Kentucky is ready to make a move with a top Texas recruit during Tuesday visit

As summer recruiting heats up across college football, the University of Kentucky finds itself in a pivotal stretch. Fueled by coaching continuity, growing SEC competitiveness, and a proactive recruiting vision, Kentucky is making aggressive moves on the national stage — and no region is more crucial to that plan than the state of Texas.

With June 2025 serving as a high-stakes window for visits and verbal commitments, the Wildcats have sharpened their focus on landing high-upside players from Texas, one of the country’s most talent-rich recruiting territories. The most recent development? A key Tuesday visit that could further bolster Kentucky’s rising 2026 class.

Texas Recruits in the Spotlight

The centerpiece of this week’s recruiting focus is wide receiver Davis McCray, a 3-star standout from Cornerstone Christian in San Antonio. After arriving in Lexington for his official visit on June 3, McCray wasted little time in making his intentions clear — committing to the Wildcats and becoming the second pledge of Kentucky’s 2026 class.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 190 pounds, McCray combines length, soft hands, and a fluid stride. His tape reveals a receiver who thrives in contested-catch situations and displays advanced body control for his age. McCray is rated as the 185th-best receiver nationally and 166th overall player in Texas per 247Sports, but Kentucky coaches believe he’s one of the more underappreciated pass-catchers in the region.

His commitment is a signal that Kentucky is not just visiting Texas — it’s aiming to plant a flag.

Ja’kayden Ferguson: The Next Big Target

The Wildcats’ work in Texas is far from done. Next up on the visit schedule is Ja’kayden Ferguson, a speedy 3-star receiver from Fort Bend Marshall in Missouri City, TX. Scheduled to visit Lexington on June 14, Ferguson ranks among the top 500 players nationally and 76th at his position.

A 6-foot-1 athlete with blazing top-end speed and crisp route running, Ferguson has been on Kentucky’s radar for months. Wide receivers coach Scott Woodward has led the charge in Ferguson’s recruitment, emphasizing both scheme fit and the opportunity for early playing time. Sources close to the program suggest that Ferguson has expressed genuine interest in Kentucky, particularly impressed by its offensive modernization under OC Bush Hamdan.

If Kentucky can close on Ferguson, the team would boast two top-tier Texas wideouts in a class already trending upward — a potential game-changer for an offense looking to evolve from power-run to more spread-based concepts.

In-State Focus: Karsten Busch Among Visitors

While the Texas efforts are headline-worthy, the Wildcats haven’t forgotten about elite talent in their own backyard. Karsten Busch, a linebacker from St. Xavier High School in Louisville, is slated for an official visit from June 20-22. Busch, a hard-hitting 3-star inside linebacker with high football IQ, is one of the most sought-after prospects in Kentucky’s 2026 class.

Though Wisconsin and Indiana have made strong pushes, the Wildcats remain confident. Busch has long-standing ties to the program, and Kentucky has prioritized building a homegrown defensive identity. Defensive coordinator Brad White has personally recruited Busch, pitching him on the opportunity to be the next in-state defensive cornerstone — following in the footsteps of players like Jamin Davis and DeAndre Square.

Strategic Goals: Why Texas Matters Now

The emphasis on Texas in the 2025 recruiting cycle is no accident.

Under head coach Mark Stoops, Kentucky has always shown ambition in recruiting beyond state borders. But with the rapid transformation of the SEC — including the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the league — the stakes are even higher.

“Texas isn’t just another region anymore,” said recruiting analyst Ryan Callahan of 247Sports. “For SEC schools, it’s now an extension of your backyard. You have to have presence there.”

The SEC’s expansion into Texas has opened the door to new television markets, fanbases, and — critically — recruiting battles. Programs like Alabama, LSU, and Georgia already have pipelines into the Lone Star State. If Kentucky hopes to elevate from middle-tier to contender, establishing a Texas connection is essential.

The coaching staff recognizes this, and they’re acting accordingly.

How Kentucky Is Pitching Recruits in 2025

Kentucky’s recruiting pitch in 2025 has matured into a more polished, future-focused message. Instead of simply selling playing time, the staff is now emphasizing NFL development, academic structure, and SEC exposure.

For receivers like McCray and Ferguson, the message is clear: We’re building something, and you can be a foundational piece. The staff leans into recent successes — like Wan’Dale Robinson’s breakout and subsequent NFL Draft selection — to show proof of concept.

Another angle Kentucky is pushing hard? Stability.

In a chaotic coaching landscape, Kentucky is one of the few SEC programs that hasn’t undergone head coaching turnover since 2013. That kind of longevity — now over a decade under Stoops — offers comfort to families and prospects alike.

The staff also highlights the university’s new football facility upgrades, a nutrition program spearheaded by performance director Mark Hill, and a streamlined pathway to early enrollment.

A Rising Recruiting Class

With McCray and 4-star offensive tackle Jarvis Strickland already committed, Kentucky’s 2026 class is off to a promising start. Strickland, a 6-foot-5 lineman from Georgia, is considered a top-300 prospect and has the versatility to play multiple spots on the offensive front.

The Wildcats are also in contention for:

• Jaylen Mosley, a 4-star defensive back from Mississippi
• Tariq Gibbons, a 3-star running back from Indiana
• Hunter Grimes, a highly recruited quarterback from North Carolina

If Ferguson and Busch join the fold, Kentucky could be looking at a top-25 recruiting class — a significant accomplishment, especially given SEC competition.

Bigger Picture: Kentucky’s Climb in the SEC

Kentucky’s recruiting push into Texas represents more than geographic expansion. It symbolizes the program’s ambition to be more than just competitive. The SEC has always been defined by powerhouses — Alabama, Georgia, LSU — but the middle tier has become more dynamic in recent years.

Programs like Missouri, Ole Miss, and South Carolina have each enjoyed bursts of success. Kentucky wants to push beyond those peaks and make their success sustainable.

This means:

• Investing in recruiting at a national scale
• Retaining top in-state talent
• Developing athletes into Sunday-ready pros
• Creating depth, especially at skill positions

The arrival of Texas and Oklahoma in the SEC also means tougher schedules — every year. Kentucky will need more than just a few stars; they need rosters that can compete weekly against top-10 teams.

Coach Stoops: The Steady Architect

Through all this, Mark Stoops remains the program’s anchor. Now the longest-tenured coach in the SEC, Stoops has navigated Kentucky through realignment, NIL changes, and coaching carousel chaos. His message to recruits: We’re not chasing greatness — we’re building it here.

Stoops’ recruiting style is authentic and direct. He focuses on relationships, often being one of the first to speak with recruits on visits. That consistency resonates.

And with a Texas pipeline forming and the 2026 class shaping up nicely, it’s clear that the Kentucky staff under Stoops has zero intention of slowing down.

Looking Ahead

As June progresses, all eyes will be on the official visits lined up in Lexington. Each commitment carries the potential to shift momentum. If Kentucky can convert this summer’s efforts into fall commitments, it could signal a new era — one where the Wildcats aren’t just fighting to stay relevant but are positioned to win big games on big stages.

Landing players like Davis McCray and Ja’kayden Ferguson from Texas would be major milestones in that journey.

And if the Wildcats can continue their recruiting surge, the SEC might soon have to contend with a new power rising from the bluegrass.