Kentucky could still add a lot of help to the defensive line as the staff looks to finish out the Class of 2016. Cats Illustrated looks at all of the major options.
The Wildcats have no shortage of players to look to as they try to add at least one and possibly two more defensive linemen before Signing Day. Currently Kentucky has commitments from defensive tackles Kordell Looney and Ja’Quize Cross, as well as defensive end/’Jack’ outside linebacker Jaylin Bannerman.
Cross seems to be a defensive tackle all the way while Looney is a player that could play inside or at end in a three down lineman set.
There’s been a lot of talk that Kentucky could add both a defensive end and a defensive tackle.
Miami defensive end/outside linebacker commit Jaquwan Nelson would probably be near the top of defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot's wish list. He’s been talking to Nelson and has the three-star player’s attention. Nelson can put his hand in the dirt and play on the edge standing up and he’s the kind of big, athletic, versatile body that would be a great asset. If he visits Kentucky could greatly improve their chances with him.
Dothan, Ala., defensive end Caleb Tillman heard from Kentucky very early in the recruiting process and he’s still hearing from the Cats. The only problem is he’s committed to Mississippi State with the Bulldogs and many others, including North Carolina, also pushing hard for him.
Tillman expects to visit Lexington before the end of the summer and depending on how that trip goes his relationship with UK could extend into the fall and beyond. Sometimes keeping yourself in contention is the point of recruiting in the here and now, because circumstances can change so quickly based on unforeseeable events.
Another committed player, defensive tackle Kobe Smith, is on the radar. He’s pledged to NC State but is visiting schools and entertaining interest from various places. There’s been some chatter that he would be high on Kentucky’s wish list as far as defensive linemen go.
Defensive tackle Jovan Swann of Indiana is not committed and his interest in Kentucky is strong. He has not done much in the way of travel this summer, electing to stay close to home and visit in-state schools. The worry might be he decides to simply stay in-state for college altogether. But Swann routinely mentions Kentucky as a school he’s looking into and one he’d like to visit. It seems like he does want to be close to home, but he’s noted that UK’s proximity is not a problem.
JUCO defensive tackle Walvenski Aime of Fort Scott C.C. in Kansas was previously committed to Miami but that didn’t last long. He’s now expecting to make an official visit to Kentucky, and Cats Illustrated has heard from multiple sources that if it were up to Aime then this might be wrapped up already. But because Kentucky has some options the desire is to bring more players onto campus, to continue to research players and evaluate, and take things slow. Aime could be a mid-year enrollee, but anytime you take a JUCO player, because of their limited eligibility, you’d better get it right. The Cats took a couple of JUCO defensive linemen last year and the usual desire is to bring in players with five years to play four – graduating high school seniors.
Hialeah, Fla., defensive end Jamal Smith has always had a lot of interest in Kentucky and he reiterated that his interest in UK is still strong when Cats Illustrated caught up with him recently. He’s not quite as long or rangy as some other players on the board, but he’s strong and built like a truck. His claimed offers are from Kentucky, Pittsburgh, NC State, Oregon State and USF, among others.
There are some other lesser-known potential targets, too.
Gordo, Ala., two-way lineman DeAngelo Jones would fall into that category. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound interior lineman is listed as an offensive guard but doubles as a defensive tackle. Kentucky has not yet offered but the Wildcats will take a look. Louisville and Mississippi State have offered.
Another sleeper from Alabama on the staff’s radar is Jalen Madden, a 6-foot-1, 275-pounder from Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge, right in the backyard of the Crimson Tide. The most significant appealing fact about Madden could be his ability to play end or tackle because of his size. He’s claiming some offers but not too much is known about him at this stage.
Not long ago Cats Illustrated reported on Cincinnati (Ohio) two-way lineman Desmond Noel, who will camp with the Wildcats before summer’s end. If Kentucky offers he would probably jump on it.
One player UK has sized up is Jamari Logan of Virginia. I'm familiar with him and he brings a lot of tools to the table that you can work with but he needs to lose a significant amount of weight even to play the three-technique.
I can now verify that Kentucky is looking into Merced C.C. (California) defensive tackle Kamilo Tongamoa. He's already got quite the offer sheet which includes Louisville, Arizona State, Illinois and others.
The Wildcats have no shortage of players to look to as they try to add at least one and possibly two more defensive linemen before Signing Day. Currently Kentucky has commitments from defensive tackles Kordell Looney and Ja’Quize Cross, as well as defensive end/’Jack’ outside linebacker Jaylin Bannerman.
Cross seems to be a defensive tackle all the way while Looney is a player that could play inside or at end in a three down lineman set.
There’s been a lot of talk that Kentucky could add both a defensive end and a defensive tackle.
Miami defensive end/outside linebacker commit Jaquwan Nelson would probably be near the top of defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot's wish list. He’s been talking to Nelson and has the three-star player’s attention. Nelson can put his hand in the dirt and play on the edge standing up and he’s the kind of big, athletic, versatile body that would be a great asset. If he visits Kentucky could greatly improve their chances with him.
Dothan, Ala., defensive end Caleb Tillman heard from Kentucky very early in the recruiting process and he’s still hearing from the Cats. The only problem is he’s committed to Mississippi State with the Bulldogs and many others, including North Carolina, also pushing hard for him.
Tillman expects to visit Lexington before the end of the summer and depending on how that trip goes his relationship with UK could extend into the fall and beyond. Sometimes keeping yourself in contention is the point of recruiting in the here and now, because circumstances can change so quickly based on unforeseeable events.
Another committed player, defensive tackle Kobe Smith, is on the radar. He’s pledged to NC State but is visiting schools and entertaining interest from various places. There’s been some chatter that he would be high on Kentucky’s wish list as far as defensive linemen go.
Defensive tackle Jovan Swann of Indiana is not committed and his interest in Kentucky is strong. He has not done much in the way of travel this summer, electing to stay close to home and visit in-state schools. The worry might be he decides to simply stay in-state for college altogether. But Swann routinely mentions Kentucky as a school he’s looking into and one he’d like to visit. It seems like he does want to be close to home, but he’s noted that UK’s proximity is not a problem.
JUCO defensive tackle Walvenski Aime of Fort Scott C.C. in Kansas was previously committed to Miami but that didn’t last long. He’s now expecting to make an official visit to Kentucky, and Cats Illustrated has heard from multiple sources that if it were up to Aime then this might be wrapped up already. But because Kentucky has some options the desire is to bring more players onto campus, to continue to research players and evaluate, and take things slow. Aime could be a mid-year enrollee, but anytime you take a JUCO player, because of their limited eligibility, you’d better get it right. The Cats took a couple of JUCO defensive linemen last year and the usual desire is to bring in players with five years to play four – graduating high school seniors.
Hialeah, Fla., defensive end Jamal Smith has always had a lot of interest in Kentucky and he reiterated that his interest in UK is still strong when Cats Illustrated caught up with him recently. He’s not quite as long or rangy as some other players on the board, but he’s strong and built like a truck. His claimed offers are from Kentucky, Pittsburgh, NC State, Oregon State and USF, among others.
There are some other lesser-known potential targets, too.
Gordo, Ala., two-way lineman DeAngelo Jones would fall into that category. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound interior lineman is listed as an offensive guard but doubles as a defensive tackle. Kentucky has not yet offered but the Wildcats will take a look. Louisville and Mississippi State have offered.
Another sleeper from Alabama on the staff’s radar is Jalen Madden, a 6-foot-1, 275-pounder from Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge, right in the backyard of the Crimson Tide. The most significant appealing fact about Madden could be his ability to play end or tackle because of his size. He’s claiming some offers but not too much is known about him at this stage.
Not long ago Cats Illustrated reported on Cincinnati (Ohio) two-way lineman Desmond Noel, who will camp with the Wildcats before summer’s end. If Kentucky offers he would probably jump on it.
One player UK has sized up is Jamari Logan of Virginia. I'm familiar with him and he brings a lot of tools to the table that you can work with but he needs to lose a significant amount of weight even to play the three-technique.
I can now verify that Kentucky is looking into Merced C.C. (California) defensive tackle Kamilo Tongamoa. He's already got quite the offer sheet which includes Louisville, Arizona State, Illinois and others.
