The House of Blue

Thanks for the story and wish Wales the best for the rest of his season.

^THIS^

I have seen both kids play on more then one occasion in person. I think that they are both very productive runners and both could be assets at UK. Wales gets his yard from the outside where Jude usually makes his living between the tackles. Speed and agility they are basically identical. I think that Jude gives you a back that will square the shoulders a little more and deliver the hit. If you took Jude off the Eastern Ky team he plays on and put him on a Louisville team his offer sheet would mirror Wales. Its really a shame geography plays such an issue at times.

With uk's need for explosive playmakers I don't understand our wishy washy attitude towards him, I thought with his speed we could use him ASAP

Sorry it took so long but before I replied back I wanted my ducks in a row with a few facts...
Here you go:

http://ky.milesplit.com/athletes/1972146-anthony-wales

"Anthony ran a PR of 11.11 in the 100m at Region 3 Class AA, placing first." (May 17, 2011)

http://ky.milesplit.com/athletes/1401513-jj-jude

" J.j. ran a PR of 11.08 in the 100m at Johnson Central All-Comers, placing first." (May 10, 2011)

So Jude's personal record in the 100m in officially timed and reported races is slightly faster than Wales's time at the distance, one week apart. Plus, Jude is the state wrestling champion at 171 pounds, which should tell you something about his strength. Which unless something drastically happens he will win again.

http://footballstarsoftomorrow.com/player.php?pid=249

Jude is listed with a 325 lb bench press and a 445 lb squat, to be more specific.

Of course, some will never let the facts get in the way of their opinions...
Say what you will, geography does play a role in these issues at times.

Geography will always play a factor. If your from Podunk ky the scouts aren't coming to visit you often unless you are that much better than everyone else.
Also they'll say who has he played yada, yada, yada. To say it doesn't matter nowadays is a bit disingenuous.

I love instate kids, but these are the same kind of posts we got when John Cole came out of Somerset and Channing Fugate out of Middlesboro (I think).

Cole has three or four catches total for Vandy, in his Junior year, and Fugate has no carries, and three receptions for UT, with a long catch of 7 yards in his 2nd year in Knoxville.

Obviously, Couch was a once in a lifetime player from SE Kentucky, and there have been a handful of others who made contributions, but on the whole, E Kentucky is just not a place to produce major college prospects, and I would defer to the college coaches who have scouted Jude and not offered, and would guess they are correct.