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Recruiting Fact or Fiction: Kentucky’s Class, Hugh Freeze’s Pull, David Stone

In Mike Farrell’s Fact or Fiction — Recruiting Edition, he analyzes whether UK’s 2023 class is a step up…

Mike Farrell| February 6, 2023 (Updated: July 9, 2025)
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In today’s Fact or Fiction — Recruiting Edition — I look at three big recent topics from the recruiting trail and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.


1. Kentucky took a step forward in the SEC with its 2023 class.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Nope, they probably fell behind a bit. The portal get of QB Devin Leary is big but this class lacks a lot of what the Wildcats need to move forward. Three OL, including a project of sorts in Malachi Wood? No QB in the best QB class we’ve seen in ages? This is a heavy WR class, and that’s fine, but a bit more depth at a few key positions like DL, LB, and DB would have helped.

Sep 24, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary (13) looks to throw during the first half against the Connecticut Huskies at Carter-Finley Stadium.

2. Hugh Freeze did an amazing job in his transition year.

Farrell’s take: FACT

This Auburn class is very good for a first one especially in a transition year where the coach, Bryan Harsin, was a dead man walking since the start of the season. DE Keldric Faulk and DB Kayin Lee are two guys we are going to look back on as huge flips for Freeze and the leaders of this defense. This class is heavy on the defensive side of the ball but let’s not overlook this OL class as it will be crucial in a couple years.

Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze poses with associate head coach Cadillac Williams at the Woltosz Football Performance Center in Auburn, Ala., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022

3. DL David Stone will head back to Oklahoma.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Stone can make a case for the top defensive line player in the 2024 class and could be the guy who makes OU fans forget about David Hicks Jr. Hicks Jr. was thought to be a heavy OU lean by some only to pick and stick with Texas A&M in the 2023 class. Stone, an Oklahoma native now at IMG in Florida, is a heavy OU lean according to most I speak to and I think he will be part of this 2024 class for Brent Venables.

2024 five-star DL David Stone from Bradenton, FL (IMG Academy)

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Category: Fact or Fiction, RecruitingTag: Auburn Tigers, Brent Venables, David Stone, Devin Leary, Hugh Freeze, IMG Academy, Kayin Lee, Keldric Faulk, Kentucky Wildcats, Mike Farrell, Oklahoma Sooners, Princewill Umanmielan, Seth Henigan
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