[LeeCoUKFan]

Stoudemire could join teammate Ware at Kentucky

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Talk to Tavise Stoudemire and it almost sounds like a given that he's going to commit to Kentucky.

The 6-foot, 220-pound linebacker from Opp (Ala.) gained some exposure when his teammate, four-star defensive lineman Denzel Ware, committed to Kentucky.

Ware and Stoudemire are cousins but they're so close that people refer to them as brothers, which has apparently been the source of some confusion.

With Ware committed to UK the Wildcats have become an intriguing option for Stoudemire.

"I talked to coach (D.J.) Eliot the other day and he was fired up about me coming," Stoudemire said. "He talked to my coach and gave information to him."

Stoudemire didn't leave much to the imagination when it comes to his interest in UK.

"I think I'm going to commit to Kentucky," he said.

His most recent conversation with Eliot was the third time he spoke with Kentucky.

"I like their program and I like coach Eliot," Stoudemire continued. "He's a great coach and he's showed me that he really wants me there."

The Cats are recruiting Stoudemire as a Mike linebacker that can man the middle of the defense and be a stout run-stopper. Stoudemire, who estimates he had 45 stops behind the line of scrimmage last year, said that's his specialty.

"I like meeting the running backs downhill in the hole. When I hit them I try not to give any extra yardage," he said.

Stoudemire was his team's defensive MVP last season. Opp's defense figures to be stingy this fall with Ware coming from Crestview (Fla.).

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1473621