Kentucky Offers 2025 Top-25 Prospect EDGE Ari Watford

The 4-star recruit already holds offers from a boatload of Power 5 programs, including Georgia.

Ari Watford, a 4-star EDGE in the 2025 class announced on Tuesday via Twitter that he has received an offer from Kentucky: 

#AGTG I am blessed to receive an offer from The University of Kentucky! #GoBigBlue @CoachWhiteFB @dyrri_mccain @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/6wZcIvsqsb

— Ari Watford ¹ (@ari_watford) April 18, 2023

Coming out of Maury High School in Virginia Beach, Va., Watford is currently ranked as the No. 22 overall player, No. 2 EDGE and No. 1 player out of Virginia in the 2025 class., per the On3 Consensus. On3 ranks Watford the highest of the four major recruiting services, placing the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder as the No. 8 player in the class. 

Kentucky is just the latest in a swarm of programs that have already offered the up-and-coming talent. In-state Power 5's Virginia Tech and Virginia appear to have an early leg up on the rest, but the likes of Georgia, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Michigan have offered. 

Watford has taken three unofficial visits to Va Tech, two to Virginia and one each to Old Dominion, UGA, Penn State, Tennessee and Clemson. He has also announced that he has been selected to the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game:

247Sports' Brian Dohn projects Watford to become a Power 5 starter, noting that he already possesses the "ideal frame for an edge rusher," and "can be impact player at high-level college program" with the "potential to be early-round NFL draft pick."

Kentucky is a little late to the party, but it has now joined the royal rumble recruitment surrounding one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2025 cycle. 

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Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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