With only a small number of exceptions due to the NCAA's COVID-19 ruling allowing an extra year for players the 2016 football signing class has wrapped up its eligibility in Lexington.
As Cats Illustrated does periodically once we've had the requisite period of time for some hindsight here's an attempt at re-ranking the 2016 signing class.
T.J. Carter
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Carter had six sacks over his Kentucky career and was a long-time starter or backup. He showed up immediately ready to make a much bigger impact than a lot of people probably expected. The NFL talent was not there, but Carter was a solid college football player.
Naquez Pringle
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
Pringle beat out Matt Elam and some other players for an interior defensive line starting position temporarily and was something of a positive surprise.
Stephen Johnson II
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
In terms of talent and arm ability Johnson's ranking can only go so high. But there are some Snell and Daniel-like on field intangible qualities that require a modest ranking bump. UK was 0-2 when Johnson became UK's starter in 2016. Without his contributions there's no telling where the program would be right now. He had strong leadership qualities and helped the program get to the next level.
Jordan Bonner
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.7)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Bonner transferred from Kentucky without ever making an impact although at times there was chatter that he might have been making strides.
Jamar Watson
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
While Watson didn't have the senior season that many probably hoped for or expected he was very productive as a redshirt junior and even early in his career had some very bright moments, stepping up in a pinch when the team's depth was tested in one area or another.
Tate Leavitt
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.9)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Leavitt was part of the best offensive line class that Kentucky had ever signed on paper but he was never able to work his way onto the field for the 'Cats.
Kash Daniel
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.8)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
While Daniel did not have an opportunity to continue his career at the professional level there's no doubting the significance of his contributions at Kentucky first as a special teams standout and then as a two-year starter at inside linebacker for a couple of the best defenses in Lexington in a long time. He wasn't the best athlete but nobody could question his heart and he made some big plays.
Ja'Quize Cross
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.3)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.3)
This ranking seems pretty accurate. Cross was an under the radar recruit that Kentucky took an evaluation risk on and he's spent a lot of time bouncing around to different schools since then. He left UK for Independence Community College the transferred to Akron. Now he's looking to transfer again.
Grant McKinniss
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.2)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.3)
A grade of 5.2 is as low as it gets on the two-star spectrum. McKinniss eventually carved out some role for himself in the SEC at Missouri following a transfer.
Gunnar Hoak
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Hoak made the very curious decision to transfer from Kentucky to Ohio State where he was never going to have the opportunity to be a starter, but rather a depth piece. He showed some glimpses during spring game action but never won the starting position at Kentucky.
Kordell Looney
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Looney's grade seemed to be pretty accurate in hindsight. He won't be playing in the NFL but was a regular rotation player and backup on improving defensive lines at Kentucky.
Dakota Holtzclaw
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
It never really worked out for Holtzclaw at Kentucky and injuries had a little something to do with that. He was so tall and lanky the hope was he could develop into a bigger receiver but he had some 'tweener qualities that made a fit harder to find.
Jaylin Bannerman
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
Bannerman's raw athletic ability and physical attributes were a real thing. Finding a spot for him to fit on the field and scheme-wise proved to be more of an issue.
Justin Rigg
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Rigg has been a consistent contributor at Kentucky, bridging the gap between the four years of CJ Conrad and some of the younger tight ends currently on the roster. He's not the athlete a hybrid would be but can catch and run fairly well and he's been a solid blocker. He's a nice SEC-level player.
Benny Snell
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 4-stars (5.9)
How do you measure heart? That goes straight to the "heart" of the question on Snell. In terms of talent and talent alone there's probably a ceiling on how high you can go here. But that heart has to be measured somehow. He's making a living for himself in the NFL and is the all-time leading rusher in Kentucky history. Remember, the rankings aren't just about college performance, but NFL potential.
AJ Rose
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Rose's ranking seems fair in hindsight. He leaves Kentucky as one of the top-10 rushers in school history and will try to work his way onto the Minnesota Vikings roster as an undrafted free agent.
Tobias Gilliam
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.7)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
"Cash" Gilliam left Kentucky for the JUCO ranks before resurfacing at Utah State to complete his collegiate eligibility. He had 20 tackles as a senior in 2020, and almost all of those came in a span of only two consecutive weeks.
Kayaune Ross
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
"Big Ross" was a two year contributor for Kentucky. The Lakota West receiver turned JUCO prospect then Wildcat finally started to come into his own in his second season, with 19 receptions for 286 yards. Ross' talent made him intriguing.
Roland Walder
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Walder transferred after a season at Kentucky, sat out in 2017, and has been playing for Bowling Green ever since. He had 22 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and two sacks last year so he's a contributor at the MAC level.
Davonte Robinson
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
The Robinson that we saw last season was not the Robinson that we became accustomed to seeing in 2018 before his major injury which caused him to miss the 2019 season. We'll see if he can recapture something of that earlier form this fall. Before the injury his explosiveness was impressive and he was really coming into his own.
Jordan Griffin
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.8)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
Griffin was a versatile player in the secondary and was a reliable contributor in some very good secondary units at Kentucky. There was some hope he could have been an all-conference player early in his Kentucky career and he was a big recruiting victory but he did not break through to that level where he could contend for a spot in the professional ranks.
Landon Young
2016 Grade: 5-stars (6.1)
CI Re-Rank: 4-stars (6.0)
The slight dip is due only to the fact that Young was at the tail end of the 2016 five-star rankings and was picked later in the draft. His talent is real and so were his contributions at Kentucky, in spite of a major injury at one point.
Drake Jackson
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.8)
CI Re-Rank: 4-stars (5.9)
Jackson could be even higher if the only purpose of the rankings is to grade a player's college ability. His name was not called during the recent NFL Draft but he'll have an opportunity to work his way onto the Lions roster as an undrafted free agent. In terms of real contributions at Kentucky, Jackson was outstanding. He followed Jon Toth better than anyone else could have.
Zy'Aire Hughes
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
While Hughes' Kentucky career didn't go as planned an arrest on assault charges and subsequent transfer had more to do with that than anything broken in his game or skill set. You can take off the field issues into account in the ranking process but sometimes you just never know what's going to happen.
Luke Fortner
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
Fortner is entering his sixth season in Kentucky's program now that he has elected to return for another year thanks to the NCAA's ruling in response to COVID-19. He has been a long-time starter at guard for some of the best lines in program history and is one of the most reliable players on the team.
As Cats Illustrated does periodically once we've had the requisite period of time for some hindsight here's an attempt at re-ranking the 2016 signing class.
T.J. Carter
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Carter had six sacks over his Kentucky career and was a long-time starter or backup. He showed up immediately ready to make a much bigger impact than a lot of people probably expected. The NFL talent was not there, but Carter was a solid college football player.
Naquez Pringle
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
Pringle beat out Matt Elam and some other players for an interior defensive line starting position temporarily and was something of a positive surprise.
Stephen Johnson II
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
In terms of talent and arm ability Johnson's ranking can only go so high. But there are some Snell and Daniel-like on field intangible qualities that require a modest ranking bump. UK was 0-2 when Johnson became UK's starter in 2016. Without his contributions there's no telling where the program would be right now. He had strong leadership qualities and helped the program get to the next level.
Jordan Bonner
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.7)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Bonner transferred from Kentucky without ever making an impact although at times there was chatter that he might have been making strides.
Jamar Watson
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.4)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
While Watson didn't have the senior season that many probably hoped for or expected he was very productive as a redshirt junior and even early in his career had some very bright moments, stepping up in a pinch when the team's depth was tested in one area or another.
Tate Leavitt
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.9)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Leavitt was part of the best offensive line class that Kentucky had ever signed on paper but he was never able to work his way onto the field for the 'Cats.
Kash Daniel
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.8)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
While Daniel did not have an opportunity to continue his career at the professional level there's no doubting the significance of his contributions at Kentucky first as a special teams standout and then as a two-year starter at inside linebacker for a couple of the best defenses in Lexington in a long time. He wasn't the best athlete but nobody could question his heart and he made some big plays.
Ja'Quize Cross
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.3)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.3)
This ranking seems pretty accurate. Cross was an under the radar recruit that Kentucky took an evaluation risk on and he's spent a lot of time bouncing around to different schools since then. He left UK for Independence Community College the transferred to Akron. Now he's looking to transfer again.
Grant McKinniss
2016 Grade: 2-stars (5.2)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.3)
A grade of 5.2 is as low as it gets on the two-star spectrum. McKinniss eventually carved out some role for himself in the SEC at Missouri following a transfer.
Gunnar Hoak
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Hoak made the very curious decision to transfer from Kentucky to Ohio State where he was never going to have the opportunity to be a starter, but rather a depth piece. He showed some glimpses during spring game action but never won the starting position at Kentucky.
Kordell Looney
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Looney's grade seemed to be pretty accurate in hindsight. He won't be playing in the NFL but was a regular rotation player and backup on improving defensive lines at Kentucky.
Dakota Holtzclaw
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
It never really worked out for Holtzclaw at Kentucky and injuries had a little something to do with that. He was so tall and lanky the hope was he could develop into a bigger receiver but he had some 'tweener qualities that made a fit harder to find.
Jaylin Bannerman
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
Bannerman's raw athletic ability and physical attributes were a real thing. Finding a spot for him to fit on the field and scheme-wise proved to be more of an issue.
Justin Rigg
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Rigg has been a consistent contributor at Kentucky, bridging the gap between the four years of CJ Conrad and some of the younger tight ends currently on the roster. He's not the athlete a hybrid would be but can catch and run fairly well and he's been a solid blocker. He's a nice SEC-level player.
Benny Snell
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 4-stars (5.9)
How do you measure heart? That goes straight to the "heart" of the question on Snell. In terms of talent and talent alone there's probably a ceiling on how high you can go here. But that heart has to be measured somehow. He's making a living for himself in the NFL and is the all-time leading rusher in Kentucky history. Remember, the rankings aren't just about college performance, but NFL potential.
AJ Rose
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.6)
Rose's ranking seems fair in hindsight. He leaves Kentucky as one of the top-10 rushers in school history and will try to work his way onto the Minnesota Vikings roster as an undrafted free agent.
Tobias Gilliam
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.7)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
"Cash" Gilliam left Kentucky for the JUCO ranks before resurfacing at Utah State to complete his collegiate eligibility. He had 20 tackles as a senior in 2020, and almost all of those came in a span of only two consecutive weeks.
Kayaune Ross
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
"Big Ross" was a two year contributor for Kentucky. The Lakota West receiver turned JUCO prospect then Wildcat finally started to come into his own in his second season, with 19 receptions for 286 yards. Ross' talent made him intriguing.
Roland Walder
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 2-stars (5.4)
Walder transferred after a season at Kentucky, sat out in 2017, and has been playing for Bowling Green ever since. He had 22 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and two sacks last year so he's a contributor at the MAC level.
Davonte Robinson
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.6)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
The Robinson that we saw last season was not the Robinson that we became accustomed to seeing in 2018 before his major injury which caused him to miss the 2019 season. We'll see if he can recapture something of that earlier form this fall. Before the injury his explosiveness was impressive and he was really coming into his own.
Jordan Griffin
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.8)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
Griffin was a versatile player in the secondary and was a reliable contributor in some very good secondary units at Kentucky. There was some hope he could have been an all-conference player early in his Kentucky career and he was a big recruiting victory but he did not break through to that level where he could contend for a spot in the professional ranks.
Landon Young
2016 Grade: 5-stars (6.1)
CI Re-Rank: 4-stars (6.0)
The slight dip is due only to the fact that Young was at the tail end of the 2016 five-star rankings and was picked later in the draft. His talent is real and so were his contributions at Kentucky, in spite of a major injury at one point.
Drake Jackson
2016 Grade: 4-stars (5.8)
CI Re-Rank: 4-stars (5.9)
Jackson could be even higher if the only purpose of the rankings is to grade a player's college ability. His name was not called during the recent NFL Draft but he'll have an opportunity to work his way onto the Lions roster as an undrafted free agent. In terms of real contributions at Kentucky, Jackson was outstanding. He followed Jon Toth better than anyone else could have.
Zy'Aire Hughes
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.5)
While Hughes' Kentucky career didn't go as planned an arrest on assault charges and subsequent transfer had more to do with that than anything broken in his game or skill set. You can take off the field issues into account in the ranking process but sometimes you just never know what's going to happen.
Luke Fortner
2016 Grade: 3-stars (5.5)
CI Re-Rank: 3-stars (5.7)
Fortner is entering his sixth season in Kentucky's program now that he has elected to return for another year thanks to the NCAA's ruling in response to COVID-19. He has been a long-time starter at guard for some of the best lines in program history and is one of the most reliable players on the team.
