I think yesterday was one of the three biggest moments of the Stoops era and considering he's prompted people to wonder if he might be the best coach in Kentucky history that's saying something. The first major step forward was with Stephen Johnson at quarterback. Figuring out how to win games. Finding a tough identity. The second breakthrough was the 2018 season. He proved you can build a strong, top of the SEC caliber defense at Kentucky. Won 10 games. The third step forward was yesterday.
In my mind, without question, it is the best class Kentucky has ever signed. Better than 2014 on paper and shocked if we don't say so in hindsight. Better than the 2020 class, which I still think will be very good.
What's different about this year is the depth of talent at so many positions.
** It's the best EDGE duo they have ever signed in Keaten Wade and Tyreese Fearbry. Those are two dudes who could play just about anywhere and Brad White is going to love coaching them. I remember when Fearbry and Keon Wylie both visited. It stung when Fearbry picked PSU. They were less concerned with where Wylie was going so they got the guy they wanted there.
** It's the best class of wide receivers Kentucky has brought in for some time and maybe ever.
** The Top-10 ranking may or may not hold into the late period but on the flip side you also have to say the transfer portal is going to help Kentucky even more.
** Yesterday is the day I decided that Mark Stoops can conceivably make the playoff at Kentucky. I'm not saying he will, just saying it's possible. The portal and NIL have been game-changers.
** Safe to say at this point that NIL appears to be a game-changer for Kentucky football. Didn't know if it would be but it has made it a much more attractive destination and I no longer see this program in negative terms. "Northernmost program in a southern state, smallest talent pool in the SEC, lack of success for six decades..." has given way to, "One of the top portal destinations, in the postseason every year, two Citrus Bowls in four years, top-15 head coach pay and the best staff they've had."
I think you have to focus on the week to week results. I get the three-game losing streak was tough after 6-0 and thinking about what's possible. Don't miss the forest for the trees. Look at where the program was eight years ago and look at it today.
** Consider this: Kentucky flipped Alabama native Kobi Albert from Auburn, got Pennsylvania's Tyreese Fearbry even though he had been committed to Penn State, and beat out Michigan for Michigan native Deone Walker.
** I do believe Deone Walker is going to stay on the defensive line. They've got to get longer up there and they want to be dominant in the trenches. They think he can be that rare quick, agile huge body in the scheme who can be a difference-maker.
** Still a need for tackles. I think Cal commit Jackson Brown is going to officially visit in January that first weekend after the dead period lifts. Kind of random that Afari was talking to this Cal commit somewhere else and turns out he just really likes Kentucky a lot and wants to visit. Sounds like a real possibility. Good chance they get at least one of he and Jalen Farmer. No details were given to me on why Farmer did not sign anywhere in the early period but I'm hearing it looks good from the same sources who were right about a lot of other things yesterday.
They have three offensive linemen. Did miss on Richardson (FSU), Bobo (UGA), Morgan (Vandy), and Wagner (ND) but I don't really fault them for that. Kiyaunta and a legacy (Hall) at tackle has the potential to scare some guys off. Richardson grew up an FSU fan, Bobo is a UGA legacy, Morgan has the Vandy-MBA connection and is from Nashville, and Wagner didn't even tell his own brother on staff at UK where he was going. Sort of a unique blend of weird circumstances. They need to keep building depth at tackle and you can definitely see why they would love to add both Brown and Farmer.
The 2023 tackle class isn't great in the areas where UK is going to be recruiting so I think they have also been planning ahead to account for that.
Kiyaunta was VERY important not only because of ranking, perception, etc., but need. They need a guy like that to develop in the program at exactly that position.
** Zah Frazier is ranked the No. 1 JUCO corner and the No. 3 overall JUCO prospect. Feels like a lot of other years we'd be highlighting that a lot more. There's just so much this year.
** What's different about this class I think is the DEPTH of talent they recruited in some spots. Not just one great EDGE but two. A standard excellent Kentucky offensive line class. Deeper at receiver. They hit the needs and hit them pretty hard.
** If I had to guess I'd say long-term Kobi Albert may well end up on offense. They seem to like him that much there. Will possibly start on defense but just feel like he's going to be on offense long-term at this point. Not 100% on that though.
** Top three sleepers in the class for me (will get into it more later) would be OT Nik Hall, WR Jordan Anthony, and TE Josh Kattus. Hall because he's huge (6'7), can bend, and has pedigree. Anthony because he's gotten a little bigger, has that blinding speed, and is trending the right way from the AL/MS game. Kattus because one of the best blocking TEs in the country isn't going to be as flashy as a hybrid but you're pretty much banking a Rigg or Bates and that's a core piece especially in this offense.
** Frank Buffano definitely did great work helping to lock up Albert down the stretch. Mentioned Sumrall and rightfully so, not sure I've seen a coach go out so enthusiastically for a school he won't be coaching at next year. Wouldn't have been in that position without him. Buffano had a bit of a signature moment here.
** Heard Clinkscale took the Walker recruitment pretty seriously. Mentioned along the way that for UK it was more of a staff effort and from Michigan's side it was more Clinkscale. Walker's a great prospect but not sure it went down the best way for their chances. There was an understanding for at least the last couple of weeks that Walker was going to Kentucky. The only question was whether he was telling Michigan something different on the side and with all the little anecdotes about him staying open to them, taking visits, etc., you had to wonder. But I just kept hearing the confidence and the more I heard it and the longer I heard it the more I erred on that side.
** Will probably let @Dave Lackford speak to the Goodwin stuff if or when he wants.
** With Albert signing with Kentucky you have to think the Cats have a good chance with Adrian Griffin, his 2023 DL teammate from Fairfield, Ala., although with Sumrall leaving that is something that another coach will need to take over.
Credit where due. Primary recruits:
Quentel Jones - Sumrall
Kobi Albert - Sumrall / Buffano to close
Barion Brown - Coen / Wolford / Woodward
Josh Kattus - Marrow
Grant Bingham - Marrow
Kiyaunta Goodwin - Marrow
Nikolas Hall - Wolford / Marrow
Keaten Wade - Clink / Marrow later
Destin Wade - Clink / Marrow later
Jackson Smith - Matsakis?
Brandon White - Marrow
Dane Key - Marrow
Deone Walker - Wolford
Tomiwa Durojaiye - White
Tyreese Fearbry - White
Andre Stewart - Stewart
Alex Afari - Marrow
Elijah Reed - Marrow
Zah Frazier - Collins
Jordan Anthony - Sumrall
Tayvion Robinson - Coen
Have a couple of appointments until mid/late afternoon. Jeff will have you guys covered for Stoops and Marrow today. We'll dig into more later.
In my mind, without question, it is the best class Kentucky has ever signed. Better than 2014 on paper and shocked if we don't say so in hindsight. Better than the 2020 class, which I still think will be very good.
What's different about this year is the depth of talent at so many positions.
** It's the best EDGE duo they have ever signed in Keaten Wade and Tyreese Fearbry. Those are two dudes who could play just about anywhere and Brad White is going to love coaching them. I remember when Fearbry and Keon Wylie both visited. It stung when Fearbry picked PSU. They were less concerned with where Wylie was going so they got the guy they wanted there.
** It's the best class of wide receivers Kentucky has brought in for some time and maybe ever.
** The Top-10 ranking may or may not hold into the late period but on the flip side you also have to say the transfer portal is going to help Kentucky even more.
** Yesterday is the day I decided that Mark Stoops can conceivably make the playoff at Kentucky. I'm not saying he will, just saying it's possible. The portal and NIL have been game-changers.
** Safe to say at this point that NIL appears to be a game-changer for Kentucky football. Didn't know if it would be but it has made it a much more attractive destination and I no longer see this program in negative terms. "Northernmost program in a southern state, smallest talent pool in the SEC, lack of success for six decades..." has given way to, "One of the top portal destinations, in the postseason every year, two Citrus Bowls in four years, top-15 head coach pay and the best staff they've had."
I think you have to focus on the week to week results. I get the three-game losing streak was tough after 6-0 and thinking about what's possible. Don't miss the forest for the trees. Look at where the program was eight years ago and look at it today.
** Consider this: Kentucky flipped Alabama native Kobi Albert from Auburn, got Pennsylvania's Tyreese Fearbry even though he had been committed to Penn State, and beat out Michigan for Michigan native Deone Walker.
** I do believe Deone Walker is going to stay on the defensive line. They've got to get longer up there and they want to be dominant in the trenches. They think he can be that rare quick, agile huge body in the scheme who can be a difference-maker.
** Still a need for tackles. I think Cal commit Jackson Brown is going to officially visit in January that first weekend after the dead period lifts. Kind of random that Afari was talking to this Cal commit somewhere else and turns out he just really likes Kentucky a lot and wants to visit. Sounds like a real possibility. Good chance they get at least one of he and Jalen Farmer. No details were given to me on why Farmer did not sign anywhere in the early period but I'm hearing it looks good from the same sources who were right about a lot of other things yesterday.
They have three offensive linemen. Did miss on Richardson (FSU), Bobo (UGA), Morgan (Vandy), and Wagner (ND) but I don't really fault them for that. Kiyaunta and a legacy (Hall) at tackle has the potential to scare some guys off. Richardson grew up an FSU fan, Bobo is a UGA legacy, Morgan has the Vandy-MBA connection and is from Nashville, and Wagner didn't even tell his own brother on staff at UK where he was going. Sort of a unique blend of weird circumstances. They need to keep building depth at tackle and you can definitely see why they would love to add both Brown and Farmer.
The 2023 tackle class isn't great in the areas where UK is going to be recruiting so I think they have also been planning ahead to account for that.
Kiyaunta was VERY important not only because of ranking, perception, etc., but need. They need a guy like that to develop in the program at exactly that position.
** Zah Frazier is ranked the No. 1 JUCO corner and the No. 3 overall JUCO prospect. Feels like a lot of other years we'd be highlighting that a lot more. There's just so much this year.
** What's different about this class I think is the DEPTH of talent they recruited in some spots. Not just one great EDGE but two. A standard excellent Kentucky offensive line class. Deeper at receiver. They hit the needs and hit them pretty hard.
** If I had to guess I'd say long-term Kobi Albert may well end up on offense. They seem to like him that much there. Will possibly start on defense but just feel like he's going to be on offense long-term at this point. Not 100% on that though.
** Top three sleepers in the class for me (will get into it more later) would be OT Nik Hall, WR Jordan Anthony, and TE Josh Kattus. Hall because he's huge (6'7), can bend, and has pedigree. Anthony because he's gotten a little bigger, has that blinding speed, and is trending the right way from the AL/MS game. Kattus because one of the best blocking TEs in the country isn't going to be as flashy as a hybrid but you're pretty much banking a Rigg or Bates and that's a core piece especially in this offense.
** Frank Buffano definitely did great work helping to lock up Albert down the stretch. Mentioned Sumrall and rightfully so, not sure I've seen a coach go out so enthusiastically for a school he won't be coaching at next year. Wouldn't have been in that position without him. Buffano had a bit of a signature moment here.
** Heard Clinkscale took the Walker recruitment pretty seriously. Mentioned along the way that for UK it was more of a staff effort and from Michigan's side it was more Clinkscale. Walker's a great prospect but not sure it went down the best way for their chances. There was an understanding for at least the last couple of weeks that Walker was going to Kentucky. The only question was whether he was telling Michigan something different on the side and with all the little anecdotes about him staying open to them, taking visits, etc., you had to wonder. But I just kept hearing the confidence and the more I heard it and the longer I heard it the more I erred on that side.
** Will probably let @Dave Lackford speak to the Goodwin stuff if or when he wants.
** With Albert signing with Kentucky you have to think the Cats have a good chance with Adrian Griffin, his 2023 DL teammate from Fairfield, Ala., although with Sumrall leaving that is something that another coach will need to take over.
Credit where due. Primary recruits:
Quentel Jones - Sumrall
Kobi Albert - Sumrall / Buffano to close
Barion Brown - Coen / Wolford / Woodward
Josh Kattus - Marrow
Grant Bingham - Marrow
Kiyaunta Goodwin - Marrow
Nikolas Hall - Wolford / Marrow
Keaten Wade - Clink / Marrow later
Destin Wade - Clink / Marrow later
Jackson Smith - Matsakis?
Brandon White - Marrow
Dane Key - Marrow
Deone Walker - Wolford
Tomiwa Durojaiye - White
Tyreese Fearbry - White
Andre Stewart - Stewart
Alex Afari - Marrow
Elijah Reed - Marrow
Zah Frazier - Collins
Jordan Anthony - Sumrall
Tayvion Robinson - Coen
Have a couple of appointments until mid/late afternoon. Jeff will have you guys covered for Stoops and Marrow today. We'll dig into more later.
