Kenny Darby Named to On3's Midseason True Freshman All-America Team

Kenny Darby's first college season just got a national stamp. On3 named the Kentucky receiver to its 2026 Midseason True Freshman All-America Team on Wednesday morning, one of three wideouts on the offense alongside BYU's Legend Glasker and Oregon State's Jesse Legree.

The numbers earn it. Darby leads the Cats with 34 catches for 436 yards and three touchdowns through seven games, a 12.8-yard average with a long of 42. On3's Charles Power called him "a crafty receiver with an innate feel for finding space," and noted the Louisiana native flipped from LSU to follow offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to Lexington. That flip looks better every week.

He is not the only Wildcat collecting midseason hardware. On3 already named Will Stein its Midseason Coach of the Year and Lance Heard a first-team All-American on Tuesday.

Our Take: A true freshman leading an SEC title contender in receiving is not supposed to happen, and Darby is doing it without much fuss. Vanderbilt is next at Kroger Field on Saturday, and a defense that has to account for him opens everything else up.

via On3

Sources: BBT: Stein/Heard On3 honors, On3 Midseason True Freshman All-America Team, KSR, ESPN Kentucky stats