Mark Stoops has taken the University of Kentucky football program to new heights.
He has brought in eventual NFL talent, four-star recruits, and most importantly, a winning culture that Lexington has not seen in several decades.
Heading into the late national signing day, most of Kentucky’s work was already done. They inked home-state four-stars Jared Casey and JJ Weaver, and signed four-star defensive backs Moses Douglas and Quandre Mosely.
Wednesday, the Wildcats lost a pair of recruiting battles with LSU for four-star cornerback Jay Ward and wide receiver Devonta Lee.
However, Stoops, alongside recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow, added another four-star defensive back in MJ Devonshire to cap off what may just be Stoops’ best class yet.
The Kentucky Twitter world reacted to Devonshire singing with UK and Ward & Lee choosing LSU.
Here are some of the best reactions:
Welcome @Mjdevonshirejr to the Kentucky Football Family! #BlueCollar19 #WeAreUK #GetUp pic.twitter.com/lOuldoODpl
— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) February 6, 2019
So basically UK is a recruiting power now https://t.co/nsgmw6JjPH
— AP (@APriar94) February 6, 2019
Mark Stoops officially has MJ Devonshire's paperwork. "That's a good addition to our program this morning."
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) February 6, 2019
BBN pic.twitter.com/bpZ5N2qvF0
— Savage 2.0 (@Mjdevonshirejr) February 6, 2019
Breaking: Jay Ward would have signed with #Kentucky if signing day was Tuesday, but it's not... It is today, Wednesday, and he chose #LSU. #GeauxTigers flipped this one very late.
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) February 6, 2019
UPDATE: https://t.co/XS4mNQpa7H pic.twitter.com/RqgeD0pzHS
Ward is an excellent pure cover corner talent. He probably would have been a significant contributor within first two, three (max) years in the program but not right away. Tough to beat out DBU.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 6, 2019
Devonta Lee teases UK by picking up the Wildcat hat only to chose LSU. Tough loss.
— Aaron Gershon (@agershon99) February 6, 2019
Coach O is dead to me.
— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) February 6, 2019
Cats class would be 4th in Big XII, 5th in the ACC, 5th in the Pac-12, 7th in the Big Ten https://t.co/yoLIqdlyPv
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 6, 2019
When you’re recruiting top talent you’re going to win & lose some battles on signing day. The programs Kentucky is battling on signing day tells me they’re in the right place. UK wouldn’t even be in the conversation for these guys 7 years ago. Keep building.
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) February 6, 2019
If you see @AWilliamson54 on campus, your eyes do not deceive you. The @UKFootball star and current member of the @nyjets is back at UK finishing his degree. @Bradley_B_Roll caught up with him at Rupp last night. #WeAreUK #BringIt pic.twitter.com/NBPHepzKpI
— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) February 6, 2019