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Kenny Darby will have a chance to make LSU regret letting him end up a Kentucky Wildcat

Kentucky freshman receiver Kenny Darby is poised to make a statement in Saturday’s showdown against LSU, a program that once held a commitment from him before a coaching change derailed his plans. Darby, a highly rated recruit ranked No.

205 nationally and No. 27 among receivers in the 2026 class, originally pledged to LSU in late 2024 under then-offensive coordinator Joe Sloan.

However, after LSU fired head coach Brian Kelly and Sloan in October 2025, incoming head coach Lane Kiffin reassessed the roster and opted not to retain Darby’s commitment. The decision left Darby without a college football home—until Kentucky’s Will Stein hired Sloan as his offensive coordinator in December 2025.

Within days, Darby committed to the Wildcats, joining a team that has already started 4-1 under Stein, including a road victory over top-10 Texas A&M. Through five games, Darby has emerged as Kentucky’s leading receiver with 25 catches for 322 yards and three touchdowns, including a career-high 12 receptions for 96 yards in his last outing.

His breakout performance puts him on pace to challenge Kentucky’s single-season receiving records, offering a tangible payoff for a recruitment twist that began in Louisiana and ended in Lexington.

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