There's been a lot of talk recently about four-star Rivals250 running back Adarius Lemons liking Kentucky a lot and there's good reason for that. Lemons has had Kentucky in his top three for a long time and recently announced that Kentucky had surpassed the Buckeyes for the lead. He has since tweeted graphics and Kentucky-theme things that give the impression the Cats are in great shape.
I don't doubt Kentucky is in great shape with him.
I do think it's a simplification to just assume it's Lemons or bust, or Lemons and some others as the second or third plan backup options.
For starters, as I mentioned before, Lemons told me that Kentucky had passed Ohio State because of a "lack of communication (with) Ohio State." I'm not saying that rubbed me the wrong way as an outsider who makes a living overanalyzing these things, but the fact that he said that and framed it with the emphasis he did gives the impression (or could) that Lemons' shakeup is more about being annoyed or turned off by Ohio State than by Kentucky doing anything different than they were doing. I should add UK was doing just fine recruiting him, so that's not a criticism.
I do think it's worth throwing that out there because it wouldn't surprise me to see some other big 'name' programs make surges up his list when their interest in Lemons starts rising. Total speculation and maybe unjustified.
I can also add that Lemons is not 'far and away' the running back that Kentucky wants to complement Michael Warren. He would certainly be a take if they can keep him (which is the key), but Bryant Koback's recent explosion in San Antonio puts him near the top of the list there or at safety, and I'm still getting some mixed signals about what position he could play. Some heavy hitters are going to be reaching out to Koback, which was bound to happen after he ran a sub-4.4 second 40-time at 200 pounds in Texas.
And don't forget about Trace Christian, the player that Chad Scott was telling would be his number one running back target to help finish the '17 class at the position.
Number of options there. It's not as simple as it seems. I know a lot of people have expressed that they love Lemons. I think you have to consider that Koback has visited three times already and Lemons hasn't visited yet. Ideally they could get Koback as an athlete, get Lemons or Christian or someone else to visit in the spring/summer, and then wrap them up, too.
I don't doubt Kentucky is in great shape with him.
I do think it's a simplification to just assume it's Lemons or bust, or Lemons and some others as the second or third plan backup options.
For starters, as I mentioned before, Lemons told me that Kentucky had passed Ohio State because of a "lack of communication (with) Ohio State." I'm not saying that rubbed me the wrong way as an outsider who makes a living overanalyzing these things, but the fact that he said that and framed it with the emphasis he did gives the impression (or could) that Lemons' shakeup is more about being annoyed or turned off by Ohio State than by Kentucky doing anything different than they were doing. I should add UK was doing just fine recruiting him, so that's not a criticism.
I do think it's worth throwing that out there because it wouldn't surprise me to see some other big 'name' programs make surges up his list when their interest in Lemons starts rising. Total speculation and maybe unjustified.
I can also add that Lemons is not 'far and away' the running back that Kentucky wants to complement Michael Warren. He would certainly be a take if they can keep him (which is the key), but Bryant Koback's recent explosion in San Antonio puts him near the top of the list there or at safety, and I'm still getting some mixed signals about what position he could play. Some heavy hitters are going to be reaching out to Koback, which was bound to happen after he ran a sub-4.4 second 40-time at 200 pounds in Texas.
And don't forget about Trace Christian, the player that Chad Scott was telling would be his number one running back target to help finish the '17 class at the position.
Number of options there. It's not as simple as it seems. I know a lot of people have expressed that they love Lemons. I think you have to consider that Koback has visited three times already and Lemons hasn't visited yet. Ideally they could get Koback as an athlete, get Lemons or Christian or someone else to visit in the spring/summer, and then wrap them up, too.
