[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