As the ink prepares to dry on the final signatures of the 2020 college football recruiting class, Kentucky finds itself in relatively good shape entering Wednesday’s final signing day. There are a couple of expected late additions to the class, but Kentucky largely took care of its business early, and even has around 10 players of the class already enrolled and in classes in Lexington.

Which makes this an ideal time to weigh in on what will stand out about the class down the line?

1. This is the class where Kentucky loaded up on the defensive line

While Mark Stoops’ past couple of Kentucky defenses have fared well, they’ve always been thin up front and have had to rely on sign-and-develop stories like senior Calvin Taylor. This time, Kentucky added 3 4-star defensive line signees (per 247sports.com), as well as a couple of high-ceiling 3-star players. Four star tackles Justin Rogers (51st ranked player in the nation), Josaih Hayes (250th) and end Samuel Anaele (272nd) will anchor the class, but don’t be surprised if tackles Tre’vonn Rybka or Octavious Oxendine end up starring as well. Pound for pound, this is the best job Kentucky’s done in the defensive trenches for many, many years (if not ever).

2. This is the class when Kentucky finally landed the star QB

All of this is said with apologies to high 3-star in-state QB Beau Allen, who has both the genes (his father played at UK) and the skill set to be a good one. But Kentucky’s QB picture the past few years has mostly consisted of painful recruiting losses of commits like Mac Jones and Jarren Williams. This time it was UK scooping up someone else’s fumbled QB — as Auburn transfer Joey Gatewood is exactly the sort of strong, dual-threat prototype that Stoops and Co. will love to plug into the lineup in Lexington. Even if Gatewood doesn’t gain eligibility for 2020, he’ll be ready to take the reins from Terry Wilson in 2021, with Allen the potential next man up after that.

3. This is the class when Kentucky still hadn’t quite locked down the state

Given the relative scarcity of big-time prospects the state produces, it’s almost imperative that Kentucky lock down its state borders. Once upon a time, Kentucky had to ward off Louisville for recruits, but the demise of Bobby Petrino gave Kentucky a nice opening and it has taken advantage of it to gain a recruiting lead over the Cardinals. Problem is, some of the P5 powers are still poaching.

Kentucky did well — nabbing the state’s Nos. 3, 4 and 5 ranked players in 4-star tackle John Young, safety Vito Tisdale, and the aforementioned QB Allen. UK also took home the state’s 7th- and 8th-ranked players, and basically didn’t lose anybody they wanted below those spots.

However, 5-star tight end Michael Mayer was an early commit to Notre Dame and 4-star tackle Walker Parks (49th best player in the nation) signed with Clemson. In neither case was Kentucky a meaningful presence of the No. 1 and No. 2 in-state prospects.

In total, Kentucky got 5 of the top 8 in-state recruits in 2020 after getting just 3 of the top 10 last year — and none in the top 6.

Stoops and Co. are thrilled with the players they nabbed in 2020 — but in 2021 and years ahead, if they want to gain on the SEC East, they have to keep the best of the best home in Kentucky.

The good news is that the Wildcats are in better position with Kentucky’s top 2 2021 prospects — guard Jager Burton and wide receiver Dekel Crowdus.