There's no doubt that coach Will Stein has, in one offseason, upgraded the talent level of the Kentucky football team. He has also upgraded the recruiting prospects for the program, giving them the ability to land elite players like 2027 quarterback Jake Nawrot.
The Wildcats can't win them all, though. One of their top 2028 targets was quarterback Josiah Boyd, who had Kentucky in his final three along with the Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins. Stein made his pitch, but on Saturday, Boyd announced his commitment to the Bruins.
Boyd is a 6'3", 175 lb passer out of California. He is currently rated five stars by 247Sports and ranks as their No. 133 overall player, and No. 9 quarterback. Some services have him ranked even higher.
Kentucky's own successful recruiting may have been a deciding factor with Boyd. With Nawrot committed, Matt Ponatoski on the roster, and Marcus Washington committed for 2029, Boyd might have seen a better path to playing time at UCLA. The Bruins are also a team on the rise, however, which certainly aided their cause.
It's a loss for Stein and Kentucky, but they have their eyes on several other top targets, and will work to land them. Good luck to Boyd with the Bruins.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky quarterback target commits to UCLA over Wildcats