Jody Demling has another article on an in-state prospect (Mark Wathen)receiving interest from Kentucky. It's hard to imagine the Cats taking another TE/DE prospect, but anything's possible.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Christian Wallace (2011-QB) article
Jody Demling has a nice article on Christian Wallace who will play for Ballard this upcoming season. With Wallace having more weapons around him in 2010, he is poised for a monster season. He attended the Elite 11 camp in Alabama (pictured above with DaMarcus Smith and Kal Prince).Jalen Harrington (2011-DB) Update
Jalen Harrington (2011-LB/S) informed me last night that Kentucky is trying to get him and his teammates to visit in the next couple of weeks (Jamon Brown and Jerrell Moore). Moore has already acknowledged UK is recruiting him hard and it's no secret that David Turner wants Jamon Brown. If the Cats manage to flip the Fern Creek trio it would be huge. Harrington will also visit Illinois, Purdue and Indiana soon.Cats running out of room
Last year at this time Kentucky had one verbal commitment and the Big Blue Nation was concerned. Fast forward to 2010 and the Cats have 14 verbal commitments. Enough praise can't be said about the job of the Joker Phillips and his entire staff.In talking with one recruit today, he told me the staff plans to sign 18-20 recruits in the next class. Initially the Cats were expected to sign around 15 players. A while back another recruit told me the staff wanted to sign three offensive lineman. As always there is some attrition and a few who sign that never make it to campus. Assuming the Cats leave room for two offensive lineman and Lamar Dawson, that leaves three spots for other positions in order to sign 20 players.
The question now becomes who's next? Who are the possible four to six recruits the Cats could receive commitments from? It's no secret that Lamar Dawson is the priority for Joker Phillips. Let's face it, there hasn't been a recruit of Dawson's caliber since Dennis Johnson and Tim Couch. With the Cats having limited spots available I look for more in-state players to possibly commit sooner rather than later.
Here is a breakdown of the commitments by position: QB-2, RB-0, WR-3, TE-2, OL-1, DL-2, LB-1, CB-3, S-0. By most accounts the priorities are still OL, DL and LB. The Cats can afford to be picky everywhere else. Could this be the first year the Cats don't continue the LaGrange pipeline? How about Stephenson High School? I know the Cats want to continue that pipeline as well.
One thing is clear, Joker Phillips is running the show and things are going to be different. Rich Brooks did a fantastic job, but Joker Phillips is taking the program in a new direction. Hopefully he can keep his staff intact and get a jump on the 2012 class too!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Jerrell Moore (2011-RB/WR) Update
Jerrell Moore (2011-RB/ATH) informed me this evening he will take visits to Illinois and Purdue. Moore claims Kentucky is recruiting him the hardest right. He will make his final decision during his senior year as he currently committed to Louisville. Moore could potentially return kicks, play running back or wide receiver.
Dale Trimble update
Dale Trimble (2010-CB) from Alabama who signed with the Cats in February should know next week his status for the upcoming season. Trimble informed me if he qualifies he will enroll at the end of July and if not would greyshirt. Trimble was one of the "gems" of the recruiting class in my opinion and the staff had to "hold off" competition down the stretch. Daylen Hall "soft verbal" to UK
Per TCP's Steve Jones, Daylen Hall (2011-CB) has committed to Kentucky. It appears he is a "soft verbal" and wants to see if any other big offers come. It's really no different than Jerrell Moore, DaMarcus Smith and Jamon Brown. They are committed to Louisville and still checking things out to make sure they made the right decision. DaMarcus Smith to Elite 11
Reports are coming out that DaMarcus Smith (left) has been invited to the Elite 11 camp in California. This is a huge honor for Smith who is currently committed to Louisville. It's no secret that Joker Phillips is working to flip his commitment, but regardless it's a huge accomplishment for him. Congratulations. Eilar Hardy picks Irish
Eilar Hardy (2011-DB) from Pickerington, OH has committed to Notre Dame following his recent visit. The Cats had been recruiting Hardy along with Michigan State, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Wisconsin among others. Q&A with Charlie Strong
Larry Vaught has a nice interview with Louisville's Charlie Strong. As anyone can see by the article, Strong and Joker are close friends. Strong will do good things at Louisville and Joker will do good things at Kentucky. Recruits will start looking at the bluegrass state as more than just a basketball state. Locke ranks No 7 in the SEC
The Bleacher Report ranks Derrick Locke at the No 7 running back in the SEC. The article points out the new offensive line will have to figure things out in a hurry for Locke to have another big season. Also, the Cats have to hope Moncell Allen can pave the way like John Conner did for Locke. As everyone knows, Locke is always one play from taking it the distance on the field. Darien Thomas Interview
I interviewed Darien Thomas recently. Darien is a WR verbal from Theodore HS in Alabama who is pumped to be a Wildcat. He is a 3* recruit who also told me that when he came to the UK Camp that he knew that he wanted to play here.
Darien said that he wanted to play early in his college career (as a freshman) and thought that UK would give him that opportunity. He grew up a fan of Chad "Ocho Cinco" and also liked the Saints.
Thomas stated that he either wants to major in Business, Psychologhy or Mechanical Engineering. Like many other players, Darien recently took the ACT and is awaiting the results.
Darien said that in addition to WR, he will also be playing Safety, PR, and KR, and basically does not plan on coming off of the field for his senior season. His Brother, Demetrius plays for Marshall. so he was familiar with how recruiting worked and was excited for the opportunity.
Darien currently runs a sub 4.5 in the 40 yard and will be working hard on techinique until he gets on campus in Lexington.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Micah Johnson released by Giants
Some disappointing news for a former Cat. Micah Johnson was released by the New York Giants on Monday. Johnson was a fan favorite and we wish the best of luck to him down the road in finding another team.
Comments on Players that Verballed this week
What are your thoughts on the 3 players (Riyahd Jones, Christian Coleman and Blake Terry) that have verballed to UK this week?
2011 Future Watch - RB's updated
RB Offers (known)Marcus Caffey, Ricky Lunford, Shon Carson, Quan Bray
RB Watch List
Anthony Williams, Brandon Ford, Brandon Wilds, Charod Strickland, De’angelo Henderson, Demetrius Williams, Derek Bishop, Derrick Goliday, Devin Foster, Eric Scott, Kyle Karempelis, Marcus Helm, Shane Coleman
Already Committed
Brandon Williams (Baylor), Jerrell Moore (Louisville), Artaves Gibson (Memphis), Mike Bellamy (Clemson), Willie Davis (South Florida)
Updates
Since our last update one player off the offer list and one from the watch list made their selections. Mike Bellamy chose Clemson and while the Cats offered they never received serious consideration. Also, Willie Davis picked South Florida. We were able to reach out to Marcus Caffey and Rickey Lunford for interviews. Both are very interested in UK, but Lunford plans to take a visit to UK. It’s unclear if Caffey will do so at this point. Also, Brandon Wilds attended camp at UK last week and holds a few offers (UK hasn’t offered yet). We posted his video a few days ago.
Most likely to be a Cat
Brandon Ford, Rickey Lunford, Brandon Wilds or De’angelo Henderson.
Daylen Hall Interview
I recently interviewed Daylen Hall of St. X in Kentucky. Daylen stated that his recruitment started slow, but is really beginning to pick recently. He recently took the ACT, but has not gotten the results back yet. Daylen says that he has no idea what he will major in at college, but mentioned Marketing as a possibility. He is looking for a school with a sense of community, and where he gets along well with the coaches. At this time, Hall holds offers from Murray State, Marshall and UK, he also expects Indiana to offer within the next week or so, and has visited Louisville. Daylen grew up a UK and Miami Hurricane fan, and Peyton Manning was his favorite player. He expects to verbal more towards the end of the season, and is very appreciative of the support from his family and Coach Mike Glaser of St. X. Dsylen says that his offseason goals are to gain strength and increase his speed. Currently, Hall runs a 4.33 in the 40 yard, and recently ran a 4.15 in the shuttle (for those unsure, those are blistering fast speeds). Daylen is a teammate of Lamont McMurry also from St. X.
Vaughts Views: Cats add two football commitments
Larry Vaught has a nice article about the two football commitments today, Christian Coleman and Blake Terry.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Christian Coleman a Cat
Aaron has confirmed that 3* DE Christian Coleman is indeed a wildcat. Coleman is a good get for the cats. He has been high on Kentucky for awhile, and he is also the teammate of current UK freshman Avery Williamson. Aaron will have interview up tomorrow.
Spots are filling up fast for the Wildcats. Coleman becomes the 2nd commit of the day along with Blake Terry, and the 3rd this week with Riyahd Jones commiting on Monday.
Jeffery interested in Dawgs, in no hurry
Per Palmetto Sports, Shamier Jeffery (2011-ATH) wants to hear from Georgia and will take all of his official visits before making a decision. Jeffery is one of the most coveted recruits in South Carolina and most have felt decision would come on signing day. At one point, it appeared he was close to making a decision. Brandon Wilds (2011-RB) Update
Brandon Wilds (2011-RB) from Blythewood, SC attended camp at Kentucky this past weekend. Wilds currently holds offers from Illinois, ECU, South Carolina and Maryland. You can click here to see a video of his junior season. Myron Walker no longer a Cat
Myron Walker (DT) is no longer with the Kentucky football team. We have been hearing this rumor for a while, but it was confirmed today. Walker was listed on UK's spring roster along with his brother (Jarvis Walker, pictured above). When the Walker brothers came to UK, most felt they were a package deal. His brother Jarvis will remain with the team. Cats land another commitment
Blake Terry (2011-LB) has committed to Kentucky based on reports. Click here to read the article. His coach points out in the article:"When we put his top 50 plays together [on film], it’s very intimidating,” That’s something college coaches are afraid they can’t coach. You can coach how to run and catch, but to have that instinct of being real physical and intimidating is hard to coach. On film he shows that he has that already."
The other key thing to remember is Terry is the fourth D-1 commitment from his school for the 2011 class. The Cats haven't been very successful in landing Texas recruits, but maybe this commitment could start another pipeline for the program.
SEC Strength & Conditioning Programs
ESPN has a nice break down on each SEC team's Strength & Conditioning program. As most UK fans know, Ray "The Rock" Oliver returned to Kentucky this year and already making an impact. The Rock, who the article calls "a renowned motivator" will have a bigger impact on the program than most realize. I've personally spoken to recruits who have said great things about Oliver. Another SEC prediciton
The Bleacher Report gives their SEC predictions for the 2010 season and isn't kind to the Cats. The article predicts the Cats to come in at No 5 in the East. They also wouldn't rule out an upset against the Vols in the finale. Give us your prediction for UK in 2010. Isaiah Riddle Interview
I just interviewed Isaiah Riddle of Northgate HS in Newnan Georgia. At this time, Isaiah does not have any offers, but has been loosely linked to UK and attended the weekend camp with recent verbal Riyahd Jones.
Isaiah stated that he is looking for a school that stressed academics and a place where he could work well with the coaches. He plans on majoring in probably either Business Management or Computers and is very excited about the recruiting process.
He grew up a fan of UGA and Ga Tech and was especially fond of Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson, yet he holds no alliances to any schools and is willing to go to college where ever he feels is right.
Riddle also stated that in addition to playing RB this year that he would also be playing LB and FS. He said that it would be his first try at defense since his freshman year when he played DE.
Isaiah recently ran a 4.46 in the 40 yard dash and plans on working on his agility, foot speed and hand/eye coordination.
I asked him what he wanted people to know about him and he said that he wants us to know that he "is a good dude, and has a great work ethic".
Isaiah stated that he would probably wait until National Signing Day to actually commit, and that his parents would be heavily involved in his decision.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Josh Forrest Interview
I just interviewed Josh Forrest a UK Verbal (TE) commit from Paducah Tilghman HS in Kentucky. The 6 ft 4 in receiver stated that he has always wanted to go to UK and that he also play Point Guard for the basketball team. He grew up a fan of the basketball team and as a fan of Tayshaun Prince, and thought that he would actually attend UK on a basketball scholarship.
Josh stated that his Mom and his coach Brad Steig were the major influences on his life. At this time, Forrest is undecided as to what he will major in at UK, but seems very excited to get there. Josh does plan to work on his speed and at getting off of the line of scrimmage until he arrives on campus. His hand eye coordination and his height are his 2 best assets at this point in his career.
Josh also stated that he thought that the Blue Tornado would again go to the State Playoffs and win another State Championship.
Josh sounds like a great dude, and we wish him the best for the upcoming season.
Michael Hartline Rewind
The 2006 Recruiting Class saw several Wildcats make an impact on the team. Several of the players for this class have nothing to be ashamed about as college athletes while others were flat out real players. As always, there were players which for whatever reasons never really panned out and are no longer involved as players and have moved on with life.
Without a doubt, the most controversial recruit from the 2006 class is Mike Hartline. Mike came in as the #31 QB for the class and was thrust into a position of sink or swim at the beginning of the 2008 season (No, it is not anyone's fault, it is just the way that things worked out in the program). Two weeks, before the 2008 season began, Curtis Pulley was thrown off of the team and Michael was named as the starter for UK. The Cats were on a downswing from the successful 2007 season and had marginal talent returning in 2008 at several key positions (especially in the receiving corps).
The downswing experienced by the team was due to the previous probation, the lack talent due to the scholarship restrictions and the overall talent level of the team which is just now beginning to demonstrate that football can succeed in the Bluegrass State.
Much has been laid at Mike's feet for the offensive not being able to stretch the field during his run as a UK Quarterback, but looking back, let's take a look at some of the factors which abated the progress of Mike in the UK offense. For one, the TEs failed to produce in 2008 and then follow that up with an even more abysmal 2009. Secondly, D Lyons Jr. got hurt early in the season which was just about the time Mike was beginning to establish a comfort level in the offense (go back and look at the offense before the injury to Lyons and then after wards, there is a world of difference). In addition to the TEs failing to provide a meaningful threat in the offense and D Lyons getting hurt, Randall Cobb was starting at the other WR as a true freshman and no other player on the roster demonstrating that they had the ability to be an SEC football player which when looked at objectively, hardly spells the formula for success.
To make matters worse, Derrick Locke got suffered a major knee injury in mid-season in the Arkansas game. Basically, had this been the same old CATS as some fans espoused, they would have never finished above .500 nor even been invited to a bowl game, much less won a bowl game.
The 2009 season brought about a new hope in the program only to have Michael get hurt in the South Carolina game and remain sidelined the rest of the year. This in turn caused the rapid promotion of Morgan Newton to starting SEC QB when he may have in fact red-shirted.
Before, I get off of my high horse, let me say that history will be much kinder to M Hartline than we as fans are currently.
And, finally, as I wrote at this time last year, we have no need to boo the players regardless of who they are. If Joker says that Hartline is the starter (which I suspect that he will for the Louisville game) then we need to be excited about that. When we boo Mike, we set the team up for failure, yes the other players hear the boos as well, yet they know that they have to stand behind Mike because we either win or lose with him. By booing him, we cause dissention and distrust within the team, and that is never a good thing.
For now, it looks like the 2010 season will begin with Hartline as the starter, with the increase in talent and game experience, he is now set up for success as never before as the QB for this team.
GBB!!
Carson still undecided
Shon Carson (2011-RB) recently received an offer from Auburn. Carson is considering taking visits to LSU, Miami, Georgia and Auburn. He holds several other offers including one from Kentucky. Carson is also a top-rated baseball recruit and is interested in playing both sports in college. 2011 Future Watch - QB's updated
QB Offers (known)CJ Uzomah, Justin Worley, Shamier Jeffery
QB Watch List
Braxton Smith, Kal Prince, Neal Pawsat, Conner Hempel, Jyhree Harris, Kevin Sousa, Marcus Graham, Mike Wegzyn, Senquay Eichelberger, Steven Rivers, Zack Mayes
Already Committed
Patrick Coyne (Cincinnati), DaMarcus Smith (Louisville), Conner Cook (Michigan), Theltus Cobbins (Kentucky), Braxton Miller (Ohio State), Andrew Kummer (Miami-OH)
Updates
Since our last update, Braxton Miller committed Ohio State and Andrew Kummer had become a Redhawk. The Cats have one verbal from Theltus Cobbins, who is a dual threat quarterback. Nothing has changed with Shamier Jeffery, but it was reported he was camping at UK recently. I’m still searching for confirmation. The Cats really wanted DaMarcus Smith and they still continue to recruit him. Unless Louisville has a complete meltdown, he sticks with the Cards. I continue to hear Justin Worley likes the Vols and CJ Uzomah will not make it out of Georgia.
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.
2011 class in-state rankings
There hasn’t been a lot of movement in the rankings since our last update. However, Daylen Hall and Lamont McMurry climbed the ladder since receiving offers from Kentucky and Louisville. Anyone could argue No’s 1-3 could be in a different order, but overall Jon Davis’ size sets him apart from the other two. There are a few other players who were left off the list who could before it’s all said and done.Remember this list was compiled based on offers, film review, interviews and conversations with other people who cover high school football in Kentucky. The Bluegrass state hasn’t been this loaded with prospects in a long time. It’s going to be fun watching Joker Phillips and Charlie Strong slug it out over recruits.
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. Lamont McMurry (St. Xavier) recently received offers from both UK and UofL and 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.
13. Daylen Hall (St. Xavier) is another talented cornerback / athlete who recently received an offer from Kentucky. Hall’s height may be the only thing keeping him from being one of the most coveted players in the country. What he may lack in size is made up with speed.
14. Mitchell Henry (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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
Honorable Mentions: Christian Wallace (Ballard), Marcus Helm (Dupont Manual), Ryan Duzyk (Henry Clay), Devin Foster (Union County), John Dudley (Hilton), Zack Templin (East Jessamine)
Smothers solid to Arkansas?
Per Palmetto Sports, Mitch Smothers who committed to Arkansas recently, may take more visits to schools who have offered, but he hasn't visited yet. The article also states his commitment is fairly strong. I would be surprised to see Smothers end up anywhere other than Arkansas. Future NFLers for Offense
Which Offensive Players on the UK team will be drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft and have a future in the NFL? About, what rounds, do you think that these players would go in the Draft?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Riyahd Jones commits to the cats
Riyahd Jones (ath) out of Carver High School in Columbus, Georgia has verballed to the cats. The 6'0 170 pounder performed well at recent camps at UK, and the staff offered. UK was his first offer, although teams such as Georgia,Georgia Tech, Clemson, Vandy, and Miss. State also had interest. He is currently unranked. Tee Martin handled his recruitment. I think this is a very good get for the cats. He comes from a powerhouse football program in Georgia, and may attract future recruits to Kentucky.
Rickey Lunford (2011-RB) Update
Today I caught up with Texas running back Rickey Lunford regarding his recruitment. Currently Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Boise State, TCU and Houston appear to be leading for his services. Rickey informed me he will likely decide during his season and has visits he still needs to take. He plans on visiting Kentucky, TCU and Oklahoma State. Lunford is another speedster as he informed me he ran a 4.33 forty yard dash time when TCU visited his school. He also mentioned Kentucky offered as soon as they evaluated his film. He recently took his ACT, but hasn't received his test scores. He mentioned Larry Brinson as handling his recruitment for the Cats.
Top 5 on your Board
Let's say that you are Joker Phillips and you have a magic wand. With this magic wand, you can make any 5, 2011 recruits which hold offers to UK, actually verbal to UK (they can not be verballed to another school). Which 5 recruits do you choose to put the hex on?
Zach West (2011-OL) Update
Zach West (2011-OL) from Lexington informed me he still plans on making a decision by the end of summer. He will be taking at least three more visits and one more to Penn State. He claims Cincinnati, Penn State and Kentucky are recruiting him the hardest (in no particular order). Andrew Kummer commits to Miami Ohio
Andrew Kummer, who UK had interest in, has commited to Miami Ohio. He never received an offer from UK, but he did have offers from MAC schools.
UK Streaks in Jeopardy
KYSports looks at the UK losing streaks which are still active for the 2010 season. The writer of the article rates (on a scale of 1-10) how likely UK is to end each of these streaks this season.
Most of these streaks are ridiculous, and will soon be broken. In fact, I am predicting sooner rather than later.
Rivals.com releases top 5 for the state of Kentucky
Rivals ranks their top 5 for the state and I have to say i'm surprised that they only rank 5 players. In a year where Kentucky has quality talent, rivals seems to overlook it. I thought Scout.com and Espn both did a good job of ranking players in the state. Only one 4* made the list and it was Lamar Dawson. Kentucky commit Jon Davis came in at #3, while Darrian Miller was not in the top 5. Overall it's hard to argue with the players who made the list, but I believe rivals hasn't done a good job of evaluating the state to this point. Thoughts?
James Elliott offered by CATS
James Elliott a 6 ft 4 in O-Lineman from Catholic HS in Pensacola received an offer from UK. The 2* player also has an SEC offer from Vandy. Among his Non-SEC offers are Louisville, Michigan, Southern Miss, Texas Tech, and USF.
Big Time Recruit (DE) D J Pettway who committed to Alabama is from the same high school
Armonze Daniel to the SEC?
I caught up with Armonze Daniel (OLB-Avon HS in Indiana) over the weekend. He says that he will be graduating in December and begin college in January. Armonze also stated that he thought that he would be playing in the SEC, but did not toally rule out playing elsewhere (he and his brothers grew up on SEC Football). He, and his brother Montez Robinson (Montez played for Georgia in '09, but is now attending colllege in Mississippi) are pretty much a package deal so it seems, they really want to play together.
Armonze is rated as the #12 OLB according to one service and within the Top 40 of the other services (he missed most of his Junior year with a ruptured spleen). He visited Miss State and earlier this month, and has a visit set for Iowa (I will believe that one when I see it, but hey I can be wrong). If I were to guess, I would say the Top 3 are Auburn, Miss State and probably LSU. The family is originally from Tuscaloosa, so Auburn would seem like the most logical fit.
He also stated that he has spoken with UK within the last month. One thing for sure, he and both of his brothers (Montez, and Elijah Daniel-class of '13) are the type of athlete that Kentucky must start getting on a more consistent basis in order to take the next step up the ladder in the SEC.
A good place to start
The 2011 UK Recruiting class is about 1/2 full by most accounts. At this time, we have signed 1 4* player that is an O-lineman (Darrian Miller). Most recruiting services have Darrian rated within the Top 20 OTs for the 2011 class. If this class fills out like it might for O-linemen, Kentucky might have one of the Top 10 to 15 classes for O-line recruiting. If the CATS can sign Zac West (he is rated within the Top 20 at his position (OG)), he would help strengthen the OL unit for years to come as well. Additionally, if Nick Martin (he is rated in the Top 40 at his position, but is seriously under rated) is added into the mix, he would also help give the CATS 3 players in the Top 35 or so at their positions. If this plays out like it could, and like most believe, these additions would seriously upgrade the talent base and depth of the program, making it an upper eschelon SEC Caliber Offensive Line.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Father's Day!!!
Just want to give a shout out to all the dads who follow this site and say Happy Father's Day. One in particular is my dad who went to Henry Clay High School, attended UK, served his country and loves his Cats! Share your favorite UK memory with your dad in the comment section!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
