Kentucky football opens February signing day by flipping four-star lineman from Purdue
The February signing period started on a high note for Kentucky football with four-star Indiana prep defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert flipping his commitment from Purdue to the Wildcats on Wednesday morning, according to a report from the Indianapolis Star.
The 247Sports Composite, which averages the ratings of the major recruiting services, rates Gilbert as a four-star prospect. His .8956 rating in that metric would make him Kentucky’s fourth-highest rated signee in the 2023 class, behind only wide receiver Shamar Porter, defensive back Avery Stuart and linebacker Grant Godfrey.
Kentucky has yet to confirm Gilbert signed his National Letter of Intent.
As a senior at Cathedral High School, Gilbert tallied 31 tackles and three sacks in nine games. He was named to the Indianapolis Star’s 2022 ALL-USA Central Indiana high school football team.
The Indianapolis native took an official visit to Kentucky in June but committed to home-state Purdue two months later.
Even after coach Jeff Brohm left Purdue for Louisville, Gilbert remained committed to the Boilermakers, but he elected not to sign a letter of intent in December. Gilbert took another visit to Lexington earlier this month to take in the Kentucky-Missouri women’s basketball game. Gilbert’s older sister, Katlyn, is a graduate student guard for the Tigers.
Gilbert is Kentucky’s third high school defensive lineman to sign with the class, joining three-star prospects Tavion Gadson and Tommy Ziesmer.
His commitment boosts a high school class that entered the February signing period ranked 34th nationally by the 247Sports Composite. The class could grow even more Wednesday with Louisville native William “Woo” Spencer, a three-star lineman, planning to announce his choice between Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan State later in the day.
