[LeeCoUKFan]

2015 safety favors three SEC schools

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Nashville (Tenn.) John Overton safety DeAngelo Holt doesn't have any offers yet but those that have watched him believe he's an SEC talent.

He's legitimately 6-foot-2 and 194-pounds, and he runs the 40-yard dash in around 4.5 seconds, with his best time ever being a 4.48. Not bad for someone whose junior year of high school hasn't even started yet.

Contact with colleges has been limited but Holt is getting a pretty good idea of what schools he will be looking at.

"UT (Tennessee) and Ole Miss, I've talked to their coaches," Holt said. "Kentucky is just a school I'm interested in. Those are the three main ones for now."

What is it about the Wildcats that has caught the Volunteer State standout's attention?

"It's close to home and it seems like it would be a good environment to be in," he said. "I haven't visited before but I've looked at (UK) on websites and I'm sure it's a good place. I think they're up there with UT right now but I'd put them at number two."

The Vols and Rebels have shown more interest in Holt than Kentucky.

"I camped at UT and Ole Miss saw me run track. They like my speed. I'm probably going to camp there next year. Coach Harris said he was really interested in me coming to Ole Miss," he said. "Coach Thigpin up at UT has seen me run track also. They invited me to camp up there and said I really stood out. They told me I need to stay in touch with them."

Holt believes he will be moved to outside linebacker in college because he's only going to get bigger and he believes his speed could be a great asset at that position.

"Right now what I really do well is I hit really good. I'm hungry for the ball. I always have a nose for the ball, no matter where it is. One of my problems right now is really controlling my back pedaling. I'm strong when it comes to intercepting the ball but another problem I have is just coming out of my backpedal fast enough and not getting stuck in the bucket," he said. "When I break on the ball I have great speed so that helps a lot."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1538245

[LeeCoUKFan]

Looking at Kentucky targets in 2015 Rivals250

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

If you thought recruiting was going to slow down with Kentucky nearly done with the Class of 2014, think again.

The process is starting earlier than ever, and Friday brought the release of the Rivals250 to Watch for 2015. It's important to note that these aren't rankings per se and specific positions within the Rivals250 have not been assigned. However, membership in the Rivals250 comes with automatic four-star status and there's also an early delineation between four- and five-star prospects.

Stephenville (Tex.) quarterback Jarrett Stidham is one of the most important names on the list for Kentucky. He's a native of Corbin (Ky.), he grew up as a fan of the Kentucky football and basketball programs, and he's got plenty of family and friends in the Commonwealth that would love to see him return to his old Kentucky home.

Stidham visited Kentucky over the summer and showed off his arm in front of the coaches. Those in attendance said he was one of the most impressive quarterbacks to camp at UK in recent memory.

This is Stidham's first year of quarterback at the high school level after starting at receiver last year. But he's already torn up the camp and combine circuit and is now regarded as one of the top signal-callers in his class. He's got all the physical tools to be elite and Kentucky is in good shape early.

Caldwell County quarterback Elijah Sindelar did not make the list but is the other top signal-caller for the Wildcats from the 2015 class.

Running backs Darrin Hall, Larry Scott and Damien Harris made the list as well. Harris is already committed to Michigan but the five-star back will be hearing from Kentucky for the next year and a half nonetheless. He's been around the school multiple times since Mark Stoops was hired and both he and his mother have a good relationship with UK running backs coach Chad Scott.

Hall could be UK's best shot at a Rivals250 running back next year. The Youngstown native has a great relationship with Vince Marrow and comes from a part of the state where the Wildcats are very strong right now.

Scott, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound back from Hubbard, will be hearing from Kentucky but his current top three is Ohio State, Michigan and West Virginia according to a recent interview with Midwest analyst Josh Helmholdt.

Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge receiver Alex Ofodile actually has Kentucky at the top of his list after visiting UK this summer. His father was very close with Marrow when the two were with the Buffalo Bills and that relationship is paying dividends early. Ofodile's father attended Missouri and the Tigers will factor prominently in his recruitment but the four-star prospect told Cats Illustrated over the summer that the former Big XII school isn't quite as high on his list as they once were.

At 6-foot-3 and 180-pounds Ofodile is a long and impressive athlete with more of the size that UK's will need at the position. Receiver won't be the dire need next year that it has been in the last two classes but the Wildcats are expected to take multiple players at the position once again. Ofodile would be an outstanding start.

Tight end C.J. Conrad may be the best prospect at his position in Ohio and the Wildcats are very strong with him. But UK may have to fend off the Buckeyes because some on the ground in Ohio believe Urban Meyer and his staff will ultimately come calling. If that happens it could be a chore to land him.

Several offensive linemen with UK offers made the list as well. That list would include George Brown of Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods, Chuma Edoga of Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern, Matthew Jones of Hubbard (Ohio) and Jake Fruhmorgen of Tampa (Fla.) Plant.

Kentucky is believed to be near the top of Brown's list along with elite programs such as Michigan, Alabama and Clemson, and UK is also perceived to be strong with Jones.

Edoga visited Kentucky over the summer and spoke highly of the visit after the fact when Cats Illustrated caught up with him, but UK has an uphill climb and isn't at or near the top of his list. Edoga said his trip to Tennessee stood out.

Defensive tackle CeCe Jefferson visited UK over the summer as well and figures to be one of the Cats' best opportunities to land an elite recruit from the South. Meanwhile defensive end Kyle Phillips and linebacker Joshua McMillon from Tennessee will be an interesting test case in how the Wildcats' new emphasis on the Volunteer State will play out. McMillon visited UK this summer with several other top prospects from Memphis.

Linebacker Justin Hilliard will make the trip to Lexington for UK's game against Louisville in just a couple of weeks and an in-state linebacker, Eli Brown, is committed to Vanderbilt but will be hearing plenty from the Wildcats.

Alabama linebacker Richard McBryde has UK at or near the top of his list and it will be interesting to see whether the in-state Tide or Tigers offer. That could determine whether the Wildcats have a realistic shot to land him.

Ricky DeBerry could be as good as any linebacker with a UK offer and he visited UK with his father earlier this year. They have a good relationship with Derrick Ansley and will be watching UK's progress on the field early in the Stoops era.

In the secondary the top UK targets are Ugo Amadi and Rico McGraw, both of Tennessee. Amadi visited UK and Tennessee over the summer and he left Lexington with high praise for the school.

Athlete RayRay McCloud III has UK near the top of his list and he figures to be one of the Wildcats' top targets in Florida. He's a versatile and dynamic play-maker that could end up at a variety of spots on the field.

Once again the state of Ohio figures to factor into UK's recruiting plans prominently. It's also clear that Florida will once again be a major priority. The Rivals250 to Watch serves as confirmation of our previous report that Tennessee will be a bigger emphasis for Kentucky than in the past as well.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1542968

[LeeCoUKFan]

WR Ofodile poised to keep moving up 2015 rankings

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Alex Ofodile knows early rankings don't mean too much but he'll take four stars and a spot in the Rivals250 to Watch any day.

That's just what Ofodile was rewarded with for his football performance to date when Rivals.com released that early list honoring Class of 2015 talents last week. And he told Cats Illustrated over the weekend that he's not done yet.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver from Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge believes he's poised for a breakout junior season and thinks he can make a serious push for a very high national ranking.

In between all that game action and the academic requirements for high school students Ofodile wants to make it out to some games this fall.

"I think I'm gonna catch the Memphis-Temple game for sure and one of the Mizzou games," Ofodile said. "But that's it for now."

Memphis was Ofodile's favorite school before he visited UK and received his offer from the Wildcats. He knows their staff very well on a personal level and they are still a factor in his recruitment.

But when UK offered they took the lead and still seem to be holding onto it. Ofodile said he will gladly attend a game in Commonwealth Stadium this fall if he's invited by the staff.

It's been difficult to stay in contact with coaches in recent weeks because colleges haven't been able to reach out to prospects. Now that's changing and things should really heat up.

"I was talking to coach Gattis from Vanderbilt a while ago and he said they are going to try and catch a few games," Ofodile said. "Lately I've been real focused with the football season coming up and real busy. It's been a while since we've talked (Kentucky and Ofodile) but that's (the same) with a lot of schools since they can't contact me. I've been busy so I haven't made any calls."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1544610

[LeeCoUKFan]

Cats going head to head with 'Canes for Florida athlete

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Going head to head with Miami for a recruit from south Florida is never going to be easy, but Kentucky isn't shying away from the challenge.

Gerald Robinson Jr. is a junior cornerback at Hialeah (Fla.) Champagnat Catholic and he grew up a fan of Miami like so many other young football players in his part of Florida. The Hurricanes haven't offered yet but they figure to factor prominently into his recruitment.

But Miami isn't the only school on Robinson's mind. Both Kentucky and UCF have already offered and the Wildcats have impressed him in a big way.

"Kentucky is in the top two with Miami," he said. "I'm really liking Kentucky and I've always liked Miami. My uncle played there."

Does that mean Robinson would commit to Al Golden's program if they decide to offer him?

"No, not right now," he said. "I wouldn't commit necessarily."

One reason for that is what Kentucky showed him over the summer. Robinson took trips to UK, Alabama, Miami, Louisville and Cincinnati, and the trip to Lexington stood out. That's in part because he picked up an offer from the Wildcats.

"I liked coach (Derrick) Ansley a lot. They showed me around a lot. I think I could get along with him real well. He's a real chill coach," Robinson said. "He gave me my second offer and he said he knew more offers are coming so I shouldn't feel like I have to commit as soon as I get one."

The 5-foot-11 athlete is being recruited exclusively as a cornerback and Ansley would be his position coach if he does ultimately end up at Kentucky. Champagnat Catholic won their season opener 48-8 on Friday night and Robinson was part of an outstanding team effort on defense.

He will also see time at receiver and as a return man on both punts and kickoffs this year.

Robinson said he hopes to attend games at Kentucky and UCF this fall since both schools have offered.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1544845

[LeeCoUKFan]

Four-star 2015 linebacker will visit UK

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Rivals250 junior linebacker Justin Hilliard will be at Kentucky in the very near future and he's anxious to find out what the Wildcats have to offer.

Hilliard is already a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com and he's a member of the recently released Rivals250 to Watch for 2015, meaning he's one of the nation's top linebackers from his class.

At 6-foot-2 and 225-pounds Hilliard already has a college build. He also has a defensive player's mindset and intensity to go along with excellent athleticism. So it's no surprise that Arkansas, Florida State, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina and many others have already offered.

Hilliard's older brother C.J. is a 2014 running back recruit also from Cincinnati St. Xavier and he's committed to Iowa. While that could play a role in the younger Hilliard's decision he has also been up front about the fact that he might forge his own path.

Over the weekend Hilliard visited Ohio State for the Buckeyes' season opener against Buffalo.

"It was a really nice visit," Hilliard said. "I got to see the game and I talked to coach [Urban] Meyer. It was a good visit. It was definitely pretty impressive to see game day up there."

Hilliard isn't slowing down. He will attend the Michigan-Notre Dame game this coming weekend and then Kentucky-Louisville in Lexington after that.

"I actually talked to the defensive coordinator (D.J. Eliot) last week," he said. "We don't talk too much but we talk a decent amount. He's really just told me he wants me to get down and see a game. I'm pretty excited about it so that's why I'm going."

The four-star prospect said a few schools are standing out early but he doesn't want to release any kind of list as it might close off potential options down the road. He did say what he's looking for in a school however.

"I'd have to be comfortable wherever I'm at and hopefully have a chance to win a bowl or a national championship," he said.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1544859

[LeeCoUKFan]

Cornerback Amadi looking for early playing time

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Nashville (Tenn.) John Overton cornerback Ugo Amadi is one of Kentucky's top defensive back targets from the 2015 class and he wasn't bothered by the Wildcats' season-opening loss.

Amadi has early offers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Duke with more sure to come. At 5-foot-9 and 183 pounds he's an explosive athlete in the secondary and plays bigger than his size.

In John Overton's season opener against Father Ryan, Amadi picked off two passes. Not surprisingly, in their second game the opponent didn't throw Amadi's way much.

"I guess they saw what I did," Amadi said with a laugh. "I've been working on my ball skills, my zone coverage and reading more than one receiver at a time."

Amadi's primary focus isn't recruiting right now but he would like to visit UK, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Duke during the season.

Derrick Ansley has been keeping in touch with the 2015 corner from the UK staff, as he's primarily responsible for recruiting Tennessee outside of Memphis.

"We've been talking and he's wanting me to come up for a visit," Amadi said. "I want to play my freshman year and I think I could do that there (at Kentucky) and at Tennessee.

"I know they lost [to Western Kentucky] but I see it as a positive because they've got a new coach and last year they weren't good at all. It takes time to get better. It's just going to take time so I'm fine with it."

Amadi said he camped at Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt over the summer.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1544854

[LeeCoUKFan]

Stalker likes 'sense of uprising' at Kentucky

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West had a tough season-opening loss to Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods but their season is still promising thanks to talents like C.J. Stalker.

Kentucky remains the only school to have offered the 6-foot-1, 204-pound outside linebacker from the 2015 class and the Wildcats have made a big impression early.

"I talked to Coach (Vince) Marrow just a few weeks ago and he was telling me about their practice schedule but it conflicted with mine," he said. "I was going to go check out a scrimmage but I had issues making that work and I wasn't able to do that. I'll probably be getting in touch with him again soon.

"They're my only offer and I really like them. They are very high on my list. I just have that sense of uprising with Kentucky. I like what the future has to hold for them. It's just a bright future I see. The coaches have a lot of experience there. They have a lot of intensity too. Being down there and seeing them they're really intense."

Cincinnati, Arkansas and Indiana are among the other schools showing interest in Stalker, who is the younger teammate of UK running back commitment Mikel Horton. Stalker told Cats Illustrated that he will try to attend games at Cincinnati and Kentucky this fall. He also did not rule out trips to Arkansas and Indiana.

Stalker knows his profile will improve with a big junior season and he's poised to have just that.

"We started off the summer a little shaky but over the past month and a half or two months we've really come together and got closer as a group. I feel pretty good about things," Stalker said. "Mainly for me personally it's just been getting faster and bigger and being able to read coverages a little bit easier. Just knowing what your responsibility is in cover three for example. Getting where I need to be and picking up receivers. I feel good about things."

Stalker will play every linebacker position for West Chester this fall. He projects as an outside linebacker or hybrid that can cover and blitz at the college level.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1545681

[LeeCoUKFan]

Woodley waiting on offers, drawing UK interest

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Tyler Woodley is still waiting for his first offer but there are signs that Kentucky and other schools are very interested in the Peach State defensive back.

Travis Woodley, the prospect's father, spoke with Cats Illustrated this week and explained what has been happening of late with regard to the recruiting process.

With the start of September came the opening of the contact period and coaches from the University of Georgia immediately sent fifteen letters to the 5-foot-9, 165-pound cornerback from Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern.

"He's got a relationship with the defensive backs coach (at Georgia)." Woodley's father explained. "He's known Tyler since the eighth grade. We were there a little while ago and his team went for a 7-on-7."

Georgia obviously is a big school of interest for Woodley but he's also exploring other options.

Coaches from Tennessee, Kentucky and Michigan are showing interest as well. Woodley camped with the Wolverines this summer and had a strong showing there, so he's not limiting his focus to the South or the SEC entirely.

Woodley's father has been reaching out to schools on his son's behalf and Kentucky is a school that they are hoping to hear more from.

"Coach (Derrick) Ansley is the secondary coach and he's talked to Tyler personally. Tyler went up and camped at Kentucky this summer and they have him on their board. He had a great camp. I've talked to (Ansley) as well and we're in the midst of building a relationship with him.

"I like his background and he seems like he's a very good position coach," the elder Woodley said.

Woodley's father said the fact that Kentucky is trying to build a program rather than sustain success isn't a negative for the Cats.

"Actually it's a positive," he said. "Like me and Tyler were saying to each other, who knows what the state of the program is going to be one or two years from now?"

Woodley will attend the South Carolina-Georgia game this weekend in Athens.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1545685

[LeeCoUKFan]

Elite all-purpose back talks Kentucky, others

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern is home to one of the nation's top junior rushers in all-purpose back Taj Griffin and Kentucky is just one of dozens of schools vying for his services.

Griffin has already been rewarded with membership in the Rivals250 to Watch but he also has a Rivals rating of 6.0, which means he's very close to five-star status. He's got the offer list to back that ranking up and whichever school that lands Griffin will be getting a dynamic play-maker with game-breaking ability in space.

Since the start of September coaches from N.C. State, Ohio State, Nebraska, USC and Tennessee have reached out to Griffin. He should expect to hear more from Kentucky because the Wildcats have shown some interest to date.

"Kentucky came by in the offseason and I've spoken to them a little bit," Griffin told Cats Illustrated. "It's been a little bit since I've talked to them but I know they're recruiting me."

Derrick Ansley is recruiting Griffin on UK's behalf and he's likely the coach that will be in contact with him moving forward.

Some of the schools recruiting Griffin offer him the opportunity to compete for conference and national championships right away. Kentucky's circumstances are a little different and he's okay with that.

"That doesn't bother me because Tennessee is one of my top schools and they're trying to rebuild their program too," he said. "Whether it's a good program or a program that's trying to get back up, it's just going to come down to wherever benefits me the most."

Kentucky has some ground to make up. Griffin listed several favorites and the Wildcats are lagging just a tad behind, he said.

"Georgia, Florida, Clemson, Tennessee, Florida State and Ohio State would be the schools standing out to me the most right now," he said, noting that should not be read as a list of finalists, only current favorites.

Griffin attended Clemson's home and season opener against Georgia on Saturday night and came away impressed with the atmosphere at Death Valley.

"It was ridiculous," he said with a laugh. "I had never experienced anything like that in my life. They showed great hospitality. They (Clemson) were already very high on my list so it doesn't change that. Georgia was high on my list too and they still are."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1545688

[LeeCoUKFan]

UK keeping in touch with 2015 DB McGraw

Derek Terry
CatsIllustrated.com Staff Writer

After landing only one player in the state of Tennessee the last two classes (quarterback Reese Phillips), the Kentucky coaching staff is looking to make the state a bigger priority in the 2015 recruiting cycle.

A good place to start could be with Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth defensive back Rico McGraw.

McGraw claims offers from nearly every SEC school along with powers like Ohio State, Clemson and Florida State. Despite his multiple options, McGraw is still interested in Kentucky's program.

"I'm still learning more about UK, but I like what I'm hearing so far," McGraw said. "I have a good relationship with Coach (Derrick) Ansley. He's been recruiting me since his time at Tennessee."

The 6-foot, 180 pound safety, who can also play cornerback, is still in the process of planning visits for this fall.

"I'm not really sure who I will be visiting yet," he said. "I'm looking at visiting Tennessee and Louisville and maybe some other schools that are close by."

Will UK be included in McGraw's visits?

"Yeah, it's possible," the Tennessee native said. "If I did visit UK, it would probably be soon."

One thing that could be in Kentucky's favor is McGraw's desire to play early and often in his career.

"Playing time is very important to me. I want to come in and make an immediate impact for the school I choose," he said.

McGraw still is wide open to all schools and said that playing in the SEC will not be a deciding factor in his recruitment. . The contact period for 2015 prospects started on Sept. 1. Since then, he has been contacted by UK and the majority of the other schools who have verbally offered him a scholarship.

The Rivals 250 to Watch prospect still has two full seasons of high school football left to play and has room for improvement.

"I excel at leadership. I feel like I'm a good leader and very competitive," McGraw said. "I hate losing. I can improve on playing the ball in the air and getting myself in better position to make the play."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1546911

[LeeCoUKFan]

2015 linebacker Bryant open to rebuilding

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Thomasville (Ga.) County Central outside linebacker Austin Bryant likes the idea of getting on the field early at the next level, and that's a realistic aspiration in his case.

There aren't too many 6-foot-5, 244-pound linebackers at the high school level. There are still fewer at that size that can move like Bryant.

Whether he ends up as an imposing outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or comes off the edge as a rush end, Bryant has elite talent and that's why he was given a 5.9, four-star ranking in the new Rivals250 to Watch in the class of 2015.

Derrick Ansley is recruiting much of Georgia for Kentucky and he's UK's primary recruiter for the Peach State prospect.

"Coach Ansley messaged me on Twitter and told me he's really excited about me and he wants me at UK," Bryant told Cats Illustrated. "I met him during the spring evaluation period and he seems like a real cool guy."

Bryant doesn't mind the idea of being part of a new foundation at a program that hasn't had much success in the past. Building something could be a message that resonates.

"I don't see that as a negative at all," Bryant said. "If you're rebuilding then freshmen can come in immediately and play."

But it's still early and Kentucky will need to aggressively make their case in order to have a chance. When asked whether he plans to visit Lexington Bryant responded, "I couldn't tell you yet," so nothing is in the works.

Since Sept. 1 he's been hearing from UK, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Miami, Florida State and Georgia, so there's no shortage of interest.

Bryant attended Auburn's game against Washington State over the weekend, a 31-24 victory for the Tigers.

"It was great and I loved it," he said. "I had been earlier but it was my first time going to a game there. I want to go to the Auburn-Alabama game, the Florida State-N.C. State game and the Florida-Tennessee game too."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1546903

[LeeCoUKFan]

Sophomore UK commit Young has plenty to learn

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Not much has been written about Lafayette offensive tackle Landon Young since he committed to Kentucky this summer but he went on the record at length with Cats Illustrated recently.

Perhaps the lack of a spotlight comes from the fact that Young is a 2016 recruit, only a sophomore. Most fans and pundits are still wondering how the 2014 class will shake out and what the early forecast is for current juniors. But sophomores?


[Image: http://vmedia.rivals.com/uploads/888/1459944.jpg]
Landon Young says he'll keep his options open in the coming years, but is solid with UK.


Mark Stoops and the staff didn't expect to push for an early commitment from Young. It just seemed to happen that way.

The previous coaching staff headed by Joker Phillips was familiar with Young but hadn't offered yet. Stoops and company had a chance to evaluate him for an entire week at an extended camp at UK early this summer. That was all they needed to see.

"With the new coaches (the camp) is sorta where I got to meet them and know them. I had been familiar with Joker and those guys before," Young said. "I think they were impressed with my size and my effort. I was able to go out there as a 2016 guy that's 6'7 and 250-pounds and that's something they can work with. They put me up against top 25 guys, a defensive end and a defensive tackle, and I played with them in one-on-ones. I was able to stand with them, give it all I've got and hold them back a little bit."

Offensive line coach John Schlarman has already been by Lafayette and should be getting to know Young very well over the next couple of years.

While Young admits he's got a lot to learn about the current staff he did indicate they have impresed him so far. He committed after all.

"I love the coaches and I think (hiring Stoops was) a great move for UK. Stoops brought a whole new life to the team. He's got them pumped up and they're going out there striving to win," he explained.

The coaches may have been instrumental in sealing the deal but Young always knew he would give UK a serious look.

"I've always been a UK fan," he said. "I live five miles away so they were always my hometown school. I've always favored them and knew I would look at that option. They were definitely near the top of my list to go to period as a college."

Young said he's a solid commitment for UK, or at least as solid as a high school sophomore can be. He knows it's likely that other interest and offers will be coming and he plans to take all that in stride without letting it get to his head. He does plan to at least give thought to those other options, because he feels like he owes it to himself. But he doesn't expect to change his mind.

"I'm pretty solid on UK," he said. "I've loved UK ever since I was little. You've always gotta keep options open and make sure it's the right move. I don't want to regret anything. I'm sticking pretty firm with where I'm at but you've got to keep your options open."

Young was in Commonwealth Stadium last month to watch Kentucky and Louisville battle for the Governor's Cup, and while he wasn't happy with the outcome he saw plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of the program.

"I was actually pretty impressed," he said. "With Louisville being as good as they are and with us having such a young team, to be able to stick that close with them was good. We made a lot of stupid mistakes with dropped balls or maybe passes that weren't the best. Just errors here and there, giving them yards and plays. I was impressed other than that."

Lafayette is 1-5 on the season and Young attributes their struggles to the same problems that have plagued UK: Inexperience and mistakes that can be cleaned up.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1556908

[LeeCoUKFan]

Cats have made impression on top 2015 linebacker

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Kentucky is one of the schools that has made an early impression on 2015 linebacker Roquan Smith, one of the South's top underclassmen.

It's not just the fact that Kentucky has offered, Smith said. He visited Lexington earlier this year and was impressed by the entire spring game experience.

"I'm not sure on the date (of the offer) but I went up during the spring game and I had a great time," Smith said. "It was a pretty good place. The fans were pretty nice. I mean, 50,000 (fans) at the spring game? That was impressive."

The coaching staff has also made a good impression on the 6-foot-2, 195-pound linebacker. Especially one coach in particular.

"I talked to Coach (Derrick) Ansley a lot and we're still talking a lot," Smith said. "When I was up there I talked to the linebackers coach (D.J. Eliot) too. Coach Ansley seems like a pretty good guy. He came down to see me during the spring.

Smith's family made the trip to Kentucky with him and enjoyed the visit as well. The Wildcats will need to continue to aggressively recruit Smith and have to hope to get him on campus again. That's because many of the South's top programs are making him a big priority as well.

Pulling elite recruits out of southern states is always a tall order. Smith has taken two unofficial trips to Georgia recently. He has also visited Auburn and will be at Tennessee this weekend.

"Nobody's stood out yet," Smith said. "They're all about the same. I just want a bond with the coaches. I'm trying to find somewhere I feel at home at."

Through four games Montezuma (Ga.) Macon County is 3-1 and Smith has been outstanding with 52 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.

Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee and UCLA are the other schools that have offered Smith.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1559833

[LeeCoUKFan]

It's sad that it has taken me this long to post this updated offers list but, here it is! (Offers as of 10/15/13)

Offense

Quaterback
Andre Brown NEW
Lorenzo Nunez
Elijah Sindelar
Jarrett Stidham

Running Back
Nick Gibson NEW
Darrin Hall
Damien Harris(Committed to Michigan)
Karan Higdon NEW
RayRay McCloud III
Jacques Patrick NEW
Larry Scott
Eric Swinney NEW

Wide Receiver
Alex Ofodile

Tight End
C.J. Conrad NEW
Jeremiah Culbreth NEW
Jackson Harris
Jalen Harris
Garrett Williams

Offensive Tackle
George Brown
Rob Dowdy
Chuma Edoga
Jake Fruhmorgen
Mitch Hyatt NEW
Tyree St. Louis NEW

Offensive Guard
Matthew Jones

Offensive Center
Luke Hiers

Defense

Defensive Tackle
Hjalte Froholdt
Trenton Thompson

Defensive End
Karsman Johnson
Arden Key(Committed to South Carolina)
Kyle Phillips
D'Andre Walker NEW

Inside Linebacker
Nick Conner NEW
Chris Green NEW
Emmitt Smith NEW

Outside Linebacker
Montavious Atkinson NEW
Eli Brown(Committed to Vanderbilt)
Cecil Cherry NEW
Ricky DeBerry
Matthew Draper
Arrington Farrar
Justin Hilliard
Jeffrey Holland
Richard McBryde
Anthony McKee
Joshua McMillon NEW
Sherrod Pittman(Committed to South Carolina)
Josh Smith NEW
Roquan Smith NEW
C.J. Stalker

Safety
Shawn Burgess-Becker
Kendrell McFadden
Rico McGraw
JarMarkus Sims
Marcus Walker NEW

Cornerback
Ugo Amadi
Kei Beckham NEW
Tyrek Cole NEW
Shaun Crawford(Committed to Michigan) NEW
Tyree Kinnel
Gerald Robinson Jr. NEW
Garrett Taylor
Kevin Toliver II(Committed to LSU)

Other

Athlete
Montrell Custis NEW
Ryan Davis
Von Davis
Eric Glover-Williams
Jaylin Hayward
Trevon Story

[LeeCoUKFan]

Linebacker Green getting to know Kentucky

Derek Terry
CatsIllustrated.com Staff Writer

With a considerable need at linebacker for the 2015 recruiting cycle, Kentucky has begun its search for quality prospects at the position. One player who has an offer from the Cats is Toledo, Ohio, native Chris Green.

Green has early offers from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Penn State, Toledo and Western Michigan. Arkansas, Michigan State, Michigan and Northwestern, among others, are showing interest.

Kentucky offered in August and Green has since continued to develop a relationship with the coaching staff. Vince Marrow is UK's lead recruiter for Green.

"I think Coach Marrow is a good coach," Green said. "He called me and told me I was a beast and he loves the way I play. It was good to know they wanted me."

Green still is in the process of learning about UK.

"I'm still researching about them and learning more and all of that," Green said. "I know they run a 4-3 defense, but I think I would have a better feeling about them if I got down there to watch them play."

Speaking of visits, Green is still trying to figure out which schools he will tour this fall.

"As of right now I don't have any visits planned," Green said. "But I'd like to visit the schools who have offered me to this point."

He does not rule out a visit to Kentucky, but noted that he didn't know if he'd be able to visit this fall.

Green is 6-foot, 225 pounds and runs a 4.6 40-yard dash. He has no preference for what conference a given school is in, just that he fits in well.

What is it that makes Green such a valued prospect as a junior in high school?

"I get great pressure on the quarterback during blitzes," Green said. "I also feel like I have great pursuit to the ball.

"I'm also a strong leader on the field."

Proximity to home is not a factor at this point in his recruitment. Early playing time is something that Green hopes for, but is not a necessity.

"I think it would be good to play some as a freshman," Green said. "But if not, then that would be OK too. It would show that I needed to improve more in order to get playing time."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Johnson hopes he's a priority recruit for Stoops

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

When Joker Phillips was the head coach at Kentucky his staff had made 2016 offensive lineman Eli Johnson a priority. Will Mark Stoops' staff do the same?

Johnson certainly hopes so.

The 6-foot-3, 288-pound interior lineman from Oxford (Miss.) Lafayette projects as a guard or a center at the college level and he already has offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State and several FBS schools not in BCS leagues.

While Johnson is a Mississippian he doesn't seem to have any preference for the local schools, though he is open to them.

"I guess if you could say I grew up liking anybody it would have been Ole Miss but not too much," Johnson said.

Johnson has visited Ole Miss, his hometown school, and he's impressed with the job Hugh Freeze is doing in trying to turn around the program. He was especially impressed by their big signing class in February.

"With them signing that last class they did and making an offer out to me, that really impressed me because of how early they offered me and the quality they're getting," he explained.

He visited Kentucky last year in October even though the Wildcats hadn't offered and he was very impressed with what he experienced in Lexington.

"The whole indoor facility was awesome," Johnson said. "It was really big. I loved the stadium and how it was set up. The time I went up there they played really well and Georgia barely beat 'em. So the atmosphere was just crazy there."

Johnson has also visited Arkansas, UL-Lafayette, Arkansas State and Tulane. While he doesn't have any favorites he did acknowledge that he sincerely hopes Stoops and his staff take a close look at him. That's a testimony to his interest in the UK program and how well his last trip went.

"I've got like 300 Kentucky fans following me on Twitter," he laughed. "I would really, really love an offer from Kentucky. I know they're kinda in rebuilding mode right now but I don't know too much about (the new staff). I would be really interested if they start recruiting me."

Ole Miss is recruiting Johnson as a center while Ole Miss is recruiting him as either a guard or a center.

"I think I could play either in a power or pro-style offense but in a spread type offense where they're looking for a big, rangy, athletic type of guy I would probably have to play center," he said.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Junior DB Ordway drawing looks

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Cameron Ordway is still waiting for his first scholarship offer and he could be well on his way to picking it up.

Don't be surprised if it's from Kentucky.

UK has shown as much interest as any school that is currently recruiting the defensive back, and Orday has the kind of size, at 6-foot-1, that the Wildcats would like to have in the secondary.

He's done nothing to hurt his chances at an offer this year as he already has six interceptions, a touchdown on offense, and a kickoff return for a touchdown for Pulaski (Tenn.) Giles County.

"I've talked to the corners coach (Derrick Ansley) a couple of times," Ordway said. "We were going to talk on the phone here soon but haven't had a chance to. We've been talking on Twitter though."

"He's a cool dude. My 7-on-7 travel coach and him went to college together, I think, so we have that connection right there. He's a pretty cool dude. I want to meet him."

Ordway planned a visit to Kentucky last weekend.

Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Auburn are the other SEC schools that have shown interest in the 2015 defensive back, though they haven't offered either.

Ordway visited Tennessee for its game against Georgia, which turned out to be a narrow overtime defeat for the Volunteers. He acknowledged that he has a lot of interest in Tennessee but said he does not have any clear favorites.

"Their fan base and coaching staff were impressive," he said of Tennessee. "They might not be the best team in the SEC but they fight. I like that."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Hall's parents pulling in opposite directions

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Youngstown (Ohio) Austintown Fitch running back Darrin Hall has been near the top of the 2015 recruiting board for a while now. But the Wildcats have some intense competition.

Hall, a four-star Rivals250 to Watch prospect, has an impressive early offer sheet that's likely to grow.

Early in the process Kentucky made it clear that it wants Hall badly. He hasn't heard from UK as much of late but that's to be expected with the college season well underway. He told Cats Illustrated that if UK demonstrates they still want him then his interest in the Cats would still be high.

"I'd definitely still be interested," Hall said.

But there are other suitors as well and everyone seems to have an opinion. Even his parents.

"I went up to Notre Dame two weeks ago and I got to meet all the coaches," Hall said. "I liked it. You can really tell they have a lot of history at their school. I enjoyed it. My mom loves it. She wants me to go there."

His dad has a different opinion and his might be more important.

"It's more about my dad," Hall said. "He's going to play a big factor. He likes Penn State. We're going there this weekend and we'll see how it goes.

"When I graduate from high school they'll be off their suspension or whatever. That year they're going to have a lot of hype behind their school. He thinks if I go there I'll have a chance to get on the field faster."

Hall said he doesn't think the NCAA's recent decision to reinstate scholarships is a big factor as far as he's concerned. It's more about getting to know the coaches at each of the schools recruiting him.

Arkansas and Michigan State are among the other schools showing the most interest in Hall and both have offered. Ohio State is also expressing some interest.

Hall isn't sure of his season stats but said he's had a couple of games with more than 200 yards and in his most recent game he went for 150.

"I've been getting a lot of carries and I've gotten stronger for sure," he said. "I haven't really scored that much this year but I'm a lot stronger. That's just getting older and growing into my body."

Austintown Fitch is undefeated on the season.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Linebacker Wilson receives first offer

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Kentucky's coaches are laying the groundwork to continue their recruiting success in future classes. Offers are going out to high school juniors and even many sophomores.

The Wildcats already have one commitment from a 2016 prospect in Landon Young, a local line prospect from Lafayette. Offers have also gone out to several other sophomores including, most recently, Lyndell Wilson.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker from Montgomery (Ala.) Carver is in his first year at his new school, and it's a school that's no stranger to big-time talents. It was inevitable that Wilson would quickly catch the attention of college coaches and Kentucky made the first move. Derrick Ansley recruits Alabama for the Wildcats and he informed Wilson of the offer on Wednesday evening.

"It shocked me," Wilson said. "I was amazed. When I got to Carver I knew it would be a lot of colleges coming around because of what they had been doing these past years. When I first got here I had talked to coach Ansley and he said he would keep an eye on me. He said I have size and ability for sure. I've been giving it my all this season and here I am with my first offer. I'm proud of myself."

Wilson has spoken with Ansley on two separate occasions now so the two don't know each other two well but that's gradually changing.

"When he first saw me he really couldn't tell if I was a good football player or whatever. He was talking to my coach asking him how I was and (his coach) said I was amazing and just dominating," he continued. "He came down here and was talking to my coach and noticed me."

At Wilson's last school he played quarterback but when he arrived at Carter his new coach moved him to outside linebacker.

"I was like, 'Okay, cool,'" he said. "I started working there and I was looking like a little scrub. I had to get it going. This was my first time playing linebacker at a big level."

Evidently he's doing pretty well for himself now. Wilson said Kentucky is the first school to show a lot of interest thus far. He has visited Alabama for a camp over the summer and for two games this year as a recruit but he's not sure how interested the Crimson Tide might be.

As for Kentucky, he doesn't know much but is keeping an open mind.

"I just know they have a good basketball program," he said. "I'll probably visit them later on after the season. I'm interested in whoever's interested in me."

So far this year Wilson has 37 tackles (18 solo), three sacks and five forced fumbles.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

DT Howe moving up Kentucky's board

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Defensive tackle Kraig Howe is moving up Kentucky's recruiting board and the Buckeye State native could be closing in on an offer.

The Archbishop Alter defensive lineman has visited UK three times now and most recently over the weekend for the Cats' game against No. 1-ranked Alabama.

The outcome wasn't what Kentucky wanted but Howe had a great time nonetheless. Vince Marrow is recruiting Howe for UK and the 2015 prospect is getting to know the man that would be his position coach as well.

"I liked it a lot. I'm very glad I went," Howe said this week. "I liked being able to talk to coach (Jimmy) Brumbaugh again. Also it's not every day you get to see the top ranked team in the NCAA play so that was exciting.

"It was a great atmosphere. The place was packed and loud. It was obviously a big game so the stadium was intense."

What was Brumbaugh's message for the 6-foot-3, 253-pound tackle?

"We just caught up some," he recalled. "He asked how my season is going so far and he asked about my foot which was broken over the summer."

Because of his broken foot Howe wasn't able to participate at the UK camp that was in session when he visited over the summer. But that injury is past him and hasn't slowed him down this fall.

Howe was cleared at the start of August and has been back in action since two-a-days.

Illinois, Pittsburgh and Toledo have all offered Howe and Kentucky could be one of the next schools to make that move. If UK does offer it's likely they would be in good shape.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[blue1424]

Thanks for the updates!

I see a lot of 4 stars and even a few 5 stars that Kentucky has offered. The commitment from Montrell Custis the other day should kick off another great recruiting class!

[LeeCoUKFan]

Elite Linebacker is open to Wildcats' pitch

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Kentucky's coaches are starting to cast their net a little farther from Lexington when it comes to 2015 prospects and the Wildcats recently offered a top 2015 linebacker from Georgia.

Montavious Atkinson is turning a lot of heads down at Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes, and the 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior already claims offers from Kentucky, Southern Cal, Missouri, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Cincinnati and Georgia State.

Atkinson grew up a Georgia fan and Mark Richt's program is showing some interest but he's not sure how much they like him. He attended a junior day in Athens and it's safe to say he will probably return at some point.

Kentucky offered Atkinson not too long ago and now he's anxious to learn more.

"It was like two Fridays ago when Kentucky offered," Atkinson said. "I found out from my coach. I know a little something about them. I know it's SEC and really that's it."

Atkinson added that it's very likely he will take an unofficial visit to Kentucky at some point but he doesn't know when that trip is most likely to happen yet.

From Wesley Woodyard to Braxton Kelley, Kentucky has had success with linebackers from Georgia recently. And Atkinson will end up more highly touted as a high school prospect than any of them.

In the past the Wildcats would have had a difficult time catching Atkinson's attention, but with commitments from two of the Peach State's top 2014 prospects in Stanley Williams and Jared Tucker the Cats have shown they are more willing and able to go toe-to-toe with top programs for recruits.

Atkinson added that he has "no idea" how west coast schools like USC and UCLA found out about him so early. While he won't rule them out he does like the idea of staying in the SEC's geographical footprint.

"I'd prefer to stay closer to home," he said before adding a caveat. "But when it comes to me actually playing at one of the out west schools, I would do it. At the end of the day it's wherever I can play (early) at."

Playing time is likely to be a big part of Kentucky's sell since the Wildcats should have plenty of it.

Atkinson said he does not have plans to visit any schools in the near future.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Elite 2017 football recruit checks out Kentucky

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Maleik Gray is only a high school freshman but he's got a future playing big-time college football. It's rare when you are able to say that about a player so early in the process.

It's a safe statement when it comes to Gray, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound athlete from La Vergne (Tenn.).

With early verbal offers from Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt there's little doubt that Gray is going to be playing football for a long time. He's got three years of high school football remaining after this one and it's tough to imagine how out of control the hype machine will be.

Gray is already starting on his varsity team as a running back and this weekend he will be moving to safety. Over the summer he camped at Tennessee and over the weekend he was in Lexington with a contingent of prospects from the Volunteer State that wanted to watch the Kentucky-Alabama game.

"I actually liked it a lot," Gray told Cats Illustrated. "(Kentucky was) playing against Alabama. Alabama's a great team but they put up a fight. If they would have played the way they did in the first for three more quarters I think they would have possibly had a chance. But Alabama's a great team."

Cornerbacks coach Derrick Ansley has been the assistant responsible for recruiting Gray, though contact is greatly restricted so early in the process.

"I got to talk to coach Ansley, the head coach (Mark Stoops) and a couple of staff members," he said. "Coach Ansley has shown a lot of interest in me. He told me to keep in contact with him."

And that's something Gray plans to do. He's still learning about Kentucky but getting to Commonwealth Stadium so early in the process was a big help for the Wildcats' chances if they are to remain in the hunt. Now Stoops and staff have to hope they can show Gray and other recruits some progress in the years ahead.

"The atmosphere was good. I think (the fans) could have been a little more supportive or whatever but it was good," he said.

Gray did say that Florida State is a school that has impressed him very much early since quarterback Jameis Winston is only a freshman. And on top of that he added that Florida State is his favorite program.

The 2017 prospect has already been clocked at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Amadi sees that Kentucky needs depth

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Nashville (Tenn.) John Overton cornerback Ugo Amadi was in Commonwealth Stadium for Kentucky's game against Alabama and saw first hand that the Wildcats need more depth.

Playing time or the potential for it won't necessarily be a decisive factor for Amadi but he acknowledged, when Cats Illustrated spoke with him that it's at least something that is in the back of his mind.

"It will (be a factor) but at the same time it won't," Amadi said. "I want to play right away but that's all on how I'm playing. (The) level changes from high school to college."

The 5-foot-9 Class of 2015 cornerback is an elite talent with another two years of development and maturation before he's playing college football anywhere, so it's reasonable to assume he might be ready to make an impact as a freshman. That's a message he's probably going to hear from Derrick Ansley and the UK coaching staff.

Amadi visited UK once over the summer and it's likely a good sign for the Cats that he made a return trip so quickly.

"It was great!" Amadi said via text. "The coaches, locker room, fans and the Big Blue. Coach Ansley (talked) about how they needed help on defense. A few of their secondary players got hurt and (they) had to put their nickel back at corner, who has never played that position."

Amadi has also visited Tennessee this year and he said that trip was enjoyable too. Don't assume the Wildcats and Volunteers are in the lead, however.

"My interest level is the same for every school," he said. "I like everybody."

Other Tennessee natives that attended UK's game against Alabama include four-star linebacker and 2015 recruit Josh Smith, his brother and 2014 Vanderbilt pledge Emmanuel Smith, top 2017 recruit Maleik Gray and others.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Lafayette's Wills should be a top Kentucky target

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Landon Young isn't the only offensive lineman at Lafayette that the Wildcats are keeping a close eye on.

Young committed to Kentucky after an outstanding camp performance this summer evidently convinced the coaching staff that he was too good to wait on.

He has a younger teammate that Kentucky likes as well.

Jedrick Wills is only a high school freshman but he's already 6-foot-4 and claims to check in at 290 pounds. Kentucky is the only school to show interest thus far but there are signs he's going to be a prime target for the Wildcats in the coming years.

Wills attended the Kentucky-Alabama game along with teammates Young and Clay Bolin.

"It was fun and interesting to see another team from the SEC," Wills said referring to Alabama.

John Schlarman, Kentucky's offensive line coach, is the coach that paid the most attention to Wills while he was in Commonwealth.

"He's not texting or calling (because) I'm a freshman and it's illegal for him to but at the game I did (talk to him)," Wills said.

When asked how much interest he has in Kentucky at this stage Wills said "it's tough to say," because it's so early in the process.

"But I really like them," he said.

Wills already is starting for Lafayette's varsity team. He and Young give that line two anchors for the next three years.

And the fact that he's good friends with Young bodes well for the Wildcats.

"Maybe (it helps) a little," Wills admitted.

It's safe to say the UK coaches will have the inside track when it comes to contact and evaluation.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Ohio lineman Stepaniak has four early favorites

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Hamilton (Ohio) Ross offensive guard Simon Stepaniak is just starting to learn about the schools recruiting him but he's already got a few favorites.

Last week Stepaniak told Cats Illustrated that Kentucky, Ohio State, Indiana and Louisville are the four schools standing out to him the most right now.

The 6-foot-4, 287-pound guard visited Kentucky for the Alabama game, and while he wasn't able to connect with the coaches he did enjoy the recruiting event.

"It was awesome!!" Stepaniak texted in to Cats Illustrated last Sunday. "The atmosphere is awesome. I loved it."

Stepaniak said it was his first game at Kentucky and his first time at the school and despite the loss, the Wildcats' effort and the support of the Big Blue faithful impressed him.

"They get crazy and they know how to support their team," said Stepaniak, who has offers from Indiana, Ohio, Toledo and Bowling Green already.

Though the junior offensive lineman wasn't able to speak with any of the coaches it's clear that his primary recruiter will be Vince Marrow and his position coach would be John Schlarman. There's reason to believe he's a prospect Kentucky is keeping a close eye on even beyond the fact that he was invited to visit.

"My coach is the only one who's talked to them. I want to start talking to them though," he continued.

While Stepaniak is listed as a guard he actually said that he believes schools will recruit him as a tackle. One year from now he's likely to have an impressive frame that makes that a very plausible scenario.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Cats seek fit for 2015 Florida athlete

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds Chandler Cox doesn't fit the mold of most of the skill position players that Kentucky has recruited since Neal Brown took over as offensive coordinator.

But apparently the Wildcats believe they can find a fit for the Apopka (Fla.) junior athlete.

"They came down in the spring. Coach Chad Scott was down here," Cox told Cats Illustrated. "They watched me in practice and they've been talking to me a lot. We've been talking on Facebook and he told me to call him.

"So I've been calling him and one day when I called him he said they had never offered a guy like me. He wanted me to be the first player like I am that they've offered. That was my first full ride scholarship."

So it's likely to be something he won't forget any time soon.

"They had never offered a fullback out of high school," Cox said. "I'm a guy that plays multiple positions."

But the question remains: What kind of a fit would Cox be in the Air Raid offense?

This season could be a good indicator. While the Wildcats have lacked receiver depth and proven play makers on the outside the offensive staff has utilized more tight ends in the offense. That shows its flexibility and could be evidence to Cox that he could be utilized effectively.

"I think I could be a great fit," he said. "I think it would be fun to play in the offense Kentucky has if I decide to go there. I could play fullback, H-Back, tight end, wide receiver and wildcat quarterback. I could just move to different positions and they wouldn't have to sub anyone out."

Cox said his best time in the 40-yard dash in 4.71 seconds. In the spring his bench max peaked at 300 pounds, but a dislocated shoulder took him two months of recovery time and given the fact that he lost some strength that max is down to 275. His squat max is 405 and he power cleans 275.

That dislocation occurred in the spring game, the last day of football before summer, so he didn't miss any games.

So far this year he has more than 1,000 yards of total offense for Apopka with seven rushing touchdowns.

Boston College and New Mexico also have offered Cox.

"I went on a visit this fall to Florida against Tennessee and over the summer I visited Florida as well as the University of Miami," he said. "I guess my favorite has always been the Florida Gators. That's always been the team I've followed since I was a little kid. I don't really have any real favorites at the top but Florida would definitely be up there.

"But so far I love everything about Kentucky. I've never been to Kentucky so I don't know a lot about them but I'm going to go up there and try to visit them soon, maybe this fall or if not then maybe this spring. But from what I've seen I love it so far."

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Four-star linebacker giving Cats a chance

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Josh Smith knows that some will assume he's a Vanderbilt lock but he's intent on giving every school an honest look.

The four-star linebacker is an elite 2015 prospect from Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland and his brother isn't bad either. Emmanuel Smith is a four-star senior safety from the same school and he committed to Vanderbilt in March.

Both prospects were in Commonwealth Stadium for Kentucky's game against Alabama, but only one was open to a future with the Wildcats, apparently.

"(Emmanuel) is 100 percent solid to Vandy," the younger Smith said this week. "If he makes a trip to another college it's only to support me and my recruiting process. It would be nice to play with my brother but I'm not going to base my college decision mainly off that."

Kentucky has been recruiting the younger Smith for weeks now and the interest is easy to understand. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound prospect already has offers from Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Through the first half of his junior season Smith has 35 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass deflection. He also has three catches for 100 yards and a touchdown.

While Kentucky couldn't hang with the Crimson Tide after the first quarter Smith said there were positives to take from his visit.

"It was a great atmosphere. I didn't really get to talk to the coaches much but it was a good overall first time visit," Smith said. "Nice campus, scenery and stadium. They didn't get the win but they fought and played hard."

And sometimes early in a coaching staff's tenure a loss like that can reveal something positive for recruits.

"It would be great to have the opportunity for early playing (time) there. If I have progressed enough to play early then I could do so. But on the other hand I could be fine with not playing early if I'm not prepared to take that playing time yet," he added.

Smith has also visited Tennessee and Vanderbilt this year and said no school is standing out.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Elite Georgia athlete picks up Kentucky offer

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Whether Kentucky can climb the ladder in the SEC may be determined by how much success the Wildcats have recruiting elite talent from the South.

There's no doubt UK can win recruiting battles in Ohio and inside the borders of its home state. And there has been some success in the South. But how much will there be?

Players like Adonis Thomas change programs. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound athlete from Lawrenceville (Ga.) Central Gwinnett is a big-time athlete and is a four-star Rivals250 to Watch recruit.

He recently picked up an offer from Kentucky to go along with offers from Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. As for the Wildcats, he doesn't know too much yet.

"It's a good SEC offer but I don't really know too much about them," he said, noting that safeties coach Bradley Dale Peveto is the assistant that relayed news of the offer. "(Peveto) talked to my coach a couple of times but I only talked to him once."

Thomas, who visited last week's Clemson-Florida State game, has never visited Kentucky before but said he's open to the possibility of changing that down the road.

With no favorites and plenty of offers Thomas acknowledged that he has a lot of work and some hard decisions ahead of him.

Thomas attended camps at Georgia and Ohio State among others over the summer.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?C...&PT=4&PR=2

[LeeCoUKFan]

Local receiver Floyd could be 2015 UK target

Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst

Marcus Floyd is producing at a high level for Bryan Station this year and he's a local prospect the Wildcats are keeping on their radar.

In a recent game Floyd, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver, reeled in 12 passes for 170 yards. And he's been producing at a solid level this season for Bryan Station, a school that has produced a few good prospects over the years.

While Floyd resides in the Wildcats' backyard it wasn't until this year that he finally made it to a game at Commonwealth Stadium.

He attended UK's game against Louisville, a two-touchdown loss for Kentucky but a performance that impressed him because of the team's persistence.

"It was great," Floyd said. "The atmosphere was great. Win or lose you gotta love it. I got to go down on the field (before the game) but I didn't get a chance to talk to any coaches. I had a great time."

Now Floyd is hooked. He has attended three of Kentucky's home games since the start of the year and is becoming more familiar with the program seemingly each week. Neal Brown, who recruits Kentucky, has Floyd on his radar.

Receiver may not be quite as big a priority in the next recruiting class as it has been in this one for Kentucky but it's clear that Floyd is a possibility.

Floyd also attended a game at Louisville at the start of the season and said Charlie Strong's program is very interested as well.

"I plan on visiting Notre Dame and Purdue this fall as well," he added.

The junior receiver pointed out that he's actually a Michigan fan and that may be why he had not made games at Kentucky a priority before this year when he really became a recruit.

Floyd's recruitment has been slow to take off because an injury prevented him from attending the camps or combines this spring and summer that could have helped his visibility.

[YOUTUBE="Marcus Floyd Sophomore Highlights Bryan Station HS football"]j0p0NNUQmh4[/YOUTUBE]

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