[LeeCoUKFan]

Alabama OL Hardin impressed with Kentucky trip

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Residents of Alabama are, by and large, some of the most passionate college football fans in the nation, if not the most. So when Cole Hardin says he was impressed with the fan showing at Kentucky's spring game it means something.

The Florence (Ala.) offensive guard doesn't have an offer from Kentucky yet but he does have offers from Cincinnati, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, USF, Southern Miss and Wake Forest.

Kentucky is heavily relying upon the Buckeye State for offensive linemen in this recruiting class but Hardin is one of the Wildcats' top line targets from the South.

Having lived around Alabama and Auburn fans and that rivalry his entire life Hardin knows something about big-time college football atmospheres. That's what he saw at Kentucky on Saturday, as more than 50,000 blue clad faithful filled Commonwealth Stadium for a glorified scrimmage.

"I was really impressed with everything from the coaches to the facilities," Hardin said. "What really surprised me was the fan base and how much they support the football team. That was really impressive about the spring game. I was glad to see that."

Derrick Ansley is Hardin's recruiter from the Kentucky staff and he has recruited the state of Alabama plenty over the years while in Tuscaloosa and Knoxville. Hardin also caught up with John Schlarman, his would-be position coach, while he was in town.

Hardin said he got along well with the coaches, but he was more impressed with something else.

"I think I could get along with them all really well but what's important is how they get along. For it to be a new staff it seems like they're coming together well and they get along very well," he said.

The trip to Lexington included a tour of many of the academic and tutoring facilities and resources as well as the facilities at the disposal of the football program.

"I think they're real top notch," Hardin said. "(The coaches) said they're a little outdated and they plan on building some new ones but I thought they were real nice.

"Overall I was real impressed with UK. They said they're real interested and they're going to come down to see me this spring."

Hardin has been busy and on the road a lot lately. Over spring break he took trips to Memphis, Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee and South Alabama. This Friday he will visit Tennessee and then on Saturday he visits Wake Forest.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1496584