Kentucky didn’t waste any time in the 2027 recruiting cycle—and they made it count in a big way. On Monday evening, the Wildcats locked in their first quarterback commit of the class, creating plenty of buzz around Lexington. After a slow start last year, this early win feels different—and it didn’t go unnoticed. Head coach Mark Stoops responded with energy, hinting that the future of Kentucky’s QB room is already shaping up to be something special. And the message? The Cats are cooking—and they’re ahead of schedule.

On April 8th, On3 Recruits dropped the news—Bearden QB DJ Hunter is officially a Wildcat. However, the 2027 prospect made waves in his 1st season after transferring from Horn Lake to Bearden in 2024. And he didn’t waste time making an impact. Hunter racked up over 1,400 passing yards in his Tennessee debut, turning heads across the region. As soon as the tape got out, the offers started rolling in. And now, Kentucky’s locked in a rising star.

So, standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, DJ Hunter is officially Big Blue bound. Well, the rising junior announced his commitment to Kentucky after a weekend visit to Lexington—and he didn’t hold back, stating, “1,000% committed. I’m coming home BBN 🔵⚪️.”

Here,  OC Bush Hamdan and head coach Mark Stoops clearly made their mark, locking in their first 2027 commit in style. As of now, with Hunter leading the charge, Kentucky’s QB future just got a whole lot brighter. If his rise continues, Lexington might be chanting his name for years to come. And following DJ Hunter’s commitment, On3 put it simply, writing, “Wildcats HC Mark Stoops was HYPED to hear the news.”

And why not? Look, landing DJ Hunter wasn’t a walk in the park for Kentucky. The rising prospect made his rounds this spring, visiting Virginia Tech, Clemson, Vols and Virginia before wrapping up his tour in Lexington. And after those trips, Hunter made the call—Big Blue Nation was home. So, for Mark Stoops, it was a major win in the 2027 recruiting race.

Though currently unranked due to his class status, Hunter’s upside is impossible to miss. After transferring to Bearden, the 6’2” dual-threat QB wasted no time making noise—throwing for 1,431 yards and 9 TDs in just 8 games, plus 3 more on the ground. As of now, his blend of arm strength, size, and athleticism has coaches buzzing, and Kentucky jumped in early. So, the Wildcats saw something special—and locked it in.

For the second time in three cycles, Kentucky kickstarted its class with a QB—just like it did with 2025’s Stone Saunders. However, in the race to land DJ Hunter, several powerhouse programs were in the mix—but it was Florida State that felt the sting. The Seminoles had shown interest in the rising QB talent, but Kentucky struck first and secured his commitment.

Kentucky lands a QB blow to FSU

DJ Hunter, the rising QB star out of Bearden High, was already on the radar of CFB heavyweights. One of those? Florida State. Back on February 1st, Hunter made the trip to Tallahassee for FSU’s Junior Day—a key event that gave top talent a peek behind the curtain. However, the visit hinted at real mutual interest. But as of then, no official offer had been made. Still, when a program like FSU took notice, the buzz around Hunter was already getting loud.

While some schools took their time, others moved fast—Virginia Tech wasted no moment. They beacame the first to offer DJ Hunter after a camp in June 2024. Then the momentum followed. Offers rolled in from Kentucky, Marshall, and Eastern Kentucky. And while Hunter took visits to Clemson, Tennessee, and more, making it clear: his stock was rising fast.

But on April 7, Kentucky landed the first major win of their 2027 class. Given that Hunter shut down the buzz and called Lexington home. Simply put, the Wildcats struck early, locking in a dynamic QB talent before the recruiting frenzy really took off. And with schools like FSU still watching, this might just be the start of the DJ Hunter sweepstakes.