I know we've had visitors but seems like there are still slots to fill and haven't heard much. I mean, right now anyway, we're 9th in the country and lots of media are talking about UK being a legit threat in the SECE and we're not getting much love from recruits. Either we're in on a few guys who have a ton of offers with higher profile programs or NIL or something is hampering our recruiting efforts. Love to see us fill up the remaining slots with min. high 3* kids. Have some needs on both sides to fill.
Any news on the recruiting front?
- Thread starter gamecockcat
- Start date
With NIL I think the reporters are a little gunshy to report anything. All it takes is one phone call. We had a kid who was coming at 4, the announced for ATM at 5.
Everything has always been subject to change, but not like it is now.
So Grumpy in your opinion are there any rules to this NIL deal? Are some schools blatantly abusing it and if so will there be any consequences for those teams?
It appears there are no rules right now. I think the intent of the rule was a good plan, which was to reward kids already at your school. But was rushed in so quick too many loopholes were created. ATM was paying out their rear for the 22 class. Texas was offering 50k signing bonus to OL, more if they really wanted them. UT offering 8m to a QB to represent local business, he barely speaks Coherently, Miami gave 500k to a kid just to official and word is offered him a 9+m NIL deal, which he antly abusing it. accepted. If they are looking for money we are out, our AD and Kirby are taking care of the players ready on roster.one of our WR has a deal worth 1m, I know that 100% because I know his family.
I think there are 5, maybe 6 who are blatantly abusing it, Texas. ATM, SOCAL, Louisville, Miami. I think TN and Bama are targeting kits and making contact encouraging them to hit the portal. Bama has 4 offensive starters from the portal this year.
I think ATM is seeing internal consequences now, reportly many in the 22 class have not receive what they were promised. They are paying big bucks expecting kids to produce quick and it isn't happening for quite a few of the 30 they signed.
But you don’t anticipate any punishment from NCAA or other schools/organizations?
IMO, NCAA is dying organization gasping for air. I don't think it will get its head out of the sand until schools start leaving.
I think another organization will form and be composed of conference commissioners, and ADs and probably school academic administrators.
Enforcement by AD’s and other school officials (like college FB playoff committee or men’s b-ball selection committee) is much different than organization with its own president and staff totally disengaged from what is happening in P5 sports. NCAA has turned into a group wanting to prop up non p 5 schools and Olympic sports. The NCAA is disassociated from P5 income producing sports.
P5 will soon have their own rules enforcement and probably different enforcement groups for football and basketball.
The NCAA is member school presidents and ADs, anybody hired is hired by the same. They're the ones that make the rules, agree to abide by the rules, and enforced the rules. It isn't some 3rd party governing body.
The power5 might break away from the mid majors, I honestly expect that to happen, but it's still gonna be the same people in charge as it is now.
That was the NCAA when they were an enforcement organization. It changed with the Big TV deals and became a for profit organization that would hammer small programs and slap the wrist of programs making big money.
I don't know what it will be called, but we will have a new organization governing college sports, NCAA has let their greed and biased enforcement lose all credibility. It wants proof beyond reasonable don't to determine guilt, without subpoena power that doesn't happen. AU's response when the NCAA comes calling is, PROVE IT. But they are experienced.
The only way I see NIL getting under control is some of these multi million dollar kid bust. I know some people spend less time thinking about spending 10 mil than I do buying a coke. But they do like getting a return.
I agree with you in theory. But, current NCAA system has Emmett and group in charge. Yes, he reports to people you mentioned, but enforcement begins and ends with his ofc. I don’t expect new system to outsource this like it is now. I expect P5 to soon maintain their own enforcement. I think schools want more influence on monitoring and shaping NIL and the ability to respond much quicker than current system.
I will not be surprised if SEC partners with Big 10 in football to create 2 super conferences and their own 12 team playoffs. They would have their own NIL policy, and oversight. ACC’s and PAC 12’s newfound acceptance of 12 team playoff is out of fear of this happening.
Sort of an update. Here's a really good piece on my nephew who I'm extremely proud of and hope gets a chance to wear the blue and white and black and chrome and whatever other uniform combo UK comes up with.
That article he links is from the Courier Journal website, so some of you all might not be able to read it, so at the risk of getting in trouble, here's what it says...
Named Trinity High School’s starting kicker as a sophomore, Kellan McLaughlin recalled the first time former coach Bob Beatty put him in a pressure-packed situation at the end of practice. Make the field goal, everybody goes home. Miss the field goal, everybody runs.
“I was a nervous little wreck,” McLaughlin said. “I was peeing down my pants.”
Now a senior with the Shamrocks, McLaughin is a confident force who has emerged as perhaps the state’s top kicker. He could be the X-factor when Trinity meets rival St. Xavier on Friday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder earned second-team All-State honors from The Courier Journal last year after making 15 field goals, the third-most in state history according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s record book.
KHSAA record for most field goals in a season
This season he’s made 8 of 10 field-goal tries, tied with Highlands’ Davis Burleigh for the state lead. McLaughlin is 11 for 11 on extra-point tries and leads the Shamrocks with 35 points.
Just as important to Trinity head coach Jay Cobb, McLaughlin has put 15 of his 18 kickoffs into the end zone, forcing opponents to start their possessions at their own 20-yard line.
“It’s like having a great wide receiver,” Cobb said. “You need a big play, and you have a go-to guy. If we get down there, I like to come away with points. I think it’s a momentum-changer. It puts you where you’re not chasing points all night.”
McLaughlin was at his best Sept. 2 in a 29-28 double-overtime victory over Center Grove (Ind.)with a school-record five goals, which tied him for second most in state history, including a season-long 44-yarder.
“That was an amazing night,” McLaughlin said. “Being able to capitalize on where my offense put me … and knowing each one of those kicks mattered was a great feeling.”
Like many high school kickers, McLaughlin got his start while playing soccer. He had never played football until he decided to go out for the team as a freshman at Trinity.
After serving as second-string kicker on the freshman team, McLaughlin decided to dedicate himself to kicking and gave up soccer. He started training with former University of Louisville punter Ryan Johnson.
“I honestly did it just for fun, and it turned into something I became really good at and really passionate about and worked really hard at and got to where I am now,” McLaughlin said. “Definitely playing for Trinity was a big factor. I think if I had gone anywhere else I probably wouldn’t have tried it out.
“(Johnson) showed me the ropes. I had been going off what I thought was right and what I’d seen and what felt right. Having someone show you the technique and fundamentals is really vital to learning how to do it effectively.”
McLaughlin suffered a hip injury in his first game as a sophomore in 2020 and missed the rest of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs and converted 23 of 23 extra-point kicks as the Shamrocks rolled to the Class 6A state championship.
As a junior, McLaughlin scored a team-high 91 points, going 15 for 19 on field-goal attempts and 46 for 48 on extra points.
While McLaughlin said most kickers are perceived as “quiet and on their own,” Cobb considered him a leader.
“He’s been a great weight-room kid and offseason kid,” Cobb said. “He’s put in a ton of work. The team really respects him, and that’s not always the case with kicker situations. But he really has the respect of the entire team and the coaching staff.”
McLaughlin wants to kick in college and likely will have the opportunity, though full scholarships are rarely given to freshmen.
McLaughlin wants to be among the elite few who receive a scholarship offer as a freshman but realizes a preferred walk-on spot may be more likely. A 4.5-star kicker according to Kohl's Kicking's rating system ranked No. 100 in the nation at his position, he attended camps at Cincinnati, Duke, Louisville, Kentucky and Purdue during the summer and said all five schools are showing interest.
“It’s definitely not like the four-star and five-star guys who are getting offers from every school when they’re sophomores,” McLaughlin said. “The kickers always come last, and that’s very difficult mentally and pressure-wise. It’s very black and white. You either make it, or you don’t. A stat book can tell you how good a kicker is. You can’t do that with any other position.”
Cobb said kickers who start out as preferred walk-ons have a chance to earn scholarships as sophomores or juniors.
“If he gets there,” Cobb said, “he’ll be able to earn his way.”
Cobb said he feels comfortable asking McLaughlin to kick a 60-yard field goal under optimal conditions. The state record for longest field goal is 60 yards, set by Johnson Central’s Tyler Pack in 2013.
McLaughlin said he wants a chance at the record, though it remains to be seen if he’ll get it Friday against St. X.
“Dream scenario, we blow them out,” he said. “For my purposes, I would love to hit a state record on that field. I’d love to hit numerous field goals. Honestly, just winning. Whatever I have to do to help the team win, that’s what I want to do.”
That article he links is from the Courier Journal website, so some of you all might not be able to read it, so at the risk of getting in trouble, here's what it says...
Named Trinity High School’s starting kicker as a sophomore, Kellan McLaughlin recalled the first time former coach Bob Beatty put him in a pressure-packed situation at the end of practice. Make the field goal, everybody goes home. Miss the field goal, everybody runs.
“I was a nervous little wreck,” McLaughlin said. “I was peeing down my pants.”
Now a senior with the Shamrocks, McLaughin is a confident force who has emerged as perhaps the state’s top kicker. He could be the X-factor when Trinity meets rival St. Xavier on Friday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder earned second-team All-State honors from The Courier Journal last year after making 15 field goals, the third-most in state history according to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s record book.
| Field goals made | |
| Shane Popham (Covington Catholic), 2006 | 18 |
| Taylor Begley (Boyle County), 2000 | 17 |
| Kellan McLaughlin (Trinity), 2021 | 15 |
| Dustin Wynn (Middlesboro), 1998 | 14 |
| Miles Butler (Paducah Tilghman), 2013 | 13 |
| Jack Coorts (Lone Oak), 2009 | 13 |
This season he’s made 8 of 10 field-goal tries, tied with Highlands’ Davis Burleigh for the state lead. McLaughlin is 11 for 11 on extra-point tries and leads the Shamrocks with 35 points.
Just as important to Trinity head coach Jay Cobb, McLaughlin has put 15 of his 18 kickoffs into the end zone, forcing opponents to start their possessions at their own 20-yard line.
“It’s like having a great wide receiver,” Cobb said. “You need a big play, and you have a go-to guy. If we get down there, I like to come away with points. I think it’s a momentum-changer. It puts you where you’re not chasing points all night.”
McLaughlin was at his best Sept. 2 in a 29-28 double-overtime victory over Center Grove (Ind.)with a school-record five goals, which tied him for second most in state history, including a season-long 44-yarder.
“That was an amazing night,” McLaughlin said. “Being able to capitalize on where my offense put me … and knowing each one of those kicks mattered was a great feeling.”
Like many high school kickers, McLaughlin got his start while playing soccer. He had never played football until he decided to go out for the team as a freshman at Trinity.
After serving as second-string kicker on the freshman team, McLaughlin decided to dedicate himself to kicking and gave up soccer. He started training with former University of Louisville punter Ryan Johnson.
“I honestly did it just for fun, and it turned into something I became really good at and really passionate about and worked really hard at and got to where I am now,” McLaughlin said. “Definitely playing for Trinity was a big factor. I think if I had gone anywhere else I probably wouldn’t have tried it out.
“(Johnson) showed me the ropes. I had been going off what I thought was right and what I’d seen and what felt right. Having someone show you the technique and fundamentals is really vital to learning how to do it effectively.”
McLaughlin suffered a hip injury in his first game as a sophomore in 2020 and missed the rest of the regular season. He returned for the playoffs and converted 23 of 23 extra-point kicks as the Shamrocks rolled to the Class 6A state championship.
As a junior, McLaughlin scored a team-high 91 points, going 15 for 19 on field-goal attempts and 46 for 48 on extra points.
While McLaughlin said most kickers are perceived as “quiet and on their own,” Cobb considered him a leader.
“He’s been a great weight-room kid and offseason kid,” Cobb said. “He’s put in a ton of work. The team really respects him, and that’s not always the case with kicker situations. But he really has the respect of the entire team and the coaching staff.”
McLaughlin wants to kick in college and likely will have the opportunity, though full scholarships are rarely given to freshmen.
McLaughlin wants to be among the elite few who receive a scholarship offer as a freshman but realizes a preferred walk-on spot may be more likely. A 4.5-star kicker according to Kohl's Kicking's rating system ranked No. 100 in the nation at his position, he attended camps at Cincinnati, Duke, Louisville, Kentucky and Purdue during the summer and said all five schools are showing interest.
“It’s definitely not like the four-star and five-star guys who are getting offers from every school when they’re sophomores,” McLaughlin said. “The kickers always come last, and that’s very difficult mentally and pressure-wise. It’s very black and white. You either make it, or you don’t. A stat book can tell you how good a kicker is. You can’t do that with any other position.”
Cobb said kickers who start out as preferred walk-ons have a chance to earn scholarships as sophomores or juniors.
“If he gets there,” Cobb said, “he’ll be able to earn his way.”
Cobb said he feels comfortable asking McLaughlin to kick a 60-yard field goal under optimal conditions. The state record for longest field goal is 60 yards, set by Johnson Central’s Tyler Pack in 2013.
McLaughlin said he wants a chance at the record, though it remains to be seen if he’ll get it Friday against St. X.
“Dream scenario, we blow them out,” he said. “For my purposes, I would love to hit a state record on that field. I’d love to hit numerous field goals. Honestly, just winning. Whatever I have to do to help the team win, that’s what I want to do.”
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