WR Hasise Dubois - Four-stars, Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic
Andy Buh has done extensive research and recruiting work in New Jersey already. Usually in your first year, breaking ground in a new recruiting territory not just for a coach but for an entire program, it takes a little while to get a great reception. Some kids in the Garden State have been lukewarm, but Dubois warmed to Kentucky quickly. He recently said that Kentucky, Rutgers, Pitt, and Syracuse are standing out. Of those schools Kentucky probably has the most attractive offensive system. Dubois lists an offer from Ohio State but as always the Buckeyes are in on other major talents so what meets the eye isn't always reality. It would likely be a 'game time decision' for Urban Meyer if Dubois tried to commit. Rutgers on their home turf is usually tough to deal with but the Knights are more beatable there than are most Big Ten schools in their home states. Dubois has not yet visited Kentucky but I imagine he will as he's going to take his sweet time with this process.
WR Jacob Robertson - Three-stars, College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy
Kentucky has made a strong impression early since offering just in the past week or two. We reported on him in a March 30 story. In the interview for that story Robertson told Cats Illustrated that he will visit UK, Tennessee and Louisville in the weeks ahead. Robertson seems focused mostly on SEC schools (throw in Vanderbilt and a couple of others), and of the league's members UK would be among those with greater interest. That's even with three receivers on board.
WR Tyler Simmons - NR, Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern
Recently it was revealed that one issue for Simmons is eligibility, not necessarily because of grades or his performance but more because he transferred. He visited Kentucky in the past several weeks and really enjoyed himself. Since then he's picked up offers from Wake Forest and Syracuse, so his profile is expanding, and Kentucky is one of the schools he's serious about.
WR Ruben Flowers - Three-stars, Lima (Ohio)
Apparently Kentucky and a lot of other schools were very impressed with Flowers early in the recruiting process, but as I've mentioned here before his junior year film did not show the kind of improvement you would expect or hope for in a top tier prospect. Because of that he's dropped down Kentucky's board although he's not totally out of sight or out of mind. They will be paying close attention this summer if he camps or this fall potentially.
WR Tino Ellis - Four-stars, Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha
By ranking and by talent he'd be at the top of the board. But he's also got more schools vying for him than probably anyone else on this list. Ellis has said he will visit Kentucky this summer.
WR Eric Kumah - Three-stars, Woodbridge (Va.) Forest Park
He was planning to visit Kentucky at the beginning of last month but today Kumah told me he has not visited yet. I do know that Virginia Tech is the presumed favorite and they have a heavy presence in that part of their home state. So I'd say he's probably a long shot. He did visit Tennessee recently.
WR Eddie McDoom - Three-stars, Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange
Kentucky got on this kid very early and hoped to become a player but it has become apparent that he's the kind of recruit that seems to want to play for the biggest name program possible. He'll play somewhere but it'll be surprising if it's Kentucky.
WR Dontay Mayfield - Three-stars, Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep
Powered by Tommy Mainord's new responsibilities in south Florida the Wildcats' efforts are increasing in the bottom portion of the Sunshine State. Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, UCF and West Virginia are the schools standing out to Mayfield. West Virginia has a history of recruiting well in Florida, particularly skill players. Duke also gets a good reception there and it's an in-state kid for the Knights, obviously. Part of me wonders whether Shannon Dawson's history in Morgantown has anything to do with UK's new emphasis on this area.
WR Keion Wakefield - Three-stars, Louisville (Ky.) Male
Wakefield may be in the same boat as Quinton Baker in that he had an offer from Kentucky early and could have jumped on it, but has taken his time only to see Kentucky start to fill up. He visited Tennessee early last month and is looking for more offers. Here's the case of a kid whose stock was expected to explode, much like Elijah Sindelar's, and it just has no happened. He could still be a fit because he's a slot and UK needs that more than size, but I haven't sensed urgency on UK's end lately.
Andy Buh has done extensive research and recruiting work in New Jersey already. Usually in your first year, breaking ground in a new recruiting territory not just for a coach but for an entire program, it takes a little while to get a great reception. Some kids in the Garden State have been lukewarm, but Dubois warmed to Kentucky quickly. He recently said that Kentucky, Rutgers, Pitt, and Syracuse are standing out. Of those schools Kentucky probably has the most attractive offensive system. Dubois lists an offer from Ohio State but as always the Buckeyes are in on other major talents so what meets the eye isn't always reality. It would likely be a 'game time decision' for Urban Meyer if Dubois tried to commit. Rutgers on their home turf is usually tough to deal with but the Knights are more beatable there than are most Big Ten schools in their home states. Dubois has not yet visited Kentucky but I imagine he will as he's going to take his sweet time with this process.
WR Jacob Robertson - Three-stars, College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy
Kentucky has made a strong impression early since offering just in the past week or two. We reported on him in a March 30 story. In the interview for that story Robertson told Cats Illustrated that he will visit UK, Tennessee and Louisville in the weeks ahead. Robertson seems focused mostly on SEC schools (throw in Vanderbilt and a couple of others), and of the league's members UK would be among those with greater interest. That's even with three receivers on board.
WR Tyler Simmons - NR, Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern
Recently it was revealed that one issue for Simmons is eligibility, not necessarily because of grades or his performance but more because he transferred. He visited Kentucky in the past several weeks and really enjoyed himself. Since then he's picked up offers from Wake Forest and Syracuse, so his profile is expanding, and Kentucky is one of the schools he's serious about.
WR Ruben Flowers - Three-stars, Lima (Ohio)
Apparently Kentucky and a lot of other schools were very impressed with Flowers early in the recruiting process, but as I've mentioned here before his junior year film did not show the kind of improvement you would expect or hope for in a top tier prospect. Because of that he's dropped down Kentucky's board although he's not totally out of sight or out of mind. They will be paying close attention this summer if he camps or this fall potentially.
WR Tino Ellis - Four-stars, Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha
By ranking and by talent he'd be at the top of the board. But he's also got more schools vying for him than probably anyone else on this list. Ellis has said he will visit Kentucky this summer.
WR Eric Kumah - Three-stars, Woodbridge (Va.) Forest Park
He was planning to visit Kentucky at the beginning of last month but today Kumah told me he has not visited yet. I do know that Virginia Tech is the presumed favorite and they have a heavy presence in that part of their home state. So I'd say he's probably a long shot. He did visit Tennessee recently.
WR Eddie McDoom - Three-stars, Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange
Kentucky got on this kid very early and hoped to become a player but it has become apparent that he's the kind of recruit that seems to want to play for the biggest name program possible. He'll play somewhere but it'll be surprising if it's Kentucky.
WR Dontay Mayfield - Three-stars, Miami (Fla.) Gulliver Prep
Powered by Tommy Mainord's new responsibilities in south Florida the Wildcats' efforts are increasing in the bottom portion of the Sunshine State. Kentucky, Virginia, Duke, UCF and West Virginia are the schools standing out to Mayfield. West Virginia has a history of recruiting well in Florida, particularly skill players. Duke also gets a good reception there and it's an in-state kid for the Knights, obviously. Part of me wonders whether Shannon Dawson's history in Morgantown has anything to do with UK's new emphasis on this area.
WR Keion Wakefield - Three-stars, Louisville (Ky.) Male
Wakefield may be in the same boat as Quinton Baker in that he had an offer from Kentucky early and could have jumped on it, but has taken his time only to see Kentucky start to fill up. He visited Tennessee early last month and is looking for more offers. Here's the case of a kid whose stock was expected to explode, much like Elijah Sindelar's, and it just has no happened. He could still be a fit because he's a slot and UK needs that more than size, but I haven't sensed urgency on UK's end lately.
