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Finishing the 2013 football recruiting class

  • I was curious if anyone had any predictions on which players will choose Kentucky and how many more players they will take. I know you have to take into account possible attrition, and as we have seen, one or two players currently committed to UK will likely commitments, and on the contrary, Kentucky will likely flip one or two players currently committed to other schools. Of course, a lot of this has to do with how well Kentucky does this year, winning 6 games should allow them to finish the recruiting class a lot better than 4 wins. I just hope they can close with some talent that will continue to allow them to build for a good future. I personally think they will sign 2 linebackers, another wide receiver, 2 more defensive linemen, another offensive lineman, a tight end, and another defensive back. What do the experts think? Thanks.

    SDcatfan131

  • Anyone have any ideas they would like to share? Thanks.

    SDcatfan131

  • SDcatfan131 said...

    Anyone have any ideas they would like to share? Thanks.

    I will share some ideas, but I do not have any inside info, so they are just my opinions. And as you mentioned, season results will play a role, especially Sept. 2nd outcome!!!

    Ander Bodkin, Maurice Swain, Lauren Jackson, Kyle Meadows, James Quick (I'm kidding, ain't happening) plus all the guys we already have and the class would be in the 30's!! But, more realistically, we are gonna probably finish about where we are right now. I am not real confident at projecting recruiting, I never have felt like I totally understand our criteria, direction, and plan for recruiting, so I usually just kinda wait and see.....

    This post was edited by shepp2700 on 8/19/2012 at 3:33 PM

    shepp2700

  • Football recruiting much tougher to predict than say basketball because there are infinitely more kids and even in the days leading up to signing day there are kids coming out of the woodwork left and right.

    So then you move to positions of need and as far as positions go, I think UK would like to add:

    – 1 (maybe 2) OL (Ander Bodkin, Kyle Meadows)

    – Several DL (Darren Dowdell, Maurice Swain, Nate Crawford, Lauren Jackson, Marquel Combs, Eric Mayes, Kingsley Opara, Jaylen Miller, Darien Williston)

    – Couple LBs – This is an area of concern. Sounds like UK is on the outside looking in with all of its top targets at the position (Jeremy Benjamin, Jermaine Grace, James Clark)

    – Then fill in with some athletes in the secondary (Mackensie Alexander, Boaz Joseph, Taj Letman, Mykal Moody)

    signature image

    Chris Fisher ●

  • Thank you for the information. Minter was quoted as saying that linebackers were a key area of focus this class. If uk is on the outside looking in with it's top prospects there, how come we aren't hearing about other prospects being pursued there?

    SDcatfan131

  • I addition to what has been said I think we should add 1-2 more WRs, 1 TE (Dowdell), 1-2 OL, as many quality DL as possible, at least 2 LB, and athletes from there on out.

    usa1000 ●

  • SDcatfan131 said...

    Thank you for the information. Minter was quoted as saying that linebackers were a key area of focus this class. If uk is on the outside looking in with it's top prospects there, how come we aren't hearing about other prospects being pursued there?

    Maybe when they say LB's, they're including the Rushbackers (Weakside DE). IOW, all the guys we're recruiting on D that fall between the 6-2, 6-4 and 215, 250 size are LB's for this discussion. We have several on our list.

    IamRV

  • IamRV said...

    Maybe when they say LB's, they're including the Rushbackers (Weakside DE). IOW, all the guys we're recruiting on D that fall between the 6-2, 6-4 and 215, 250 size are LB's for this discussion. We have several on our list.

    That's a good point. I could see guys like Mayes and Williston being those hybrid type players. I did see that they were recruiting a couple of JUCO linebackers in Butler and Jenkins-Moore. There could also be a signing day surprise like a Khalid Henderson at that position. I am confident that they will find a couple good linebackers to go with what they have before it is all said and done.

    SDcatfan131

  • I would think we land Swain, if we take is pal, cb Ricky Frazier. We need Swain..a 6'6 320 Jumbo DE, and Frazier could add depth at a need area. I would like to land Jeremy Benjamin, Darren Doawdell, Quentin James, Ryan Timmons, Kyle Meadows, id love Boaz Joseph, and another good reciever around 6'2 190 with speed.

    BigBlueDawg12

  • That staff has done an excellent job recruiting the LOS!! And, they've gotten some good athletes. Really need to add a quality LB, or two.

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    "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." ~ Emerson

    alphacat93

  • SDcatfan131 said...

    That's a good point. I could see guys like Mayes and Williston being those hybrid type players.

    Definitely.

    signature image

    Chris Fisher ●

  • Why is my perception that we can't recruit the LB position????

    Is it the position coach?
    is it they are hard to find?
    Is it that Micah wasn't a 1st round draft pick?

    What is the deal here?

    We have had some success with players at those positions getting them to the NFL, and we do have a few, but not nearly enough it seems and every year we are striking out on our top options. Henderson just fell into our laps last year so I don't think that is a defense of our recruiting.

    I'm not baiting, this is a legit question.

    jamccain ●

  • jamccain said...

    Why is my perception that we can't recruit the LB position????

    Is it the position coach? is it they are hard to find? Is it that Micah wasn't a 1st round draft pick?

    What is the deal here?

    We have had some success with players at those positions getting them to the NFL, and we do have a few, but not nearly enough it seems and every year we are striking out on our top options. Henderson just fell into our laps last year so I don't think that is a defense of our recruiting.

    I'm not baiting, this is a legit question.

    Maybe it's just your perception.

    We keep putting guys in the league.

    Most recently we brought in Henderson, Thomas, Brown, Z Blaylock and Harris.

    In 2011 we brought in Dupree, Paschal, Rancifer and Forrest

    In 2010 we brought in Simpson, Williamson, Johnson, McDuffen, Brause, J Henderson and Patterson of which the last two have left the program.

    That's 16 signed in three years for four positions. I can't imagine what else they might have to do to satisfy you.

    I believe your 'fell in our lap" comment to be way out of line. The staff recruited Henderson for over a year, offered him the spring before signing day and battled for him until signing day. It turned out in the good guys favor.

    IamRV

  • IamRV said...

    Maybe it's just your perception.

    We keep putting guys in the league.

    Most recently we brought in Henderson, Thomas, Brown, Z Blaylock and Harris.

    In 2011 we brought in Dupree, Paschal, Rancifer and Forrest

    In 2010 we brought in Simpson, Williamson, Johnson, McDuffen, Brause, J Henderson and Patterson of which the last two have left the program.

    That's 16 signed in three years for four positions. I can't imagine what else they might have to do to satisfy you.

    I believe your 'fell in our lap" comment to be way out of line. The staff recruited Henderson for over a year, offered him the spring before signing day and battled for him until signing day. It turned out in the good guys favor.

    Not arguing with the results because they've cranked out some good ones, but hardly any of those actually played linebacker in high school. Most of them were converted after the fact.

    signature image

    Chris Fisher ●

  • jamccain said...

    Why is my perception that we can't recruit the LB position????

    Is it the position coach? is it they are hard to find? Is it that Micah wasn't a 1st round draft pick?

    What is the deal here?

    We have had some success with players at those positions getting them to the NFL, and we do have a few, but not nearly enough it seems and every year we are striking out on our top options. Henderson just fell into our laps last year so I don't think that is a defense of our recruiting.

    I'm not baiting, this is a legit question.

    You are right, we don't recruit the LB position as well as most think we should. We need to land guys like Benjamin and Drennon every year if we expect to replace kids like Danny and Dupree and get similar or better production... I'm not saying 2 and 3 star players can't become great players because they can, as a fan it's just good to know that the next guy has all the tools and isn't a project...

    Most people would blame poor LB recruiting on the position coach but I really don't think that's fair. Cassidy and Summers have recruited better but LB is a lot like O-D line in that most the good prospects get hounded to death by all the cheaters... Even with Kirby Smart we still may not be able to land high 3 and 4 star players every year... GO CATS!!!

    todd

  • Chris Fisher said...

    Not arguing with the results because they've cranked out some good ones, but hardly any of those actually played linebacker in high school. Most of them were converted after the fact.

    Half of our LB positions are hybrid players, therefore it would follow that they didn't play LB in high school. You will find the guys playing our Mike and Will positions almost all played LB in high school.

    IamRV

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