Kiyaunta Goodwin, Kentucky’s biggest 2022 commit, now a five-star recruit

Kentucky has signed three five-star recruits during Mark Stoops’ tenure. Come December, it has an opportunity to sign its fourth.

Kiyaunta Goodwin, a 6-foot-8, 300-pound offensive tackle who committed to UK’s football program in April, was officially designated as a five-star prospect by recruiting service 247Sports on Tuesday. If he signs with Kentucky during the early signing period, which begins Dec. 15, he would be the first five-star recruit to sign with the Wildcats since defensive lineman Justin Rogers did so as part of the 2020 recruiting cycle.

Goodwin is now rated as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 13 overall player in the 2022 class; he was previously considered the No. 49 player in the country and the No. 6 player at his position by 247Sports. He’s ranked as the No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 30 player in that site’s composite score, which is based on ratings of multiple recruiting services.

On3 Sports, a fledgling recruiting site, has also previously tabbed Goodwin as a five-star prospect.

Kentucky won Goodwin’s commitment over Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State and Ohio State. The week before he picked UK, Goodwin spoke glowingly of his primary recruiter, Vince Marrow, based on how he treated him early in the recruiting process as some schools backed off of him due to concerns about his weight. Early in his high school career, Goodwin — targeted as a high-potential prospect while he was still in middle school — was pushing 425 pounds.

Goodwin’s football career began in Kentucky. He played for Ballard High School before transferring to Charlestown High School in Indiana beginning his junior year. After dropping its first two games, Charlestown is now 7-2 on the year. It will host Greensburg (3-4) in the first round of Indiana’s Class 3A playoffs on Friday.

Other than Rogers, who finished the 2020 recruiting cycle with a five-star rating from Rivals but as a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ rankings, the only five-star recruits UK has signed under came from within Kentucky.

Landon Young, an offensive tackle out of Lafayette High School, signed with UK as part of the 2016 class. Young, a sixth-round draft pick this past April by the New Orleans Saints, was rated as a five-star recruit by both 247Sports and Rivals.

Matt Elam, a defensive lineman out of John Hardin High School, signed with Kentucky as part of the 2014 cycle. He was considered a five-star prospect by 247Sports.

Five of Kentucky’s other 2022 commitments — Alex Afari, Grant Bingham, Tyrese Fearbry, Destin Wade and Keaten Wade — are rated as four-star prospects by at least one of the two major recruiting services. The Wildcats’ class currently ranks 22nd nationally and eighth in the Southeastern Conference, according to 247Sports.

Next game

No. 15 Kentucky at Mississippi State

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30

TV: SEC Network