4-star DT Josaih Hayes picks Kentucky

A day after securing two four-star recruits, the Kentucky Wildcats scored another one, as Josaih Hayes made his commitment on National Signing Day.

A 6-2, four-star defensive tackle, Hayes is Rivals’ 160th-ranked recruit and the second-best player from Missouri. The Horn Lake High School (MS) product was deciding between Kentucky and Ole Miss while also holding offers from top-tier programs like Alabama, Georgia and Auburn.

Hayes took part in the Mississippi-Alabama Football Classic in 2019 and was named First Team All-State and Class 6A All-State this year.

Back on December 6th, Hayes made an official visit to Kentucky. Eight days later, he visited Ole Miss.

According to Kentucky Sports Radio, Wildcats’ head coach Mark Stoops and linebacker coach Jon Sumrall traveled to see Hayes personally as well ahead of Signing Day, and their efforts ultimately paid off.

The Wildcats already have a strong class of defensive lineman, and the addition of Hayes makes it one of the best that any college football program has secured in the 2020 class.

Hayes joins Justin Rogers, Sam Anaele, Tre’Vonn Rybka and D’Eryk Jackson as the five UK commitments with a five or four-star rating in at least one recruiting service. That kind of haul is what the Wildcats need to take the next step as an SEC program and eventually win the SEC East.

Dominating the trenches is a big part of how Georgia has dominated the division, but Kentucky is starting to catch up in terms of the trench players they're bringing in.

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