Heading into the 2010 season (post spring roster) the Cats are projected/committed to 89 scholarships. This number was based on spring departures and all 2010 signees. The NCAA allows a maximum of 85 scholarships per season. Assuming there are no early departures, it means there are some signees that will either head to prep school, not qualify or greyshirt. The names I continue to hear regarding eligibility are Tim McAdoo, Farrington Huguenin, Mychal Baily, Donte Rumph and Tim Patterson. Unless Huguenin receives his test score, he will likely head to a prep school and sign with the Cats again this fall. Based on my last contact with him, it's up in the air at this point. My understanding is Mychal Bailey is attending summer school working to gain eligibility.
After the 2010 season, the Cats will gain 10 scholarships based on graduation. There is always some attrition from class to class. However, with 9 commits for 2011 already and the possibility of a few greyshirts, the numbers appear to be "tight". Freshmen start reporting next week, therefore we will know for sure who is or isn't reporting. One thing I learned a long time ago...the numbers always work out!
What is the point when we stop waiting for Donte Rumph? It is 2 yrs if he doesn't make this yr. At some time or the other we have to move on talent or no talent. There are other talented players apparently starting to line up for Joker. I'm not saying good riddance, but when do we start to move on and at what point?
ReplyDeleteIs it because if he finally does become eligible he'll have the magic 4 yrs we keep waiting for him? I'd like to know.
It's called keeping a commitment and not burning a bridge at a school that will provide a very sustantial recruit in the future. It is easy to say cut yor ties. Not nearly as easy is it to get your reputation established in the recruiting world. It separates us from "the rest" of the field. Brooks showed that loyalty is a virtue and Joker is keeping the same faith.
ReplyDeleteWell David if he doesn't make it in this yr, it will be 3yrs we'll be waiting, that is what I'm asking. Not about burning a bridge. Loyalty to a recruit has kept a spot open for 2 yrs. So when is the point that we move on to a different recruit?
ReplyDeleteFirstly, this is a nice analysis by Aaron. UK's roster is full, and several players like Max Smith and Jewell Ratliff are waiting in line for scholarships. If necessary, they will grayshirt and enroll in January.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aaron's assessment of signees who are at risk academically. It was always understood that Patterson, McAdoo, and Huguenin were going to cut it close and have trouble being cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Of these three, I would say Patterson has always been the highest-risk from an academic point of view. I do not expect to see Tim in Lexington anytime soon. Huguenin and McAdoo are more or less in the 50-50 category.
I am hearing the staff isn't optimistic about Bailey's eligibility, although they are doing everything possible to get him admitted since they need another safety badly.
I'm not sure I understand the other poster's objection to re-recruiting Donte Rumph. The reasons for staying loyal to Rumph are obvious and right. In the first place, Rumph is a former all-state player from South Carolina who plays a "need position" on UK's roster. Donte's uncle, Chris Rumph, is Joker's personal friend, and also the DL coach at Clemson. Donte is an alumnus of Calhoun County HS, the same program that will soon produce elite prospect Shamier Jeffery (a possible future Wildcat). Joker understands how to cultivate a pipeline to this kind of strong HS program. When Joker accepts a commitment from a prospect, the understanding is that UK will stay loyal as long as the prospect keeps trying and makes progress toward D-1 eligibility. Donte has never stoped trying. He attended prep school, and he has taken correspondence courses. He is now in Lexington, working out and enrolling in summer school. Further, UK sacrifices absolutely nothing here. If Donte makes it, then UK picks up a good football player at a position that has lost Myron Pryor and Corey Peters in the last two graduating classes. And if Donte doesn't qualify, then Joker simply awards the scholarship to another prospect (see "numbers crunch", above). Clearly, Joker has handled this wisely and correctly. And as a result, other prospects (like Jeffery, for example) know they can count on Joker.