[LeeCoUKFan]

Cats offer St. Louis defensive tackle Watts

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Kentucky's recruiting strategy may focus more attention on some states than others but the Wildcats are showing they are willing to break new ground when the opportunity arises.

Missouri will not be a big part of the Wildcats' overall recruiting strategy but the state is closer to Kentucky than many other SEC states. It also has two big talent bases; St. Louis in the eastern part of the state, and Kansas City in the west.

St. Louis (Mo.) Christian Brothers College is home to defensive tackle Armon Watts, an under the radar lineman with offers from Ball State and Idaho, in addition to Kentucky. While most of the prospects with Kentucky offers have lengthy offer sheets, UK has also started to identify some sleepers.

At 6-foot-5 and 274-pounds, Watts has the build and skill set to play on either side of the line in college, and Kentucky obviously likes what they have seen. The fact that John Schlarman is recruiting Watts is probably good evidence that Kentucky likes him as an offensive lineman.

"I got the (Kentucky) offer last week," Watts said. "I had gotten letters from them but that was the first time I talked to them. Coach told me he talked to my high school coach earlier that day and he said he likes my film and wanted to offer me a scholarship.

"I was kinda surprised. I'm just starting to learn a little bit about them. I know about their conference and I know they've got a new coach."

Watts confirmed that he has interest in Kentucky but he's not ready to say he has a favorite among the schools recruiting him. He did say that his overall favorite is UCLA, but the Bruins have not yet offered.

There's a chance Watts could find himself in Lexington soon.

"I might go to the spring game," he said.

So far he has visited Ball State for a spring practice and he said that trip went well. Beyond that, and the possible trip to Kentucky, Watts does not have any other visits planned, nor has he seen any other schools.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1493030