Troy Gray 2011-LB Interview

Tonight I had a great interview with Troy Gray (North Cobb HS, GA) who holds 11 offers. His list includes Illinois, Syracuse, Virginia, Toledo, UCF, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, Michigan State, MTSU and Akron. Gray told me his leaders right now are Kentucky, Virginia and Arkansas.

In talking about the Cats he said, "I haven't been up there personally, but I talked to Darren and he said it was a great campus." He went on to tell me, "Virginia has been showing me a lot of love and Arkansas is a SEC school."

Gray informed me Ortmayer had been handling his recruitment, but he has been talking to Tee Martin a lot. He also informed me his parents would play a key role in choosing a school. He wants to attend a school with a nice campus and facilities. One comment that really stuck out was, "I want to play for good coaches. If the coaches aren't good then I won't get better." He clearly wants to play for someone who will push him.

Gray has taken a few visits already including a trip to South Carolina today and will go to Georgia Tech and Auburn over the next couple of weeks. He plans to visit more schools in the fall. When asked about a time frame for making a decision he said, "Maybe during the season or right after. I want to go and see more schools."

Gray projects as an outside linebacker at the next level. He is 6'1" and 215lbs. He runs a 4.53 forty yard dash. He has already taken the SAT and will take it again soon.

There is a very good possibility both Gray and his teammate (Darren Waller) could play together in college. He admitted they talk about it and said, "we could be roommates and it would be good to go through college together." He mentioned Kentucky and possibly South Carolina or Auburn as schools that could offer both. Currently the Cats are the only ones to do so.

Top in-state players for 2011 class

As most UK fans know, the state of Kentucky doesn’t produce many SEC caliber football players on a yearly basis. On average the state produces about six players and UK typically signs a couple. However, in 2011 things are a little different. Currently Kentucky has three in-state players committed and Louisville has five committed for 2011. Several of the committed recruits have told me the rival school is still recruiting them.

Below are 20 names to keep an eye on for the 2011 class. Again, some of the players below have given verbal commitments, but are still being recruited by other schools. Look for these players to attend camps and combines this summer to improve their recruiting stock. Based on offers and interviews here are the rankings. We will continue to update this going forward. Please feel free to post any feedback.

1. Jon Davis (Eastern) has given his verbal commitment to Kentucky and could be the top athlete in the state. Based on his size, speed and strength his stock will only continue to rise. Davis could play fullback, linebacker or tight end at the next level, but prefers to play tight end. Davis is still being recruited by Notre Dame, Louisville and Illinois. Simply put, recruits with combination of size and speed don’t come along very often.

2. Lamar Dawson (Boyle County) is one of Kentucky’s primary recruiting targets in the 2011 class. Dawson plays at a high level and will play Linebacker at the next level. Most people feel Dawson is UK’s to lose because of Chuck Smith’s relationship at Boyle County. I have personally interviewed Dawson and can tell you he is far from a “lock”. Look for him to take all of his official visits. He recently received an offer from Michigan.

3. DeVante Parker (Ballard) has given his verbal to Louisville, but UK has made it clear they would continue to recruit the wide receiver. Players like Parker don’t come around very often, so the school that inks him is getting a gem. Assuming both he and DaMarcus Smith stay committed to UofL, they could be connecting to one another for quite some time.

4. Darrian Miller (Bryan Station) has already given his verbal commitment to Kentucky. He projects to play on the offensive line at the next level and could possibly be the top football recruit in the state. Offensive lineman are often not the “sexy” pick as top players, but anyone who understands football realizes their importance.

5. Jamon Brown (Fern Creek) has given his verbal commitment to Louisville, but isn’t 100% committed based on his comments. Brown is another key recruiting target for Kentucky and David Turner is working hard to change his mind. Brown has the size to contribute early at the next level and more schools are getting involved. Solid defensive lineman are rare, just look at the NFL draft to see the importance.

6. Zach West (Lexington Christian) has taken visits to both Kentucky, Louisville and Tennessee among others. West holds offers from Penn State, Kentucky, Louisville and several others. West projects to play Offensive Tackle at the next level due to his overall size. There are mixed reports on West, but the there is no denying his potential.

7. DaMarcus Smith (Seneca) has already given his verbal commitment to Louisville, but has taken multiple visits to Kentucky. Smith will play Quarterback in college and has acknowledged he likes UK’s “Pro-Style” offense compared to Louisville’s “Spread”. Joker Phillips and Company are actively recruiting smith.

8. Jerrell Moore (Fern Creek) has given his verbal commitment to Louisville and appears to be a package deal with his teammates (Brown and Harrington). Moore is very fast, but will need to put on more weight to be an every down running back in college. He does have an offer from Kentucky to play running back. Louisville is recruiting him to play Slot Receiver and to return kick-offs. Illinois is also actively recruiting Moore.

9. Forisse “Flo” Hardin (Ballard) could be the most underrated prospect in the state. Hardin holds offers from Indiana and Kentucky while Louisville is showing interest. Hardin’s brother plays for the Hoosier’s and his teammate, Devante Parker, has given his pledge to Louisville. In watching his film, Hardin is fast, physical and will make an impact on defense at the next level.

10. Josh Forrest (Tilghman) has committed to Kentucky for the class of 2011. Forrest currently plays wide receiver, but is expected to play tight end at Kentucky. Forrest has a tremendous upside as he has only been playing football for a few years. He is very athletic and has big hands.

11. Jalen Harrington (Fern Creek) has given his verbal commitment to Louisville. Harrington projects to play Safety or Outside Linebacker at the next level. He is another very athletic player who has a tremendous upside. Much like Brown and Moore, he too appears to be a package deal to Louisville with his teammates.

12. Henry Mitchell (Elizabethtown) is very athletic and received offers from the Big 10 and Big East. Mitchell plays basketball which shows his athletic ability and all schools are recruiting him to play Tight End as he is 6’5”. Neither Kentucky or Louisville appear to be showing much interest at this time.

13. Conner Hempel (Ryle) is one of the top Quarterbacks in the state and already sports an offer from Western Kentucky. Hempel will receive a lot of interest as he carries a 3.7 GPA and has schools like Stanford, Northwestern, Vanderbilt and Harvard recruiting him. All of the in-state schools are recruiting him and he has already taken unofficial visits to most.

14. Marcoreyon “Bubba” Tandy (Christian County) is one of the top wide receivers in the state for 2010. Tandy already has an offer from Western Kentucky and will work out at UK on May 30th. He is also receiving interest from other programs and should see more offers come his way. If his workout goes well at Kentucky, he could become a Wildcat.

15. Neal Pawsat (Mason County) is one of the top quarterback and receiving interest from all of the in-state programs. Neal was injured last year and is poised to have a monster year for his final campaign. He is receiving interest from Kentucky, Louisville, Murray State among others.

16. Jerry Williams (Henry Clay) plays quarterback in high school, but most are recruiting him as an athlete. Based on feedback I’ve received, UK likes him as a defensive back. Williams has taken several visits and receiving interest from all in-state schools among others.

17. Kal Prince (Owensboro) is being recruited by most schools as a quarterback, but don’t rule him out as an athlete. Prince is very fast and like most players who are the son of a coach, very smart. Prince has worked out for several teams and receiving a lot of interest. He was one of the better performers at the Elite 11 QB camp in Alabama.

18. Zack Templin (East Jessimine) projects to play guard at the next level and is one of the strongest recruits in the state. “Big Temp” continues to impress and is receiving interest from Marshall, Eastern Kentucky and Kentucky among others.

19. Ryan Smith (Henry Clay) is one of the top defensive linemen in the state for 2010. Navy is recruiting Smith hard along with several other programs. Based on my interview with Smith, some schools are recruiting him to play offensive line.

20. Lamont McMurry (St. Xavier) could be one of the best athletes in the state. During his junior season he amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards. He is receiving interest from several in-state programs as well as others.

2011 Future Watch - DL Updated

DL Offers (known)

Aaron Lynch, Christian Coleman, Desmond Floyd, Isiah Norton, Jesse Hayes, Lorenzo Mauldin, Ray Drew, Terrence Coleman, Terry Redden,

DL Watch List

Bobby Newton, Demetri Merritt, Devaughn Hanley, Dontez Tyler, Jimmy Stewart, Jakari Kinnie, Joel Hale, Kyreek Brown, Ati Norman-Jean, Ryan Smith, Tanner Crum, Tony Gillespie

Already Committed

Clint Tucker (Kentucky), Jamon Brown (Louisville), Jeoffrey Pagan (Florida), Kris Harley (Virginia Tech)

Updates

Since our last update the Cats received a commitment from Clint Tucker which actually surprised me. Tucker seemed like he was going to take more visits and make a decision later in the process. I continue to hear Christian Coleman is leaning towards the Cats. However, he isn’t quite ready to pull the trigger. Lynch still appears to be a lock to stay in Florida or possibly Notre Dame while Floyd is still considering the Cats among others. Ray Drew appears to be a long shot and keeping his recruitment quite. Drew recently visited several schools and the Cats were not one. Terrence Coleman, Jesse Hayes and all options. I’ve heard rumors Isiah Norton was ready to commit to UK, but his coach asked him to wait. He is supposed to camp at UK this summer.

Most likely to be a Cat

Clint Tucker is committed, but the Cats will need to continue to recruit him. I think Christian Coleman, Desmond Floyd and Isiah Norton are the most likely candidates at this point. Coleman really likes the Cats and I would be surprised if he goes anywhere else at this point. Floyd has UK towards the top of his list, but continues to take other visits. If Norton camps at UK, he could commit at that time. The Cats want Jamon Brown, but he is solid to Louisville. It would take a complete meltdown for the Cards this season to flip his commitment.

SEC QB Rankings

The Bleacher Report ranks the SEC QB's and Mike Hartline comes in at No 10 on the list. Personally, Hartline is better than most want to admit and hopefully proves a lot of people wrong this season. If the offensive line can improve their pass blocking, Hartline should be the guy. If not, Morgan Newton will likely be the quarterback since he can can make plays with his feet.

Preview Miss State Game #9

Last year, the Bulldogs visited Lexington and ran away with the game in which many thought that the CATS were outcoached. The defense had a diseastrous night and gave up 250 yards rushing to 1 player (Tony Dixon). This year the Wildcats visit Starkville and hope to atone for perhaps the biggest shocker of the '09 season.

Miss State returns a total of 12 starters (6 on each side of the ball; offense and defense).

Chris Reif looks to be the starting QB this year and seemingly only has 1 reeturning playmaker in WR Chad Bumphis (who was heavily recruited at UK). State will try to confuse the Wildcat defense with their spread formation and the O-line will have 100 career starts by this point in the season. It also looks like Vick Ballard might be the starting RB.

The Defensive line returns 1 starter Pernell McPhee (who was also highly recruited by UK) and the rest of the D-line looks to all be sophomores, but pretty talented by any measure of SEC evaluation. There is also talent at linebacker in returning starters Chris White, and K J Wright. The secondary may have the most talent of all defensive units with several playmakers having big time experience.

When the CATS visit Starkville look for a hard fought battle.

For the CATS to win: The defense of the Cats will have to rule the day. UK should be able to match up pretty well with almost anyone when they are on offense, the season will be decided on how they match up when they are forced to play defense. If UK can get the State offense off of the field, they will win. If the defense has significant injuries or chooses not to show up (like last year), it will be a long day for Joker & Company. At this point, it is too close to call.

Brandon Ford visiting Cats

Brandon Ford (2011-RB) informed me he will visit UK tomorrow (Monday) afternoon. I believe Ford becomes a Cat if the staff offers. He told me he would like to come back to Kentucky and play in front of family and friends. Remember his Juco coach spoke at the UK Coaches clinic recently, so the staff has a good relationship building. Stay tuned!

Mychal Bailey update

Today I interviewed Mychal Bailey who signed with UK in the 2010 recruiting class. There has been a lot of speculation about his eligibility, but Bailey informed me he is taking two summer classes and plans to enroll at the end of July. He said, "it's been a journey, but I still have work to do."

Bailey told me the staff talked to him about playing safety and returning kicks. He runs a 4.3 forty-yard dash time. Bailey is 6'0" and 194 lbs and can power clean 325lbs. When asked about his style of play he said, "I have the complete package. I can hit, cover and use my speed."

I asked Bailey about the recruiting process and learned he was recruited by several schools out of high school including Arizona State, Troy, Southern Miss, Valdosta State and Auburn. He said this past year Western Kentucky, Troy, Arizona State and Southern Miss all tried to recruitment him, but he was solid to UK.

One thing is clear, Bailey has worked hard to become a Wildcat. Even though he isn't qualified yet, the future looks bright and fans should be excited to see him in blue.

Preview Georgia Game #8

Last year, the Kentucky Wildcats went to Georgia and stole a game from the Bulldogs; this year, the Bulldogs visit Commonwealth Stadium and look to return the favor. The Bulldogs return 10 players on offense and sport some very reputable weapons in WR A J Green and in the Running backs Washaun Ealy and Caleb King. The O-line returns with proven talent across the board with the only unstable position being QB (presumably Freshman Aaron Murray).

The defense has undergone a tremendous change going from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 base. This change usually takes a while for a team to pick up and run effectively, but at this point in the season, the Bulldogs may be adequate at understanding the nuiances, and keeping teams off balance since few teams in college run this type of defense.

Look for a hard fought battle since this game will be a statement game for both teams looking to establish some type of consistency at this point in the season.

Why the CATS will win: The CATS will win because they can stop the run and make Georgia throw the ball. Murray has little experience in game situations and KY will show various formations and keep Georgia guessing all day. Additionally, for KY to win, the Wildcats will need to run the ball and hope that playaction keeps the Dogs at bay. If Ky fails to pressure the QB, and can not handle the 3-4 defense of Georgia, it will be a long day.

Arnett narrows his list to seven

Per his twitter account, DeAnthony Arnett (2011-WR) has narrowed his list of schools to seven. I've had conversations with someone very close to Arnett and they informed me UK didn't make the list. Based on what I know about his recruitment, Michigan State and Notre Dame will be the teams to beat for his commitment.

Jeffery impresses at camp

Shamier Jeffery attended a seven on seven camp at South Carolina this weekend and impressed their staff. According to Palmetto Sports the Gamecocks informed Jeffery he would receive a shot to play quarterback in their system. The article also points out he will visit West Virginia, Kentucky and Clemson over the next few weeks.

Defensive LIneman Ryan Smith

Ryan is a DL from Henry Clay High school. Ryans leader appears to be Louisville according to his rivals.com profile.

2011 Future Watch - TE's Updated

TE Offers (known)

Jon Davis, Josh Forrest, Nick Vannett

TE Watch List

Mitchell Henry, Tim Simmons

Already Committed

Jon Davis (Kentucky), Josh Forrest (Kentucky), Collin Jarbo (Southern Miss)

Updates

Since our last tight end update the Cats received a commitment from Josh Forrest who currently plays wide receiver in high school, but will switch positions in college. Forrest is another athletic target who can go get the ball. Mitchell Henry camped at UK recently and feels he impressed the staff. He told me they would recruit him as an athlete because he could play tight end, defensive end or possible move to the offensive line. More and more schools are getting involved with Henry so the Cats will make sure they evaluate him properly. It appear Nick Vannett is headed to Big 10 country while Jarbo recently committed to Southern Miss and Simmons is may not receive an offer due to the size of the class.

Most likely to be a Cat

Jon Davis and Josh Forrest are both solid to Kentucky and fans should be excited. The tight end position hasn’t been very productive in recent years, but the new recruits should give the fans something to be excited about.

2010 Recruiting Class Breakdown from Visual Boxscore

Our friends over at Visual Boxscore have broken down the 2010 incoming freshmen for the UK Football team.

Here is what they have to offer:

Mychal Bailey, S, SW Mississippi CC - Currently faces an uphill battle to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse for admission to UK. If Mychal can enroll, he will immediately become a factor in the competition to start at strong safety. If he can't get admitted, then his hopes for a D-1 athletic career are probably over.

Tyler Brause, QB/ATH, Bucyrus, OH - There is no question that Tyler will redshirt during the fall. He will start out as a QB for UK's scout team. He may also get some looks at TE.

Alvin Davis, DE, Jesup, GA - Alvin will redshirt in 2010.

Nermin Delic, TE/DE, Tunnel Hill, GA - Nermin could conceivably see action this fall if he puts together a huge performance in August camp. But everyone I know thinks he will redshirt and get looks at DE and TE for the scout team.

Mike Douglas, DE, Largo, FL - Mike has a chance to take off his redshirt this fall, but it's a long shot. Every insider I know believes Mike will play DE for the scout team and spend a lot of time in the gym working on the weights in an attempt to fill out for 2011.

Teven Eatmon, OT, Bucyrus, OH - As a HS senior, Teven played TE and DE. This fall he will redshirt and play OT on UK's scout team.

Brandon Gainer, RB, Miami, FL - He has a shot to take off his redshirt, but the staff would like to redshirt him this fall. He needs to get stronger for SEC play, so I expect him to redshirt unless there is an injury to another RB in August.

Josh Gibbs, S, College of the Canyons - Josh participated in spring drills and played well, but he is smallish. He will be a back-up safety this fall, and he will play on special teams.

Justin Henderson, DE, Bamberg, SC - Justin enrolled in January and participated in spring drills. UK's staff already loves him. He will take off his redshirt and play as a back-up DE this fall.

Ferrington Huguenin, DE, Columbia, SC - Ferrington has an uphill battle to get cleared for admission by the NCAA Clearinghouse. If he gets admitted to UK, he will redshirt this fall. Otherwise he will enroll at a prep school and try to get admitted to UK in January.

Jabari Johnson, LB, Stone Mountain, GA - My campus sources believe Jabari will redshirt this fall and be developed as a "Sam" LB.

Brice Laughlin, DT, Summerville, SC - This is where it gets interesting. Brice is big enough and good enough athletically to play and contribute this fall. However, UK's coaching staff also knows Brice can be a real beast by next April if he redshirts this fall and works on learning the defense and developing his strength. To one extent or another, I think this boils down to numbers in the rotation. If Donte Rumph doesn't make it into school, and/or if another DT gets injured in August, then the chances will increase for Brice to take off his redshirt. But a redshirt might be ideal.

Joe Mansour, K/P, Lagrange, GA - In August, Joe will be in the competitions for placekicker and kickoff specialist. I believe he will win one of them, or maybe both of them. So I think he plays this fall.

Tim McAdoo, OG, Murfreesboro, TN - It is believed that Tim is still marginal for clearance by the NCAA Clearinghouse. If he can get enrolled, he will redshirt in the fall. Otherwise he will attend a prep school or JUCO.

Malcolm McDuffen, LB, Hopkinsville, KY - Will redshirt and get looks at "Will" and "Sam" LB for the scout team.

Tim Patterson, DE, Louisville, KY - I hear Tim is headed to a JUCO, possibly SW Mississippi CC.

Jerrell Preister, CB, Allendale, SC - Jerrell immediately becomes the fastest player on the team. He was a RB in HS. He has a positional adjustment to make this year, but he has a shot to play in the fall because of his blazing speed. If he takes off his redshirt, expect to see him used at times as a kick returner and possibly also as a slot receiver.

Jewell Ratliff, LB, New Orleans, LA - Depending on roster numbers, Jewell will redshirt or grayshirt this fall. He is a "Mike" LB.

Tyler Robinson, TE/OL/DE, Alcoa, TN - Tyler will redshirt and get looks at several positions on the scout team.

Donte Rumph, DT, Fork Union MI - All eyes are on Donte's protracted efforts to achieve D-1 academic eligibility. He still hasn't been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. If he gets enrolled, he will play a key back-up role in the fall on UK's DL, and could even see some starting opportunities by October. But if Donte doesn't get enrolled this time, then his hopes for a D-1 athletic career are over.

Ray Sanders, RB, Stone Mountain, GA. Ray is one of the team's three fastest players. He is also surprisingly strong for his size. He was one of the best RB prospects in Georgia last fall. Because his speed adds another dimension, he has a shot to take off his redshirt this fall. To do that, he will have to win the #3 RB job in August camp. If that happens, expect to see him returning kickoffs as well.

Ronnie Shields, TE/WR, Stone Mountain, GA - Will redshirt this fall.

Eric Simmons, CB/S, Atlanta, GA - Eric has only been playing organized football for two years, but has good size and excellent speed. The staff would like to redshirt him this fall, but he might play if another DB gets injured in August.

Miles Simpson, RB, Independence, KY - Will redshirt this fall. They want to develop him as a big RB, but he might get a look at OLB if he continues to fill out.

Alex Smith, TE, Cincinnati, OH - Alex comes from the same HS that produced former UK FB and current NFL player John Connor. Alex is one of the best TE prospects in the east. He will play this fall, and will probably start at some point.

Max Smith, QB, Van Nuys, CA - Depending on available scholarship numbers, Max will grayshirt or redshirt this fall. He is a QB all the way.

Dale Trimble, CB, Gadsden, AL - Everyone I know believes Dale will take off his redshirt and play this fall. Big upside. He has an outside shot to start by October.

Avery Williamson, LB, Milan, TN - Avery is a high upside LB prospect. He is athletic enough to play "Sam", but everyone I know thinks he will start out playing "Mike" LB. Given the dearth of SEC-caliber LBs on UK's roster now, Avery will almost certainly take off his redshirt this fall. If they keep him at "Mike", he will share the position situationally with Ronnie Sneed and Qua Huzzie. If they move him to "Sam", he could be starting by October.

The College Football recruiting Fallacy

The Bleacherreport has an article showing how that the number of Stars that a High School football player has when being recruited by colleges does not necessarily translate to being a 1st round NFL Draft prospect. While some College football fans get carried away by the Star Method of some of the College Football Recruiting Services, this shows that using that method is not always a reliable measuring stick in trying to figure out who the impact players are going to be at the College level.

Remember, a better way to figure out how a player stacks up in college is to look at the schools who are recruiting a player. Afterall, College coaches get paid for a reason, and that reason is not to be wrong!

2011 Future Watch - WR's Updated

WR Offers (known)

Alex Chisum, Charone Peake, Christian Jones, Collins Moore, DeAnthony Arnett, Hakeem Flowers, Ja’Juan Story, Brandon Thomas

WR Watch List

Charles Gaines, Darius Slay, Derrick Knowles, Gabriel Nimmons, Jesse York, Jonothan Rumph, Justin Bean, Kyle Heggs, LaMont McMurray, Levi Beckett, Bubba Tandy, Tommy Shuler

Already Committed

Antonio Cannon (Kentucky), Cooper Harrington (Southern Miss), Devante Parker (Louisville), Danny Woodson (Alabama), Darryl Collins (Alabama), KJ Brent (South Carolina), Keante Minor (Arkansas)

Updates

Since the last update the Cats received three commitments from receivers. However, only Antonio Cannon projects at receiver in college. The other two are projected to play other positions. Also, Keante Minor chose the Razorbacks. The Cats are still in the mix to land Alex Chisum, Collins Moore, Christian Jones and Brandon Thomas. All of the other receivers offered are long shots at this point. Bubba Tandy attended camp at UK and hasn’t received an offer yet, however he posted some solid forty yard dash times. Alex Chisum will attend camp at UK on June 19th and wouldn’t rule out a commitment if he feels the time is right on any visits this summer.

Most likely to be a Cat

I’m still sticking with Alex Chisum, Collins Moore, Brandon Thomas or Bubba Tandy. If Louisville has a horrible year, I could see DeVante Parker changing his mind, but right now he’s a Cardinal. Thomas has an offer from the Cats and is from the same county as Shamir Jeffrey who is being recruited as a QB/WR.

Terrance Coleman (2011-DL) Video

Terrance Coleman is a Juco DL/DE prospect from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi. He is listed at 6'2" and 260lbs.

Preview South Carolina Game # 7

For the 2nd Saturday in a row, the UK Wildcats will host an SEC opponent at Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats lost last year when starting QB, Mike Hartline got injured.

Offensively, the Gamecocks look to be better with Stephen Garcia at the helm of a team that sports 3 starting WRs over 6 ft tall. Typically, South Carolina allows a ton of sacks in games on offense, and Spurrier seems to call out the play of Garcia continually. Kentucky should be able to generate a lot of pressure on the QB with D Evans, and T Wyndham which will disrupt the rhythm of the offense.

The strength of the Gamecock defense is the back 7 and the loss of Eric Norwood is monumental. The O-line of Ky should have become solid by this point in the season and the QB play should also be vastly improved which will provide UK the opportunity to dictate the flow of the game and pull this one out, ending a 10 yr Gamecock run and a 17 games Spurrier run at the same time.

Reasons that the CATS will Win: A Solid running game which will keep the ball out of the hands of the Gamecock offense and a solid pass rush which will frustrate the Gamecock offense.

Collins Moore (2011-WR) Update

Collins Moore (2011-WR) is receiving more and more interest from major programs. The Cats were one of the first to offer, but now other schools such as LSU, Vanderbilt and Louisville have gotten into the mix. When asked about favorites he said, "I like the SEC schools and Louisville." He hopes to decide around the start of his senior season. The Cats really haven't landed a wide receiver commit so if Moore chooses the Cats it would be huge.

Locke breaks arm

Reports started coming out earlier that Derrick Locke suffered a broken arm from falling on his moped. Click to read the Courier-Journal's article.

Hopefully he is ready to go when camp opens up in August.

2011 Future Watch - RB's Updated

RB Offers (known)

Marcus Caffey, Mike Bellamy, Ricky Lunford, Shon Carson, Quan Bray

RB Watch List

Anthony Williams, Brandon Ford, Charod Strickland, Darryl Warren, De’angelo Henderson, Demetrius Williams, Derek Bishop, Derrick Goliday, Devin Foster, Eric Scott, Kyle Karempelis, Marcus Helm, Shane Coleman, Willie Davis

Already Committed

Brandon Williams (Baylor), Jerrell Moore (Louisville), Artaves Gibson (Memphis)

Updates

Not a lot has changed since the last update except Artaves Gibson committed to Memphis. If the Cats really want Gibson they want continue to recruit him. Most project Marcus Caffey to play cornerback in college, while he mainly runs the ball in high school. The Cats have a shot a Ricky Lunford, but will have their work cut out in landing the Texas prospect. Mike Bellamy, Shon Carson and Quan Bray all appear to be longshots.

Most likely to be a Cat

Brandon Ford, Darryl Warren, De’angelo Henderson or Devin Foster. Ford is from Kentucky and his coach recently spoke at the UK Coaches Clinic. He is working on a visit now. Warren plays at Alcoa and would be the fourth player to continue the pipeline and Foster visited UK’s spring game is very underrated. Henderson played with Brice Laughlin and UK has worked hard to create a pipeline at Summerville High School. Considering the Cats signed three RB's in the 2010 class and one walk-on the position isn't a huge priority. However, it's always good to take at least one in each class.

UK Football Two Minute Drill

Instead of doing a bunch of posts, I'm going to do one for now. Here's your two minute drill.

UK vs. UofL - will be televised by ABC regionally at 3:30pm. While I'm confident the Cats will take care of business, Papa John Stadium will be rockin' and the Cats better bring their "A" game. It's scary because it's the first game of the season. This game is huge for the state and especially recruiting.

Cody Robinson - finally received an offer from the Cats yesterday. He is a great young man and we've stayed in touch for a couple of months now. He really likes UK and if he commits to the Cats, it will be a huge. Cody could play either OL or DL, but he is probably better suited to play on the O-line. The guy is a beast! Remember his dad played with Randy Sanders at Tennessee and Cody has camped at UK several times now.

Alex Chisum - informed me he would be attending camp at UK on June 19th. Alex is up to 8 offers (including UK) and has visited Cincinnati and Louisville for spring games. He mentioned Auburn, Georgia Tech and USF as teams getting involved and specifically named Cincinnati as the team recruiting him the hardest. Tee Martin is handling is recruitment for UK. He would like to make a decision before his season starts and didn't rule out a possible commitment during a visit. Hopefully, the Cats can close the deal when he is on campus?

Lamar Dawson - may be the most coveted player to come out of Kentucky in a long time. He has recently received offers from Florida and Southern Cal. Dawson admits Charlie Strong is recruiting him hard, but don't count out Joker yet. The Cats need to sell Lamar on being the face of the program (bigger than Micah Johnson).

Zeke Pike - is one of the top players in Kentucky for the 2012 class. He will visit South Carolina this weekend and holds several offers already. UK fans need to remember his name as he will be another key recruiting target for the staff.

Freshman - will start reporting over the next couple of days. This should put a rest to rumors of academic issues as players report. I'm still hearing the Cats could have as many as five players not eligible from the 2010 signing class. Assuming everyone is qualified, the Cats are over committed and a few will likely have to greyshirt. Which will also impact the number of signees for the 2011 class.

Coaching Staff - Enough good things can't be said about the the UK coaching staff. While it starts at the top with Joker Phillips, everyone is doing a great job. The 2011 class is shaping up to the best since the Rich Brooks era began. What I'm most impressed about is there is no territory for a certain coach when it comes to recruiting. Joker is allowing coaches to work based on relationship and personality which is very smart. It also appears the staff is putting pressure on players to commit and not play musical chairs. In other words, they are likely letting players know their offer may get pulled if someone else commits.

We should have some more interviews over the next couple of days, so make sure your following on twitter or checking the site. GO CATS!

College Football Expansion -The Sabre Rattling continues

Several weeks ago, there was a lot of hype about the Big 11 expanding and creating chaos within the college ranks as far as conference size goes (I actually wrote a column about it and was one of the few that said that it was a reality), anyways, it look like we were all wrong and that the PAC-10 might become the PAC-16!

Where there is smoke there is ..........!!

This is all about money and conferences expanding their target audiences and getting more TV Revenue. Those who are in charge of looking into the futures regarding their schools had better begin to align themselves with the right conferences, there are millions of dollars at stake on this (Actually, hundreds of millions of dollars).

No one, within the College ranks who is a mover and shaker wants to be the one holding the bag and have to answer as to why they made the wrong choices in regards to conference realignment. Remember the ADs and Presidents Etc have egos just as big as any athlete and none of them want to be known as the person that left money on the table.

This is going to get interesting.

Let the Sabre rattling continue!! Get your popcorn ready!!


UPDATE: Here is the Latest on this issue and it is even better than we imagined!!!

Texas A &M and Florida State U weigh in and it is gooood!

These few random thoughts are why the SEC needs to take the expansion issue seriously.

Lamar Dawson Status in Recruiting for the 2011 Class

Larry Vaught has an interesting article on the recruitment of Lamar Dawson MLB from Boyle County as in regards to his playing for Kentucky. Lamar is getting a tremendous amount of attention from all over the college spectrum, and his commitment to UK is anything but assured at this point. Do I think that we will land him? Yes, but not without a fight.

I am sure that Joker & Company have explained to him that at any other school than an instate school he is just another recruit. If he stays instate, he has the opportunity to become a "Living Legend" like many who have preceded him IE Tim Couch, Micah Johnson ETC.

Whereever Lamar goes, he will be a very good player.

One More Day!

One more day until the Freshmen arrive on Campus!!

Preview Auburn GAME #6

The 6th game of the season finds Auburn at Kentucky. Last year, the Wildcats spanked Auburn on their home turf; this year, The War Eagle looks to return the favor.

Auburn returns 7 players on both offense and defense, however, they may actually come into Commonwealth Stadium with 2-3 losses for the season before taking on the CATS (losses to Clemson, providing Parker returns as the QB, South Carolina, and possibly Miss. State). The Offense, led by Blinn college transfer Cam Newton (3,000 passing yards and a total of 28 TDs in 09)seem to be loaded with talent on the O-line and weapons as well. Auburn will run a spread type offense with Newton, and this will be a true test for the rest of the season. If Kentucky can slow down Auburn, it will be a game.

The Auburn defense also returns several players; however, unlike previous years, there does not seem to be any real difference makers which can dictate the tempo of the game. Both Kentucky and Auburn are better this year, but look for Kentucky to win a close one.

Why Kentucky will win: Home field advantage, and intensity. Auburn will come in assuming the win and again get shocked by not realizing that the CATS are for real.

Caylin McBeth (2011-WR) Video

McBeth is from Florida and considered one of the top receives in the state. He is visiting a ton of schools including Alabama, Florida, LSU and Mississippi State. Louisville is recruiting him and he has interest in Kentucky's style of play. It doesn't appear the Cats are pursuing him at this point.

Cats offer Cody Robinson

Cody Robinson (2011-OL) has informed me Kentucky verbally offered him today and the letter is in the mail. Robinson attended UK's camp last weekend and the staff must have liked what they saw. Don't expect Robinson to make a quick decision, but the Cats are in the mix. Remember, his dad played with Randy Sanders at Tennessee and he has camped at UK several times now. Cody holds several offers from various programs, but would be a huge addition if the Cats can ink him on signing day.

Kevin Sousa (2011-QB) Spring Video

Sousa is racking up offer after offer and the Cats don't seem to be pursing him any longer. At one time most felt Sousa would be a priority for Kentucky.

Another sleeper recruit

I actually met Devin Foster at UK's spring game and he is being recruited by several schools including Alabama. His recruitment will gain more momentum during his senior year.

Marcus Caffey (2011-DB) Update

Per Palmetto Sports, Marcus Caffey wants to visit South Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Arkansas this summer. All have offered him a scholarship along with other schools. While he plays running back in high school, he is projected to play cornerback in college.

More on Lamar Dawson

Larry Vaught has a great article on the recruiting battles for Lamar Dawson. It's no secret Dawson is one of the top priorities for Kentucky and Louisville in the 2011 class. I suspect Dawson's recruitment to last a while, possibly until signing day. As he continues to wait, more and more schools are getting involved.

Lamar told me recently he was enjoying the experience as it's a once in a lifetime occurrence. I've had the opportunity to interview Lamar a handful of times. He is very quite, well mannered and soft spoken. I'm still convinced when it's all said and done, he will pick either Louisville or Kentucky.

Another Top 100 list

The Bleacher Report gives their "Top 100" list for 2011 and UK commit Jon Davis comes in at No. 41. I like this list and you can click on information for each player and it also includes notes offers, etc. One thing is clear at this point, Jon Davis can play. He could be one of the best recruits for UK in a long time.

Preview Ole Miss Game #5

Games #5 through #9 are the most critical for this year's Kentucky Wildcat Football team. This stretch of the schedule comes after the Florida game and are basically with teams that the CATS really have a shot at winning. The foes for this run are formidible and the success or failure for the '10 season lies here.

This stretch of the season opens with UK visiting the Grove to take on the Ole Miss Rebels which come into the '10 season ranked at the same spot in the SEC West that the CATS are ranked in the SEC East (#5).

Nutt and Company return only 3 starters from an underachieving Offense from last year's team! Houston, we have a problem! These 3 returning players, all Offensive linemen will serve as the bedrock for this years team. The O-line had better gel quickly since there are no starting skill position players returning, and the interior of the line has no depth.

Also, Gone is Javon Snead and his 20 INTS, enter Sophomore QB Nathan Stanley with very limited playing experience. Brandon Bolding (614 yards rushing in 09) looks to be the starting RB, with other skill positions completely up in the air.

The Defense should be extremely solid with 6 starters returning from last years unit. The strength of the Defense looks to be the D-line (3 returning starters) and the Linebackers with 2 returning starters. The weakness of the defense looks to be the DBs and passing defense. If the front 4 can generate lots of pressure on the QB (they had 36 sacks in 09) that would go a long way to settling down the secondary for the long season ahead.

When the CATS travel to Oxford, look for a low scoring affair, unless UK gets the kinks out of the passing game. UK should come away with a Victory whatever happens. At this point in the season, Cobb and Company will have a chip on their shoulders (after the Florida game) for the rest of the year.

Why the Cats will win: The Cats will win a low scoring affair due to their depth at the skill positions and QB play. Look for the game to be decided late in the game and the CATS keeping the Rebels off balance using various formations and play action.

2 More Days

2 More Days until the Freshmen start arriving on Campus!!

GBB

Michael Matulis (2011-OL) Video

Per ESPN, Matulis lists UK among six schools recruiting him the hardest.

Smothers pick Razorbacks

Mitch Smothers (2011-OL) from Springdale, Arkansas verbally committed to Arkansas. Mike Summers has been recruiting Smothers for a while and tired to lure him to Lexington. Smothers had a ton of offers and most expected him to end up a Razorback. Who's up next for UK? The O-line is a huge priority for UK in this next recruiting class, someone else will likely receive an offer now.

Rivals 100 Rankings

Rivals has released their 2011 "Top 100" list and expected to announce their "Top 250" list this week as well. The Cats have offered 18 players on the "Top 100" list and have one commitment (No. 83 Glen Faulkner). Several of the players who the Cats have offered have already chosen another school. Based on interviews and feedback, the only players UK has a legitimate shot at landing (at this point) are Damian Swann (No. 48) and Lamar Dawson (No. 95). Remember, don't get caught up with star rankings. When considering a players potential, look at the other schools involved.

Impact Freshmen for UK

Who do you think will be the Top 4-5 True Freshmen which will make an impact for the CATS in the 2010 Season?

Travis Elliott (2012-RB) Update

Travis Elliott (2012-RB) from Ryle High School in Kentucky had an excellent camp at Kentucky this past weekend. Travis posted a 4.57 forty yard dash time and a 33" vertical jump. He will now attend camps at NC State, Cincinnati, Illinois, Virginia and Toledo. Travis has UK ties as his uncle played basketball at UK back in the '80's under Coach Hall. Travis is making a name for himself in the 2012 class and appears to be one of the top players for 2012.

3 More Days

3 More Days til the Freshmen report to campus.

Preview Florida Game #4

The Kentucky Wildcats will invade The Swamp this year to take on the Florida Gators. Gatornation lost a ton of playmakers on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Offensively, Urban lost Tim Tebow, Aaron Hernandez, Mike Pouncey and Riley Cooper. Defensively, the team lost Carlos Dunlap. Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Spikes, Major Wright and Joe Hayden. With these losses, not only did the Gators lose playmakers, but they also lost leadership both on the field and for the team in general.

John Brantley does indeed replace T Tebow at the all important QB position. Many have already annointed him as "The Replacement"; however, the jury is out as to whether he can consistently perform at that level or not.

There is no doubt that Florida has talent everywhere and is extremely deep, the question is how soon will it gel into an elite SEC team?

For the CATS to win, they must control the line of scrimmage, minimize turnovers while creating at least 2, and hope that the Gators are looking forward to the Bama game the next Saturday.

2011 Future Watch - QB's Updated

QB Offers (known)

Braxton Miller, CJ Uzomah, Justin Worley, Shamir Jeffrey

QB Watch List

Braxton Smith, Christian Wallace, Kal Prince, Neal Pawsat, Conner Hempel, Jyhree Harris, Kevin Sousa, Marcus Graham, Mike Wegzyn, Senquay Eichelberger, Steven Rivers, Zack Mayes, Andrew Kummer

Already Committed

Patrick Coyne (Cincinnati), DaMarcus Smith (Louisville), Conner Cook (Michigan), Theltus Cobbins (Kentucky).

Updates

Since our last update, the Cats received a verbal from Theltus Cobbins who has put up some impressive numbers in Louisiana. It appears the Cats got in on him early and found another great athlete. While Cobbins should play quarterback at UK, he has the ability to play other positions as well. Nothing has changed with Shamier Jeffery’s recruitment other than Auburn signed a top rated quarterback which could affect their chances in landing his commitment. Most people still feel Braxton Miller is Ohio State’s to lose. CJ Uzomah is likely staying in Georgia and Justin Worley appears to be leaning towards Rocky Top. DaMarcus Smith is still committed to Louisville, but I’m hearing the Cats are still recruiting him too. It wouldn’t surprise me to see in-state players Conner Hempel, Neal Pawsat or Kal Prince end up at UK. All three have excellent grades and could possibly receive a preferred walk-on opportunity which could save the program a scholarship. All three of the in-state players mentioned will attend various camps at UK over the summer. Another name to remember is Mike Wegzyn from Tennessee. He holds several offers mid-major offers and bigger ones should follow. He recently attended two camps in Lexington.

Most likely to be a Cat

I still feel Shamier Jeffery is the most likely to pick UK followed by either Hempel, Prince, Pawsat or Wegzyn. With the Cats having commitments from Cobbins and Max Smith, they can afford to be picky at this point.

UK Recruit Glen Faulkner a Top 100

University of Kentucky Football recruit, Glen Faulkner has been rated in the Top 100 players of the 2011 Class. The 6 ft 2 in DB, from E. St. Louis High School, in Illinois is ranked #83 which makes him a 4 * recruit.

Another uncommited player from Kentucky, MLB, Lamar Dawson is also ranked in the Top 100 at #95.

Joker pleased with recruiting

Don't know how we missed this one, but Chip Cosby had a great article on Sunday about UK's recruiting thus far. In the article, Joker gives credit to his assistant coaches for staying on top of recruits. The article also talks about each of the commits so far. Joker also states the staff would like to sign 18-20 players in the 2011 class.

My favorite comment: "We can't turn away great people who want to come here, Sometimes it's a little lopsided, but we want to sign at least 18-20 every year regardless. It usually works out."

Nick Waisome (2011-CB) Update

Per Palmetto Sports, Nick Waisome (Clermont, FL) has narrowed his list of schools to seven. The Cats didn't make the cut. His list includes South Carolina, Miami, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Georgia and Louisville.

Predicting the SEC Race

The Bleacherreport.com predicts every SEC Conference game for the 2010 season here. Just so you know, UK is predicted to go 2-6 in conference with wins over Auburn, and Vandy.

Preview Akron Game #3

Game 3, of the 2010 season sees the Akron Zips travel to UK (along with new coach Rob Ianello previously from Notre Dame) to take on the Kentucky Wildcats at Commonwealth Stadium. The Zips return 17 starters for their pro style offense which ranked 119th last year. Having experienced 4 straight losing seasons (they went 3-9 in 2009), Akron looks to turn around it's fortunes this year and go bowling.

The team only returns 1 WR (Jeremy LaFrance) out of it's Top 5 at the position, but does have several RBs that are playmakers with talent. An experienced Oline returns 3 starters which should make Sophomore QB Patrick Nicely's job easier than last year (he also has another year's worth of experience which is never a bad thing).

The Defensive line (one of the strengths of the team) returns 3 starters (James Harvey, Hasan Hazmine, and Almondo Sewell) while the MLB (Brian Wagner 132 tackles as a Freshman in 09) also returns to give the Zips experience. They actually return 11 of their 15 top tacklers from the 09 season which should make them much better for the 10 season than the 09 season.

The Zips look to come into Commonwealth and rob one from the Wildcats. The team is a MAC team that is ranked at the bottom of their conference, so beating up UK seems to be too much to ask for this year. The Zips might win 5-6 games, one of them will not be aginst Kentucky.

4 More Days!!

4 More Days until the Freshmen start getting to campus!