Kentucky Wildcats Lose Commitment of 2027 QB DJ Hunter

The highly touted quarterback recruit has decommitted from the Wildcats after nearly a year with the program.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Kentucky Wildcats have lost the commitment of 2027 quarterback DJ Hunter, a 3-star recruit from Buford, Georgia. Hunter had been committed to Kentucky since April 2025 under former head coach Mark Stoops, but the coaching change to Will Stein ultimately led Hunter to decommit and reopen his recruitment. Several other programs, including USF, Maryland, West Virginia, Florida State, and Duke, are now in the mix for Hunter's services.

Why it matters

Losing a highly touted quarterback recruit like DJ Hunter is a significant setback for the Kentucky Wildcats, who are now tasked with rebuilding their 2027 recruiting class under new head coach Will Stein. This decommitment highlights the challenges of maintaining recruiting momentum through a coaching change in the fast-paced world of college football.

The details

DJ Hunter, a 6'1", 190-pound quarterback from Buford, Georgia, had been committed to Kentucky since April 2025. However, after the Wildcats hired a new head coach in Will Stein, Hunter decided to decommit and reopen his recruitment. Hunter cited the coaching change as the primary reason for his decision, saying "it's been in the back of my mind ever since the head coaching change went down." Several other programs, including USF, Maryland, West Virginia, Florida State, and Duke, are now in the mix for Hunter's services, and he plans to take official visits to those schools.

  • DJ Hunter committed to Kentucky in April 2025.
  • Hunter decommitted from Kentucky in February 2026.

The players

DJ Hunter

A 3-star quarterback recruit from Buford, Georgia, who had been committed to the Kentucky Wildcats since April 2025 before decommitting in February 2026.

Mark Stoops

The former head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, who was in charge when DJ Hunter initially committed to the program.

Will Stein

The current head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, who took over the program after DJ Hunter's decommitment.

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What they’re saying

“After consideration, my family and I felt it was in my best interest to go ahead and decommit and fully open my recruitment back up. It's been in the back of my mind ever since the head coaching change went down. After this weekend, [it] just felt like the right time to do it.”

— DJ Hunter (Rivals)

What’s next

Hunter plans to take official visits to USF, Maryland, West Virginia, Florida State, and Duke as he explores his options in the 2027 recruiting class.

The takeaway

The loss of DJ Hunter's commitment is a significant blow to the Kentucky Wildcats' 2027 recruiting class, highlighting the challenges of maintaining recruiting momentum through a coaching change. The Wildcats will now have to work hard to rebuild their class and find a replacement for the highly touted quarterback prospect.