Kentucky continues to offer players in the Class of 2026, and that is what they did on Wednesday, May 8, as Brad White offered cornerback Sean Johnson.

Johnson is from Severn, MD, and he comes in at 6-foot-1 and weighs 175 pounds, according to 247Sports. The corner recently spoke to A Sea of Blue after he got offered and what that means to him.

“Getting an offer from Kentucky is a blessing honestly, it doesn’t get better than the SEC,” Johnson says. “Coach (Brad) White the defensive coordinator offered me and we talked about my film and how Kentucky is a top 25 team and that he would like to get me down there for a visit.

After receiving the offer from Kentucky, he hopes he can continue to grow a relationship with the coaching staff, especially White and defensive backs coach Chris Collins.

“I would love to build a relationship with the whole coaching staff, especially with coach Collins and coach White,” Johnson tells A Sea of Blue.

Johnson could certainly see himself playing in the blue and white.

“I could most definitely see myself playing for Kentucky, based off that they are in the SEC and they are a top 25 team and most importantly based off how many defensive backs they have got to the league,” Johnson says.

Speaking of the success Kentucky has had on the defensive side, the program has been able to get many different defensive backs drafted in the NFL recently such as Lonnie Johnson Jr., Kelvin Joseph, Brandin Echols, Carrington Valentine, and others.

Johnson has taken notice of that success.

“I look at Kentucky’s former defensive backs and manifest that I could be one of them one day, I like that they know what they are doing with the cornerbacks cause that’s my position and hopefully one day my dream is to get to the NFL,” Johnson says.

It is still early on in his recruiting process, but he tells A Sea of Blue that he wants to take a visit to Kentucky. He has already visited Maryland, Penn State, Virginia, NC State, and West Virginia.

Moving right-hander Trey Pooser from the bullpen to the starting rotation has been Nick Mingione and Kentucky’s best made decision this season.

For the first month of the season, Pooser, who transferred from College of Charleston over the offseason, was used exclusively as a reliever. In six appearances out of the bullpen, Pooser boasted a 5.21 in 12 1/3 innings pitched.

Right-hander Travis Smith, who was expected to make the leap as one of the breakout pitchers in college baseball this season, just never seemed to get going in that time frame. Smith made five Friday night starts in the opening month, compiling a 1-2 record with a 6.69 ERA in 24 2/3 innings pitched.

This is when Nick Mingione made a decision that would alter Kentucky’s season in a major way.

It was announced that Pooser would be making his first start as a Cat on March 22 against Missouri. However, Pooser was no stranger to being a starting pitcher. He made 36 career starts in four seasons at College of Charleston, compiling a career 3.93 ERA in 220 innings pitched.

“You know, he had experience before and starting experience at the college level,” Mingione said Saturday. “Anytime you can have that, that is a bonus. The transfer portal does allow you to be older, and it allows you to develop your high school guys. If you look at our lineup I feel like we had a great mix that played in this baseball game from a pitching and an offensive side.”

Since his move to the Friday night starter, Pooser has blossomed into Kentucky’s “ace.” Including Saturday’s masterful start where he allowed just one earned run in seven innings, the right-hander boasts a 3.57 in 63 innings pitched. Even he said he wouldn’t believe where he’d be at now at the beginning of the season.

“You always want to do good,” Pooser said. “You don’t ever know exactly how it’s going to go and everything doesn’t always go as planned, but I’m glad it has gone the way it has. Just got to keep going.”

He hasn’t been just good, he’s been absolutely shutdown. In his last 13 innings pitched against Arkansas (SEC Tournament) and Illinois on Saturday, Pooser’s allowed just one earned run (0.69 ERA) with 10 strikeouts.

When asked if Pooser has emerged as Kentucky’s ace, Nick Mingione gave a cheeky answer.

“Yes,” the head ball coach said. “We’ve got some other good ones, too. You look at Mason Moore. What is he, 8-3? He’s got beat by the same team. Twice. Two of this his three losses are from the same team (South Carolina). That guy could be sitting at 8-1. But I’ll let you guys decide what title or label you want to put on him.”

Pooser’s emergence has given Kentucky two aces down the stretch in himself and Mason Moore, who will start Sunday’s game in the Regional Final. For a staff that has been up and down this season, the Hanahan, S.C. native has provided much needed stability time and time again.

Pooser and right-hander Ryan Hagenow, who pitched the final two innings in Saturday’s win over Illinois, will be the two lone pitchers unavailable for Sunday’s game.

The Cats will now wait until Sunday at 6:00 p.m. EST, where they will play the winner of Indiana State/Illinois (who play Sunday at noon EST). With a Kentucky win, it would claim the Lexington Regional in just three games. With a loss, the Lexington Regional Championship would be Monday.