Kentucky lands Florida 2024 four-star WR Hardley Gilmore
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
A crowded field that included 53 offers for Hardley Gilmore was taken down to three and then to one Friday afternoon. The four-star receiver from Pahokee High School (Fla.) made Kentucky Wildcat fans very happy adding another prized talent to the 2024 recruiting class.
The final three for the 1,000-yard receiver included Penn State, UCF, and Kentucky. How the Wildcats separated themselves from all Gilmore’s other recruiting attention was explained.
“My Kentucky offer came during a time after the season when I was being offered every day,” Gilmore shared. “They offered about a month before I reclassed. They came to my school, coach (Mark) Stoops stopped by, but I was at a track meet, and I was talking to coach Woody (Scott Woodward – WR). I was their main priority when I was in the 2025 class. They were my first official visit.”
The vibe during Gilmore’s official in Lexington was a difference maker.
“First, Kentucky is a good place,” Gilmore said. “Coach Stoops welcomed me, coach Herb (Dan Hebert – GA), coach Woody – all the coaches and all of the players welcomed me. The atmosphere, the town, the offense they have, and the two freshman receivers coach Woody has stood out to me.”
Gilmore gave the behind the scenes to his decision-making process, “After the visit, I started leaning towards Kentucky. I made the decision about a week ago. For me, I was their main priority in the ’25 class, and they stayed that way when I reclassed. I like how they will use me around the field, on the outside and inside.”
The Wildcats’ staff found out the day before Gilmore’s announcement to the college football recruiting universe.
“I just got off the phone with coach Woody,” Gilmore stated. “He was excited, so was coach (Liam) Coen (OC), coach Herb, and both coach Mark and Mike Stoops.”
Gilmore continued, “I called coach Woody and he asked, “got any good news”? I said yes; I committed to Kentucky then.”
Getting to play college ball for Kentucky against SEC competition is not lost on Gilmore.
“It was a big moment for me,” Gilmore said. “Not too many people can pick the school they want to go to. It is a relief for me because the recruiting process is over.”
Gilmore is the 16th verbal commitment for the Wildcats in the 2024 class, the fourth four-star prospect.