, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others.

Deondre Buford, OT, Detroit Michigan

Rating: three-star

With the offensive line set to take several hits after next season, Kentucky assured to lock up a second offensive tackle along with Young in three-star Deondre Buford. The Detroit, Michigan native choose Kentucky over Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others.

Tre’vonn Rybka, DT, Dickinson, Tennessee

Rating: three-star

The Wildcats stole a big-body from Volunteer country with the addition of 281-pound defensive tackle Tre’vonn Dickinson. Dickinson is a three-star prospect who chose the Cats over Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Tennessee, among others.

Beau Allen, QB, Lexington, Kentucky

Rating: three-star

Kentucky did indeed sign a hometown hero Wednesday as they added Lexington Catholic star, Beau Allen, to possibly be their future starting quarterback. Allen is the 19th best pro-style quarterback in the 2020 class, according to 247 sports. He chose Kentucky over Georgia, Michigan, and West Virginia, among others.

Kalil Branham, WR, Columbus, Ohio

Rating: three-star

Outside of Lynn Bowden, the Wildcats have had some trouble at the wide receiver position of late. With the addition of Kalil Branham, they will look to flip that script. Branham stands 6-1 and is rated as the 11th best prospect from Ohio in the 2020 class by 247. He chose the Wildcats over Baylor, Florida State, and Michigan, among others.

Earnest Sanders, WR, Mount Morris, Michigan

Rating: three-star

Kentucky picked up a gifted athlete with the addition of three-star wide receiver Earnest Sanders. Sanders not only was a speedy high school wide receiver but also excelled on the basketball court, even participating in the 2019 peach jam. The wideout chose Kentucky over Michigan State, Penn State, and West Virginia, among others.

Andru Phillips, CB, Mauldin, South Carolina

Rating: three-star

The Cats stole a prospect from Gamecock country with the addition of South Carolina native Andru Phillips. Phillips will hope to become the next great defensive back to play for coach Stoops, who has a long track record of developing star DB’s. The three-star prospect opted for Kentucky despite offers from Louisville, Virginia Tech, and Tennessee, among others.

Izayah Cummings, WR, Louisville, Kentucky

Rating: three-star

Kentucky again found their way into Louisville and Cardinal country to steal a prospect as three-star receiver Izayah Cummings is now a Wildcat. Cummings is rated as the 8th best prospect from Kentucky for 2020, according to 247. He chose to come to Lexington despite offers from Louisville, Missouri, and West Virginia, among others.

Rickey Hyatt, S, Westerville, Ohio

Rating: three-star

The Wildcats found more gold in the Ohio pipeline with the addition of defensive back Rickey Hyatt. Hyatt is rated as the 20th best prospect from Ohio, according to 247. He chose the Wildcats over Louisville, Ohio State, and Penn State, among others.

Joshua Jones, OT, Phenix City, Alabama

Rating: three-star

Kentucky added a big body to their offensive line depth with 6-6, 304-pound tackle Joshua Jones. The Alabama native chose the Cats over Arkansas, Florida State, and Tennessee, among others.https://twitter.com/UKCoachStoops/status/1207284349671882758

D’Eryk Jackson, ILB, Dublin, Georgia

Rating: three-star

The lone inside linebacker to sign with the Wildcats Wednesday is Georgia native D’Eryk Jackson. Jackson is rated as the 46th best inside linebacker in the nation by 247. He selected the Wildcats over Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Purdue.

Carrington Valentine, CB, Cincinnati, Ohio

Rating: three-star

Kentucky added yet another defensive back with three-star corner Carrington Valentine. The Cincinnati native is rated as a three-star prospect and Ohio’s 32nd best prospect for 2020 by 247. He chose the Cats over Boston College, Michigan State, and Minnesota, among others.

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