Kentucky lands highly-touted running back in 2027 class
By David Wasson
Published:
The Kentucky football team has reportedly earned a key commitment in the 2027 class, as 3-star running back Kelsey Gerald from Santaluces (Fla.) High School has pledged to new Wildcats coach Will Stein.
Rivals reported that Gerald committed to Kentucky over offers from Indiana, Florida State and Cal among others. Gerald is ranked 49th among 2027 running backs by 247 Sports Composite.
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The 5-foot-11 Gerald rushed for 1,267 yards on 158 carries and 10 touchdowns while also catching 21 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown in 10 games for the Chiefs in 2026. A two-sport standout, Gerald was also a regional qualifier in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes as a sophomore – with a 10.97-second time in the 100 and a 21.96-second time in the 200.
Kentucky replaced longtime coach Mark Stoops with Stein after a 2026 season that saw the Wildcats go 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the SEC. Stein is a first-time head coach after spending the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Oregon.
Kentucky begins the 2026 season at home Sept. 5 against Youngstown State before beginning SEC play at home against Alabama on Sept. 12.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
