...It's obvious by listening to Barker that he's more than just flattered by UK's intense interest in him since Mark Stoops took over as the Cats coach in late November.
It's completely different from when Stoops' predecessor, Joker Phillips, didn't show him much recruiting love.
Barker recalled how he attended a UK camp early last summer and was told to follow up with the coaches a couple days later.
"So I called them, thinking they were going to offer because I had performed pretty well at camp," Barker said.
"But when I talked to them, they were like, 'So, have you been to any camps recently?' I was like, 'Oh man, I was just at your camp and you didn't even know I was there!' It was kind of funny, but that's when I cut it off. I was done with UK."
That changed soon after Stoops took over at UK and brought Neal Brown on as his offensive coordinator.
A few days later, Brown visited Barker at Conner and watched him throw in the gym before school.
UK offered a scholarship.
Terry Barker, Drew's dad, has been impressed by the way UK has turned things around with his son.
"We were raised Kentucky fans. I love the Big Blue Nation," he said. "So it hurt Drew a little bit when the previous regime didn't seem to want him.
"I guess Coach Stoops and the rest of his coaches know Drew had kind of a sour taste in his mouth after that, so they've gone the extra mile to show how much they'd love to have him. I think that's really resonated with Drew. He really appreciates it."
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/04/2627523/conner-quarterback-is-about-to.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/04/2627523/conner-quarterback-is-about-to.html
It's completely different from when Stoops' predecessor, Joker Phillips, didn't show him much recruiting love.
Barker recalled how he attended a UK camp early last summer and was told to follow up with the coaches a couple days later.
"So I called them, thinking they were going to offer because I had performed pretty well at camp," Barker said.
"But when I talked to them, they were like, 'So, have you been to any camps recently?' I was like, 'Oh man, I was just at your camp and you didn't even know I was there!' It was kind of funny, but that's when I cut it off. I was done with UK."
That changed soon after Stoops took over at UK and brought Neal Brown on as his offensive coordinator.
A few days later, Brown visited Barker at Conner and watched him throw in the gym before school.
UK offered a scholarship.
Terry Barker, Drew's dad, has been impressed by the way UK has turned things around with his son.
"We were raised Kentucky fans. I love the Big Blue Nation," he said. "So it hurt Drew a little bit when the previous regime didn't seem to want him.
"I guess Coach Stoops and the rest of his coaches know Drew had kind of a sour taste in his mouth after that, so they've gone the extra mile to show how much they'd love to have him. I think that's really resonated with Drew. He really appreciates it."
Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/04/2627523/conner-quarterback-is-about-to.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/04/2627523/conner-quarterback-is-about-to.html
