Fayetteville (Ga.) Whitewater running back Josh Clemons ended his whirlwind recruitment with Kentucky by giving the Wildcats and coach Joker Phillips an early Christmas present: his commitment. Clemons called Phillips Friday morning to give him the news.
Josh Clemons, who rushed for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns for Whitewater this season, becomes UK's first running back commit and 20th overall for the 2011 class.
"I called coach Joker this morning and told him I wanted to be a part of the team," Clemons said. "He was very excited. He said it was an early Christmas present."
The Wildcats came late to the party on Clemons' recruitment, not getting their first look at him until late into his senior season. "I think my coach sent them some film the last week of our season and I guess they liked it," Clemons said. Clemons and his father hosted the UK coaches for an in-home visit Dec. 7 and set up an official visit to Lexington that weekend.
That visit, coupled with the coaching change at Maryland and the opportunity for early playing time following the departures of senior Derrick Locke and transfer Donald Russell, led Clemons to cast his lost with the Cats.
"After everything went down with Maryland, I pretty much knew," Clemons said. "I was on my visit at the time. I spent a lot of time around the strength and conditioning coach (Rock Oliver) and I really liked him. I like the coaching staff, the players and the situation to come in and play a little bit. I just felt like it was my time."
Using his powerful running style, Clemons rushed for over 2,000 yards and 25 TDs in his senior season, helping Whitewater to a 10-4 mark. "I'm big and powerful. I think my best asset is my power, but when I get in the open field I can use my speed," Clemons said. "But I use my power to get things started."
Clemons is the Cats' first running back commit in the 2011 class and 20th overall. UK is also pursuing and is in good position for another Georgia back, Atlanta Grady's Marcus Caffey, who visited Lexington along with Clemons.
He will participate in the Georgia North/South All-Star Game Wednesday in Columbus.
