[LeeCoUKFan]

UK target Hackett could play linebacker or safety

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Linebacker is a huge priority for Kentucky in this recruiting class and it's becoming evident that the Wildcats are looking for a significant boost in speed and athleticism at the position.

The evidence for that is the fact that Kentucky is telling some recruits that they could play linebacker in college while other schools are telling the same players they would be safeties.

Khalia Hackett is one such player.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior from Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding actually prefers the idea of playing safety, the position Georgia Tech and Troy have offered him to play.

But he favors Kentucky, a school that is recruiting him as a linebacker. And right now the school seems to be more important than the position or football specifics.

Hackett took his first trip to Kentucky over the weekend and it sent his interest in the school to another level.

"I really liked it. I was really excited because I liked the campus and I loved the coaching staff," he said. "I'm looking forward to coming for an official [visit].

"I really like the facilities and I want to go down for another visit so I can get another good look at the campus and see more about the university. They're probably at number one."

Hackett said he was shocked at the crowd for "just a spring game."

"Just imagine what a rivalry game would be like," Hackett said.

Derrick Ansley is Kentucky's lead recruiter for Hackett.

"He's a very cool guy. He talked to my parents and I got to talk to him the whole time I was up there," he said.

It's worth noting Hackett said his parents "really liked" Kentucky and said it was a "great trip for them."

The Peach State prospect visited Troy last Tuesday and the very next day he was at Georgia Tech. He has been to Georgia Tech several times and he made this most recent trip with his father.

Hackett is already looking way down the road at how he's going to tackle the process in the fall.

"I'm not sure if I'm going to take (all five official visits) but I know I'm going to go to Kentucky and Troy," he said.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1495906