Kentucky Signs Four-Star Defensive Lineman on National Signing Day

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops has announced the signing of four-star defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert to a national letter of intent.  With his signing, Kentucky now has 25 newcomers in the 2023 signing class, eight transfers and 17 high school signees. 

Kendrick Gilbert, Defensive Lineman, 6-5, 285, Fr-HS, Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral) 

Twitter – @Kcgilbert23| Instagram – kendr1ck_ 

A four-star defensive lineman by Rivals, which ranks him as the No. 2 player in the state of Indiana and a No. 15 player in his position nationally … A four-star by 247Sports Composite and ESPN … Compiled 86 tackles and 8.0 sacks in his prep career and as a three-year starter, helped the Fighting Irish win 37 of 41 games … Selected to play in the Army All-American Bowl … Named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association 2022 Top-50 All-State team after totaling 28 tackles, including 18 solo and 2.0 sacks … Coached by Bill Peebles … Led Cathedral to a 10-2 overall record in 2022 … Advanced to the semifinals of the Class 6A state championship after winning back-to-back Class 5A state titles in 2020 and 2021 … Helped the Fighting Irish finish 14-1 in winning its second consecutive  Class 5A State Championship in 2021 … Had over 22 offers and ultimately chose Kentucky over Purdue, LSU and Iowa … Sister, Kaitlyn, plays basketball at Missouri.  

“Kendrick is a great addition to our program,” Stoops said. “He has the size and physicality we are looking for on the defensive line. He also has a great work ethic as he comes from a high school program that is known for winning. I really like his winning mentality.”