[LeeCoUKFan]

California LB open to Kentucky despite commitment

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

For all of Kentucky's recruiting success since Mark Stoops took over California and the west coast in general have remained largely untapped.

With the exception of junior college defensive tackle Melvin Lewis who signed as a member of last year's class Kentucky has largely stayed away from the west coast. There are some exceptions, but most of the Cats' efforts have been focused on other parts of the country.

Tustin (Calif.) Vista Murrieta linebacker Greg Hoyd has been committed to Washington State since May and while he's solid with Mike Leach's program he isn't ruling out other schools. Especially one from the SEC.

"I'm talking to Coach Stoops right now and I started talking to him during spring ball. I recently got back in touch with him. He hit me up and we've been going back and forth about how things are looking," Hoyd said. "He said he'd talk to me on Thursday and it's pretty much an offer."

Kentucky already has four linebackers on board in this recruiting class and sources have indicated they will only add a fifth if they can find a prospect they are very high on.

Hoyd has some interest in Kentucky. But how much?

"Coach Stoops seems like a good coach and he knows what he wants to do with his program. Kentucky is in the SEC so that's big," Hoyd said. "It's attractive to me. It's still kinda far. I'm liking the love and everything. Coach Stoops, I'm loving him. I've still got a long senior year to go and I could still change my mind. He's just telling me things.

"I'm solid right now but I'm going into my senior year and if people want to keep coming at me and talking to me then that's great. A lot of things can go up or down from here."

Hoyd is ranked the No. 53 prospect in California according to Rivals.com. Prior to his commitment to Washington State he also received offers from Duke, Fresno State, NC State and Utah among others.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1526311