When Will Stein took over for Mark Stoops, he laid out a passionate plan to ramp up recruiting. He hired a staff full of guys who would recruit and build relationships. He made calls, held junior camps, and sent countless social media posts and videos. Everything you can ask a coach to do, he did and then some.
Former Penn State and UMass tight end Adam Breneman sees something special in Will Stein and Kentucky.
Will Stein’s offense is a magnet for talent
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kentucky coach Mark Pope spent the eve of the Wildcats’ first-round NCAA Tournament game against Santa Clara on Thursday dancing around whether Michigan All-American Yaxel Lendeborg had turned down a lucrative offer to play for him, and blasted the media for contributing to what he called a “circus” surrounding his program.
Lendeborg, who was among the nation’s most coveted players when he decided to leave UAB, told The Associated Press in a story published Monday that what Kentucky offered “started the number with $7 (million) to $9 (million),” and that the implication was “they were pretty much going off on the route like, ‘We’ll pay him anything to get here.’”Advertisement
Will Stein said everyone wanted to work with Will Stein, some thought it a little too arrogant for a first-year head coach. But just 4 months later, you can pretty much say he was right on.
Kentucky is in with over 5 of the top 25 quarterbacks in the 2027 class. Several are visiting Lexington or have done so, and others are highly interested in what Stein is selling. This includes the number 1 and number 2 prospects. That is not something that you can say about any other point in modern Kentucky football history.
So, when Adam Breneman says, “College football is about to have its next elite recruiter,” it makes perfect sense that it is Will Stein.
Some coaches believe their scheme is untouchable, and they will make guys bend to what they want them to do. Stein told Breneman that he would spend time, “Playing to the strengths of your team…Not trying to fit a player into my offense, fit my offense into the player.”
Sounds simple, but that little switch allows Stein’s offense to go from a passing attack to a rushing attack and back again, and not lose any steam at all.
That kind of ability to mold your offense to your best talent maximizes your chance to win football games. This is why Breneman is high on Will Stein.
“Stein should be able to take them from the worst recruiting team in the SEC to the top…Kentucky might become a football hotbed.”
Music to BBN’s ears.
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