The House of Blue

Yea I forgot about those guys. They are exactly what we need at TE, RB and ILB. I hope with everything in me that Joker can sign some of these better (higher profile) prospects. Battle has a few team mates that haven't chose, it would be sweet if we could add the WR and other LB... Both have 5+min highlight videos that are top notch. Is Benjamin or James or any of the other touted prospects going to be visiting anytime soon?

What gives with the recruiting this year? I was expecting it to be at least as good as the past 2 years, if not better. It seems like they have better recruiters than the past, and they said they were being more selective in who they are offering. Why are they taking commitments from players not offered from other BCS programs? In my opinion, they can do better in recruiting and should at least equal last years' class.

Yeah

Kentucky will probably always be a school that has to take a couple kids every year without solid offer sheets, I just hope the other 8 or 9 spots (in the 13) is filled with kids that teams like Miss St's, Vandy's, Ole Miss's and Acc programs want. I think we all should, we are a SEC school we need top 40 players at every position because everyone we play gets em... I don't think anything is wrong with judging kids or classes potential by looking a the majority of their offers... The star system is flawed I'll give anyone that, but for the most part it's more right than it is wrong... Noone can argue Clowney or Lattimore's abilities... If we ever hope to compete with the SC's, FLA, LSU's we have to start finding a way to land a few of our own top players every year... Joker done great in the 12 class, but so far he has missed on almost all in the 13... That can't happen.

I agree 100%, when I said Joker has missed on almost all I was talking about instate this year. But yea I agree if we play well we should start to land a couple of our big fish, atleast I hope so. We all thought after the 07 and 08 season we would land some great classes but for whatever reason we didn't... What hurts the 09's rep is not many have done or did much other than Juco kids... A team can not be built around Juco's, if more of the 2 and 3 stars players would have played the way they needed Joker could be in a much different situation right now... Some may not feel the same way I do and that's fine but UK NEEDS Joker to do well... People can say whatever they want but we need Joker to do well because he feels our pain, he loves UK and he WILL NOT LEAVE, I just hope he shows enough improvement to be able to stick around and see kid like Coleman, Bud, Clemons mature.

Yes a big name coach could come to Lex and do well but who knows for how long... I don't expect Joker to land top 15 classes every year like a South Carolina or TN but I do expect Joker to be able to take care of our needs with plenty of O/D-lineman and a few playmakers every year...

It's a shame as soon as we start to build decent depth on defense our Offense chokes... Hopefully this is finally the year both sides play like they should. No doubt it will be tough due to the youth and inexp. It will take a great game-plan week in and out but I really think it's possible. My biggest worry really isn't LB, CB, Punter, RT or WR it's the play calling on Off and our ability to stay healthy. Joker, Randy and Rick showed against GA and TN that we have the players to compete we just can't have mass injuries and still be a threat. We were +3 against Miss St and still lost, that shows a lack of playmakers and talent on Off, hopefully we can take advantage of situations like that this year... GO CATS!!!

It depends on which service you choose. Based on Scout's rankings, the last two classes were 31st and 32nd. Rivals ranks our classes much worse. It is interesting to see the huge swings based on the internet service. That is why you have to wait and see. Thanks.

Ryan

Exactly.

The perception is (and we will have to wait to see reality) that the '11 and '12 classes were pretty good, especially for Kentucky standards. Lots of kids with offers from BCS programs, some rated well by the rating services. A few guys here and there that might be projects, but by and large, recruiting classes more solid than the previous ones.

'10 is a problem. It looked good on signing day, but attrition has whittled some of the big names out. We have to hope the same bug doesn't bite '11 and '12.

'13 has three guys who I, personally, consider good gets. McClain, Hyde, and Bell are three guys who I am definitely excited about. A fourth, MacGinnis, is a kicker, and I don't know that I've ever seen one of those that any fanbase would consider a "splash" get.

The rest of the class is clearly taken on projection. Boynton, Day, Phillips, Meyers and Battle are all projected (obviously by our coaches) to be able to play. However, projections don't make a splash on the recruiting scene. And as much as I believe the staff is in a better place to evaluate talent than the recruiting services, I don't pretend to think that we took these guys over or instead of kids with more BCS offers who the staff offered earlier in the process.

The class is hovering around half-full or so right now. There is still plenty of time to get "splash" recruits on board. There is also a whole season of HS football to be played, so there is a chance the 5 listed above blow up and pick up interest from other schools and become more impressive rating or ranking-wise.

So while I don't see any reason to panic, moan, or otherwise wring my hands, I think there is a real argument to be had that the staff is struggling somewhat right now on the recruiting trail. This could change in a matter of days if a few targets pop for us including Drennon and Thomas. But it may be that a lot, recruiting-wise, hinges on the first few games of the season.

It is perfectly clear that there will be no administrative pronouncement that will make a recruiting splash this season. I think this year, even more than other years, the burden will be on the team, coaches, and fans to demonstrate that this is a viable and exciting program.

Fail to do that early in this season (team loses, coaches look poor, fans don't show up) and the 2012 season won't just be bad because of wins and losses, it will be a major setback in recruiting for a program that cannot afford one, and we'll be back here in 3-4 years talking about how the new coach needs to be fired because the '12 and '13 recruiting classes are unable to compete in this league.

These guys havent even played a game in their SR year. They are all "projected" at this point. It's beyond dumb to rank a class prior to having guys play their SR years. It's dumb to do it after but it's a way to make money so that's fine. This isn't basketball where the best of the best all go to the same camps and play against each other. Geez at least wait until the guys play a few games as HS seniors prior to lumping them in as college failures.