I will say I was one of the most negative/concerned over NIL, recruiting and how UK (not Stoops necessarily) would do going forward. And while this class is a step back IMO...not nearly the huge steps back I thought at first. if we close with Wilcox and grab a Gilbert....Would be hard to argue we are stepping back at all to be honest.
I'm going to intermingle the portal kids as this is the new way to get talent..not just high school anymore
Were do these kids fit in:
Offense:
-QB1..is the most important. And we hit a homerun IMO. Leary is the best QB in portal and we beat out Florida, Auburn and NC St. Leary, Wade (i'll argue he'll move to backup) and Sheron/Hogan battle it out
F
RB - Ray Davis and WIlcox probably go to top of depth chart day 1. McClain is 3rd down back. I don't knwo where Wright sits...he has competition for sure.
LT - Cox is massive get. Arguably the best LT in portal and we get him
RG - Bowles....I'll argue he'll be a backup to Burton and Horsey at the guard spots. But we needed depth badly
C - Keenum is the guy after Cox graduates net year
RT/LT....I'd argue Austin Ramsey and Malachi Wood are future tackles. We need one of them to hit later as Flax/Cox are gone after this year.
TE - Anderson and LeMaster could be Dingle/Kattus part 2. And I assume Dixon will be groomed as a flex TE...but he'll have to wait his time....UK appears to be loaded with young TE talent.
WR - Anthony Brown is the gem of the HS class IMO. I think he is the slot WR next year if Tayvion doesn't come back. Porter is behind Barion Brown as I have no idea who is backup WR anymore. Ardell Banks and Nassir Addison I'd argue get behind Dane Key....but guys like Crowdus and Jordan Anthony might be in that mix
Defense:
DL - Hardest to see where these kids end up as of today. I'd argue Zeismer is a future DE...but other suggest he might be a Jack or move inside. Tayvion Gadson..is he going to end up at DE or grow into DT? I don't see either playing in 2023 regardless.
LB - I liked hearing Stoops say GOdfrey is going to start outside. I have no clue who is the SAM when Jordan Wright leaves....Godfrey could walk into a spot next year. Javon Bryant looks like a MIKE all the way and battle with THrower behind DeRyck Jackson.
CB - We had major need for kids at CB...and we did a good job of getting what we needed. JQ Hardaway is a starting caliber CB and he'll start from day one IMO. Stoops said Jantzen Dunn will start out at CB...be interesting to see if he can acclimate to CB at UK while never playing for Ohio St. Avery Stuart is a CB to me in Stoops mold of long guys....I think he might hit 2 deep from the start and play alot next year.
Safety - UK has developed a ton of good kids at safety on the roster. Anglin and Bryant I'd argue are safeties all the way. I don't see them playing a ton behind Lovett, Childress, Geiger, Vito sticks here IMO now, maybe Afari sticks here as well, etc..
UK took a small of 17 -18 kids but there average stars was 20th. I can't see a solid portal ranking site but you almsot have to much the 2 together to guage talent coming in. And with 6 guys from portal today...I'd argue 4 easy starting level kids and they may be leaders on offense/defense....YOu could make a case UK has a top 15 class coming in overall. Great job by Stoops/Marrow again to keep plugging away and getting the kids to Lexington.
I'm going to intermingle the portal kids as this is the new way to get talent..not just high school anymore
Were do these kids fit in:
Offense:
-QB1..is the most important. And we hit a homerun IMO. Leary is the best QB in portal and we beat out Florida, Auburn and NC St. Leary, Wade (i'll argue he'll move to backup) and Sheron/Hogan battle it out
F
RB - Ray Davis and WIlcox probably go to top of depth chart day 1. McClain is 3rd down back. I don't knwo where Wright sits...he has competition for sure.
LT - Cox is massive get. Arguably the best LT in portal and we get him
RG - Bowles....I'll argue he'll be a backup to Burton and Horsey at the guard spots. But we needed depth badly
C - Keenum is the guy after Cox graduates net year
RT/LT....I'd argue Austin Ramsey and Malachi Wood are future tackles. We need one of them to hit later as Flax/Cox are gone after this year.
TE - Anderson and LeMaster could be Dingle/Kattus part 2. And I assume Dixon will be groomed as a flex TE...but he'll have to wait his time....UK appears to be loaded with young TE talent.
WR - Anthony Brown is the gem of the HS class IMO. I think he is the slot WR next year if Tayvion doesn't come back. Porter is behind Barion Brown as I have no idea who is backup WR anymore. Ardell Banks and Nassir Addison I'd argue get behind Dane Key....but guys like Crowdus and Jordan Anthony might be in that mix
Defense:
DL - Hardest to see where these kids end up as of today. I'd argue Zeismer is a future DE...but other suggest he might be a Jack or move inside. Tayvion Gadson..is he going to end up at DE or grow into DT? I don't see either playing in 2023 regardless.
LB - I liked hearing Stoops say GOdfrey is going to start outside. I have no clue who is the SAM when Jordan Wright leaves....Godfrey could walk into a spot next year. Javon Bryant looks like a MIKE all the way and battle with THrower behind DeRyck Jackson.
CB - We had major need for kids at CB...and we did a good job of getting what we needed. JQ Hardaway is a starting caliber CB and he'll start from day one IMO. Stoops said Jantzen Dunn will start out at CB...be interesting to see if he can acclimate to CB at UK while never playing for Ohio St. Avery Stuart is a CB to me in Stoops mold of long guys....I think he might hit 2 deep from the start and play alot next year.
Safety - UK has developed a ton of good kids at safety on the roster. Anglin and Bryant I'd argue are safeties all the way. I don't see them playing a ton behind Lovett, Childress, Geiger, Vito sticks here IMO now, maybe Afari sticks here as well, etc..
UK took a small of 17 -18 kids but there average stars was 20th. I can't see a solid portal ranking site but you almsot have to much the 2 together to guage talent coming in. And with 6 guys from portal today...I'd argue 4 easy starting level kids and they may be leaders on offense/defense....YOu could make a case UK has a top 15 class coming in overall. Great job by Stoops/Marrow again to keep plugging away and getting the kids to Lexington.