More on Davonte Robinson
Let me reemphasize that Davonte Robinson absolutely looks the part in person. It's funny. I talked to his coach a little while back and his coach actually estimated him to be between 6'0 and 6'1, if I recall correctly. We've got him at 6'2 here on Rivals, so I started to wonder how big this kid really is. I obviously didn't get a chance to measure him or see him measured, but seeing him in person it's clear that he's got all the size you need and then some to be an elite SEC defensive back. Physically he's a very impressive defensive back and I found myself wondering how this kid runs like he does at that size. I could see Davonte ending up as a 6-foot-2, 200 pound corner that wows you stepping off the bus. He does carry himself with a good bit of confidence. One of my questions, if not concerns, was that he hadn't put himself out there much for camps, combines and exposure, but I'm increasingly coming to believe he's just not interested in that side of things. And I don't think his dad really wants him to. Not a competitiveness issue or anything like that.
Robinson was around a lot of the local prospects on Saturday on the field before the game. As mentioned, Jedrick Wills made his way over to Davonte and I thought that was interesting. I'm sure Wills talked to a lot of the other guys as well. Robinson's probably not the kind of guy that's going to be chatting someone's ear off about UK. He's just not like that. Most elite recruits like less pressure in that respect.
Quoted Robinson in our recruit reaction story as saying Harmon's interception was nice. He also told me that he was able to talk a good bit with fellow DB commits Jordan Griffin and Tobias Gilliam. It's a really good looking group for UK. This wasn't the first time that Griffin and Robinson bumped into each other while at UK and they'll see each other again at another game or two later. Still, Notre Dame on Oct. 17 is the only other visit Robinson plans on taking.
Some sources close to Kentucky seem adamant that Robinson is the most undervalued commitment that they have.
Robinson feels really comfortable with Derrick Ansley.
Kobe Smith's official visit
I've confirmed both with sources and with Smith himself that his official visit to UK went very well. I did spot him on Saturday and he was there with family. His family has put off the vibe that he's very happy with Kentucky and they seem to be, too.
"It was great," Smith said following the official visit. And if you're looking for quotes from Smith you'll have to work hard to get more than that. He's just happy to keep to himself for the most part.
I can tell you that Courtney Love was his host for the weekend. Love's been very helpful as a recruiter even if he wasn't granted that NCAA waiver. He took the initiative in getting to know Tate Leavitt on his first visit, and then stayed in touch with him until he took his official.
Should have more details on the visit soon.
More on the group of visitors
One thing that stood out when I was checking out the crowd of prospects was how many younger players seemed to be there. I didn't see all of their names but there were a lot of guys that haven't really bloomed yet. I know pretty much every school likes to get guys on campus early because you never know what's going to stick with someone and help you later on. Maybe the big atmosphere convinces a 2019 Ohio kid that he wants to be at Kentucky and that's the seed that ultimately leads to a commitment down the road.
I'm hearing that some guys from North and South Carolina who were supposed to make it to Lexington for the trip did not. Not for a lack of interest. Apparently because the game was a sellout and because so many guys wanted to attend they just didn't have as many tickets to give out as they wanted to. Their top guys will always have invites but with it being harder for players not so close to visit, and with those plans changing more frequently at the last minute, you have to let the top Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, etc., guys visit and take their tickets.
That said, I'm hearing there may be a few from the Mid-Atlantic coming up for this week's game against Missouri. That's still a work in progress so I'll sit on the names. One is the mystery defensive line recruit teased last week.
Because so many of the commitments were there one of the interesting dynamics was the back and forth between '16 commitments and '17 commitments and targets. I mentioned J'Marick Woods hearing from Griffin, Robinson and Gilliam. There were other situations like that, too. The coaches are good at putting players in touch with the right people there on campus. A coach can't just call up a '17 kid whenever he wants, but if the '17 kid meets the right fellow recruit, then that's a good part of your recruiting right there.
Let me reemphasize that Davonte Robinson absolutely looks the part in person. It's funny. I talked to his coach a little while back and his coach actually estimated him to be between 6'0 and 6'1, if I recall correctly. We've got him at 6'2 here on Rivals, so I started to wonder how big this kid really is. I obviously didn't get a chance to measure him or see him measured, but seeing him in person it's clear that he's got all the size you need and then some to be an elite SEC defensive back. Physically he's a very impressive defensive back and I found myself wondering how this kid runs like he does at that size. I could see Davonte ending up as a 6-foot-2, 200 pound corner that wows you stepping off the bus. He does carry himself with a good bit of confidence. One of my questions, if not concerns, was that he hadn't put himself out there much for camps, combines and exposure, but I'm increasingly coming to believe he's just not interested in that side of things. And I don't think his dad really wants him to. Not a competitiveness issue or anything like that.
Robinson was around a lot of the local prospects on Saturday on the field before the game. As mentioned, Jedrick Wills made his way over to Davonte and I thought that was interesting. I'm sure Wills talked to a lot of the other guys as well. Robinson's probably not the kind of guy that's going to be chatting someone's ear off about UK. He's just not like that. Most elite recruits like less pressure in that respect.
Quoted Robinson in our recruit reaction story as saying Harmon's interception was nice. He also told me that he was able to talk a good bit with fellow DB commits Jordan Griffin and Tobias Gilliam. It's a really good looking group for UK. This wasn't the first time that Griffin and Robinson bumped into each other while at UK and they'll see each other again at another game or two later. Still, Notre Dame on Oct. 17 is the only other visit Robinson plans on taking.
Some sources close to Kentucky seem adamant that Robinson is the most undervalued commitment that they have.
Robinson feels really comfortable with Derrick Ansley.
Kobe Smith's official visit
I've confirmed both with sources and with Smith himself that his official visit to UK went very well. I did spot him on Saturday and he was there with family. His family has put off the vibe that he's very happy with Kentucky and they seem to be, too.
"It was great," Smith said following the official visit. And if you're looking for quotes from Smith you'll have to work hard to get more than that. He's just happy to keep to himself for the most part.
I can tell you that Courtney Love was his host for the weekend. Love's been very helpful as a recruiter even if he wasn't granted that NCAA waiver. He took the initiative in getting to know Tate Leavitt on his first visit, and then stayed in touch with him until he took his official.
Should have more details on the visit soon.
More on the group of visitors
One thing that stood out when I was checking out the crowd of prospects was how many younger players seemed to be there. I didn't see all of their names but there were a lot of guys that haven't really bloomed yet. I know pretty much every school likes to get guys on campus early because you never know what's going to stick with someone and help you later on. Maybe the big atmosphere convinces a 2019 Ohio kid that he wants to be at Kentucky and that's the seed that ultimately leads to a commitment down the road.
I'm hearing that some guys from North and South Carolina who were supposed to make it to Lexington for the trip did not. Not for a lack of interest. Apparently because the game was a sellout and because so many guys wanted to attend they just didn't have as many tickets to give out as they wanted to. Their top guys will always have invites but with it being harder for players not so close to visit, and with those plans changing more frequently at the last minute, you have to let the top Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, etc., guys visit and take their tickets.
That said, I'm hearing there may be a few from the Mid-Atlantic coming up for this week's game against Missouri. That's still a work in progress so I'll sit on the names. One is the mystery defensive line recruit teased last week.
Because so many of the commitments were there one of the interesting dynamics was the back and forth between '16 commitments and '17 commitments and targets. I mentioned J'Marick Woods hearing from Griffin, Robinson and Gilliam. There were other situations like that, too. The coaches are good at putting players in touch with the right people there on campus. A coach can't just call up a '17 kid whenever he wants, but if the '17 kid meets the right fellow recruit, then that's a good part of your recruiting right there.
