Kentucky backs out of a Big 12 cornerback pledge.
Demarcus Gardner, a 6-foot-170-pound cornerback from Cedartown, Georgia, has committed to Kentucky. Gardner reversed his UCF pledge after making an official visit to Lexington on June 14. His main recruiter has been Chris Collins, the defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. He was deeply impacted by the SEC program in the spring.
“We practiced and played spring ball. Three other coaches and Coach Collins came down to see me during practice. He desired for my folks to attend. Before practice, I took my parents to the school, where we watched a movie. I spoke with him for a short while before having to go put on my pads because it was practice time. I walked out. I’m not sure exactly what was said, but when he spoke with my parents, they both had nothing but positive things to say about Coach Collins.”
Gardner is the No. 58 safety in the country according to the 247Sports Composite, which rates players on a scale from 1.000 to.8714. The native of Georgia participates in track as well. With a long jump score of 21-7, he finished fifth in the Georgia 4A meet as a tenth grader. During his sophomore year, Gardner also ran the 100 meters in 11.19 seconds and the 200 meters in 23.52 seconds. According to MaxPreps, he totaled 22 tackles, 7 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions on defense in addition to catching 33 catches for 793 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense.
Gardner is the third committment in two days and the second on Saturday for the UK in the month of June. Defensive lineman Nicholas Smith of Monroe, Georgia, committed to UK on Friday, and wide receiver Preston Bowman of Pickerington, Ohio, North, decided to attend the Wildcats on Saturday. Andrew Purcell and Gardner, cornerbacks for Enterprise (Ala.), have committed to the SEC program. He is Sunshine State’s first pledge in the 2025 recruiting class.
With the pledge, UK climbs to No. 30 in the standings for team recruiting. Seven of the 10 athletes the Wildcats hosted during the official visitation weekend of June 14 have now committed to Big Blue Nation. Samari Reed, a wide receiver for the Pompano Beach Monarchs, Brody Lennon, a tight end for Gates Mills (Ohio), and Bryan Auguste, an offensive tackle for the Pompano Beach Monarchs, are the three players that have not committed.
Kentucky signs talented wide receiver Preston Bowman of Ohio
Preston Bowman has committed to Kentucky as a wide receiver. This comes after Bowman recently paid the Wildcats an official visit. The Wildcats made an offer for 6-foot-0, 190-pound three-star Bowman two years ago, but his camp performance in June elevated him to the status of a must-have for the UK. Bowman is from Pickerington, Ohio. The friendship was developed over the course of those two years, but he sealed the deal with his official.
The individuals who contributed to that development were offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts, head coach Mark Stoops, and local recruiter Vince Marrow.
“The team has excellent leadership and culture. The city is stunning,” Bowman remarked. “Coaches Stoops, Marrow, Shorts, and Hamdan—along with the other coaches and players on the staff—were a major influence on my decision and helped my family and I feel at home. And a special thanks to Ms. Jocelyn, our host and on-campus recruiting assistant Jocelyn Grimsley, who was instrumental in guiding us around and making us feel at home.”
Bowman is a talented prospect who possesses strength, smooth route running, and ball skills. He’s also got track experience. He hauled in 43 passes for 713 yards and nine touchdowns in his junior year.
There are currently 11 commits from Kentucky’s 2025 class. Quintin Simmons, Ja’Kayden Ferguson, and Bowman are the other two Ohio native receivers in the class. Additionally, he is their fourth Ohioan commitment overall.