Lane Kiffin has spent his first week as the head coach of the LSU Football program working to improve its 2026 recruiting class. Kiffin has seen several victories on that front, flipping three Ole Miss commits to LSU and holding on to a pair of 5-star prospects.
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However, Kiffin suffered his first significant recruiting blow when 4-star WR Kenny Darby decommitted earlier this week. Now, Darby is heading to a different SEC foe.
4-star WR Kenny Darby commits to Kentucky
Darby announced on Friday that he is committed to Kentucky. It's a tough blow for Kiffin and LSU, who held a commitment from Darby for over a year.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Kenny Darby has Committed to Kentucky, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’1 180 WR from Bossier City, LA decommitted from LSU on Tuesday⁰⁰“I’M HOME!!”⁰https://t.co/dUEcxP9Kvc pic.twitter.com/nvnO9xrbFT
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 5, 2025
Darby originally committed to LSU back on November 12, 2024. However, when Brian Kelly was fired and Lane Kiffin was hired, Darby decided to decommit from the Tigers on December 2. After the Early Signing Period opened up earlier this week on Wednesday, Darby then delayed his signing until today.
Now, Darby is headed to Lexington to join the Kentucky Wildcats. It's the first big recruiting move for new Kentucky head coach Will Stein, who took over as the leader of the Wildcat football program earlier this week following the firing of Mark Stoops.
Darby immediately jumps to the top of Kentucky's 2026 recruiting class, as he is now the highest-rated player in the class according to 247Sports. He headlines a Kentucky recruiting class that currently ranks No. 58 in the country according to 247Sports.
What stings about this flip is that Darby is a Louisiana product. Hailing from Airline High School in Bossier City, Darby posted incredible numbers in his prep career. During his junior season in 2024, the 4-star wideout hauled in 100 passes for 1,764 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Not hanging onto Darby is a loss that will sting Kiffin and LSU, but that doesn't mean LSU's 2026 class is doomed. Other wide receivers in the 2026 class include 4-stars Corey Barber and Jabari Mack, as well as 3-star Brayden Allen.