[LeeCoUKFan]

Dawkins hoping for UK offer as he looks elsewhere

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Dalyn Dawkins would be happy if Kentucky offered him a scholarship as the recruiting process winds down but he's not putting all his eggs in one basket.

In fact, he told Cats Illustrated this week that an offer from Kentucky would not guarantee a commitment.

"If they do offer me it doesn't mean I'm just going to go there," he said with a laugh.

But the Trinity all-purpose back would be interested. There's no doubting that.

Offensive coordinator Neal Brown stopped by the Louisville school last week and candidly discussed the running back situation in Lexington. He told Dawkins that UK would probably just be taking one running back from the Class of 2013.

The Wildcats are obviously enamored with Jojo Kemp, the near four-star Florida running back that has not made a decision.

"(Brown) was just letting me know what's going on," Dawkins said. "I speak with him quite often. The last time we spoke he basically just said the same thing. It's good to talk to him."

Dawkins is covering all his bases while UK continues to play the waiting game. He took an official visit to Colorado State this past weekend and said he could definitely see himself with the Rams.

He will take an official visit to Western Kentucky this weekend and Purdue next weekend.

"I'll be signing on February 6," Dawkins said.

The three-star prospect, ranked the No. 9 player in Kentucky, said he has not visited UK since Mark Stoops and his new staff took over.

He did say that he has spoken with Jason Hatcher about his decision to de-commit from USC.

"Just a little bit," he said. "He just didn't like the distance."

Dawkins added that he wouldn't be against landing at the same school as Hatcher but also said there's no talk of a package deal.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1463968