I'm extremely excited about getting these kids in the blue and white. Are they ranked very high? Nah, but that can be attributed to other things besides lack of skill, namely, simply not going to the recruiting service camps has the biggest impact on your ranking. Let's take a look at some of the players though.
I'll start with Joshua Allen. Nearly the lowest ranking recruit in UK's 2015 class, but definitely unjustifiably so. He was green as grass at the defensive end position, as it was his first year playing that position (he transferred in from Alabama, where he was a wide receiver), but still led the state of New Jersey in sacks with 22.5 (that's absolutely insane in one season, especially in a state fairly rich in talent).
The kid's coach is incredibly high on him. He's sent 3 defensive ends to D1 football, one to Ohio State, one to Rutgers, and one to Boston College, and the coach told anybody that would listen that Joshua Allen was the best out of all of them at the same stage of their careers.
He's not huge, but in a 3-4 defense, he doesn't need to be. He's about the same size as Ware whenever he came in. The kid is 6'4", 220#, and runs a 4.6 forty. The numbers suggest that he really knows how to disrupt plays in the backfield, and I look for this kid to wreak havoc in a couple of years. Potential to be an elite outside linebacker in the SEC with his speed, size, instincts, and ability to catch the ball (I read that he was an all-state WR in Alabama).
Here is a link to Joshua Allen's hudl highlights:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2037392/highlights/214930376/v2
Next, we'll take a look at Kengera Daniel. I mean, what can you say? The kid could have played football for Nick Saban in Alabama, and he could have because when you look past the 3 star rating like Saban did, you see a player with great size (6'6", 250# [or more, now]), speed for that size (4.79 forty), and strength (385 bench as listed on hudl, 465 on squat). Him signing and enrolling early with UK will only help him get bigger, faster, and stronger before the season gets into full swing. Kengera had an insane senior season in the state of North Carolina (another talent rich state), where he made 133 tackles, 65 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks (look, when roughly 49% of your tackles are in the backfield, you're damn good, no two ways about it). There are 5 star players that don't get those numbers, that's making a statement. I don't need to tell you all that this kid has some smooth moves that allow him to make plays and occasionally force fumbles in the backfield. That's a nice commodity to have.
Now raises the question, where will he play in a 3-4? Inside linebacker? Or will he pack on weight to be a defensive tackle in a 3-4? Time will tell, but his numbers, and offers, make me incredibly confident that whatever Stoops does with him defensively, we're going to be in very good shape.
P.S. Mr. Daniel, if your son has talked to you about what position he's looking at in a 3-4, get back to me, I would be very appreciative.
Here is a link to Kengera Daniel's hudl highlights:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1867435/highlights/167652377/v2
Finally, we'll look at Javon Provitt. I am shocked. Shocked. That this kid is ranked where he is. You look at his film, and he dominates the people put in front of him and lays down big hits. Very, very fast first step, very explosive off the line of scrimmage, very powerful player. In a couple of years, he has the potential to be one of the premier defensive tackles (likely the nose tackle in a 3-4, to be specific) in the SEC.
At 6'3", 305#, he's got size that can allow him to come in right away if needed.
Many Ohio State fans felt that Provitt was the best DT in the state of Ohio, which ranks as the 5th most talent rich state for D1 football players in the country. If you haven't seen him yet, I suggest that you do so. Tremendous pickup, in spite of the ranking.
Here is a link to Javon Provitt's hudl highlights:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2290857/highlights/182562377/v2
Last recruiting season may have hit a rough patch at the end, but the players that the staff recovered in such a short period of time is outstanding. Provitt and Allen are two of those players. KG was committed for quite some time, and stuck it out with us (which we are all very appreciative of).
A lot of people seemed upset when we made pickups like Sihiem King, Javon Provitt, and Joshua Allen based on rankings, but if you have eyes, and the ability to analyze (even on a minimal level), and read stats, you would know that these kids are sleepers. Let's be real here. An All-American running back, Georgia offensive player of the year in their highest division, scored 40 TD's in a season, and he's the 100th best RB in the class? Nope, try again.
What about a defensive end with freak athleticism, a nice frame, a ton of speed, and he led the state of New Jersey in sacks, that's the so-called "47th best player in New Jersey"? That's comical also.
And I'm really at a loss for words as far as Provitt goes. If there are really 77 defensive tackles better than him in the class, then we can really consider this an "way, way up-year".
A lot of terrific sleeper players in this class, and players that were unjustly ranked low considering their talent. Don't be surprised if in a couple of years, people are asking how these 3 listed above were ranked what they were.
I'll start with Joshua Allen. Nearly the lowest ranking recruit in UK's 2015 class, but definitely unjustifiably so. He was green as grass at the defensive end position, as it was his first year playing that position (he transferred in from Alabama, where he was a wide receiver), but still led the state of New Jersey in sacks with 22.5 (that's absolutely insane in one season, especially in a state fairly rich in talent).
The kid's coach is incredibly high on him. He's sent 3 defensive ends to D1 football, one to Ohio State, one to Rutgers, and one to Boston College, and the coach told anybody that would listen that Joshua Allen was the best out of all of them at the same stage of their careers.
He's not huge, but in a 3-4 defense, he doesn't need to be. He's about the same size as Ware whenever he came in. The kid is 6'4", 220#, and runs a 4.6 forty. The numbers suggest that he really knows how to disrupt plays in the backfield, and I look for this kid to wreak havoc in a couple of years. Potential to be an elite outside linebacker in the SEC with his speed, size, instincts, and ability to catch the ball (I read that he was an all-state WR in Alabama).
Here is a link to Joshua Allen's hudl highlights:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2037392/highlights/214930376/v2
Next, we'll take a look at Kengera Daniel. I mean, what can you say? The kid could have played football for Nick Saban in Alabama, and he could have because when you look past the 3 star rating like Saban did, you see a player with great size (6'6", 250# [or more, now]), speed for that size (4.79 forty), and strength (385 bench as listed on hudl, 465 on squat). Him signing and enrolling early with UK will only help him get bigger, faster, and stronger before the season gets into full swing. Kengera had an insane senior season in the state of North Carolina (another talent rich state), where he made 133 tackles, 65 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks (look, when roughly 49% of your tackles are in the backfield, you're damn good, no two ways about it). There are 5 star players that don't get those numbers, that's making a statement. I don't need to tell you all that this kid has some smooth moves that allow him to make plays and occasionally force fumbles in the backfield. That's a nice commodity to have.
Now raises the question, where will he play in a 3-4? Inside linebacker? Or will he pack on weight to be a defensive tackle in a 3-4? Time will tell, but his numbers, and offers, make me incredibly confident that whatever Stoops does with him defensively, we're going to be in very good shape.
P.S. Mr. Daniel, if your son has talked to you about what position he's looking at in a 3-4, get back to me, I would be very appreciative.
Here is a link to Kengera Daniel's hudl highlights:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1867435/highlights/167652377/v2
Finally, we'll look at Javon Provitt. I am shocked. Shocked. That this kid is ranked where he is. You look at his film, and he dominates the people put in front of him and lays down big hits. Very, very fast first step, very explosive off the line of scrimmage, very powerful player. In a couple of years, he has the potential to be one of the premier defensive tackles (likely the nose tackle in a 3-4, to be specific) in the SEC.
At 6'3", 305#, he's got size that can allow him to come in right away if needed.
Many Ohio State fans felt that Provitt was the best DT in the state of Ohio, which ranks as the 5th most talent rich state for D1 football players in the country. If you haven't seen him yet, I suggest that you do so. Tremendous pickup, in spite of the ranking.
Here is a link to Javon Provitt's hudl highlights:
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2290857/highlights/182562377/v2
Last recruiting season may have hit a rough patch at the end, but the players that the staff recovered in such a short period of time is outstanding. Provitt and Allen are two of those players. KG was committed for quite some time, and stuck it out with us (which we are all very appreciative of).
A lot of people seemed upset when we made pickups like Sihiem King, Javon Provitt, and Joshua Allen based on rankings, but if you have eyes, and the ability to analyze (even on a minimal level), and read stats, you would know that these kids are sleepers. Let's be real here. An All-American running back, Georgia offensive player of the year in their highest division, scored 40 TD's in a season, and he's the 100th best RB in the class? Nope, try again.
What about a defensive end with freak athleticism, a nice frame, a ton of speed, and he led the state of New Jersey in sacks, that's the so-called "47th best player in New Jersey"? That's comical also.
And I'm really at a loss for words as far as Provitt goes. If there are really 77 defensive tackles better than him in the class, then we can really consider this an "way, way up-year".
A lot of terrific sleeper players in this class, and players that were unjustly ranked low considering their talent. Don't be surprised if in a couple of years, people are asking how these 3 listed above were ranked what they were.
