Recruiting profile: Chad Scott
Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst
Right from the start Chad Scott has been an important part of Kentucky's recruiting success.
He's a big part of the Wildcats' recruiting strategy in Florida, where he blankets the central Florida area of Tampa, St. Petersburg and elsewhere, which is one of the talent-packed areas on the map that you will find Kentucky's coaches targeting.
Scott has also recruited in the JUCO ranks and he's helped out with other recruits, particularly those at the running back position.
Chet White/UK Athletics
Chad Scott is a key recruiter in the state of Florida.
Mark Stoops' recruiting success actually did not start with the Class of 2014. It began in the previous cycle, in the two-month window the staff had to put together basically half of an SEC recruiting class. That year Scott was essential in helping to put the class together. But he didn't stop there.
By the numbers
Scott is credited with securing four commitments and subsequent signatures from Class of 2013 recruits in that December through February feverish finish.
While he has not been the lead recruiter for any of Kentucky's recruits from the Class of 2016, a class that has not signed yet, he led the charge with three Class of 2014 players and two more from the Class of 2015, as the staff worked to keep as much of that group in tact as they possibly could.
Who he's recruited
Class of 2013: Wide receivers Javess Blue, Jeff Badet and Alex Montgomery, and running back Jojo Kemp.
Class of 2014: Wide receiver Garrett Johnson, linebackers Nico Firios and Ryan Flannigan.
Class of 2015: Defensive backs Derrick Baity and Marcus Walker.
What might have been
The Wildcats' running backs coach often led the charge with five-star back Damien Harris, even building a strong relationship with his family. But it wasn't to be in what turned out to be UK's most high profile miss.
Scott spearheaded Kentucky's efforts with four-star receiver Ryan Davis out of the last class, and while Kentucky was never a front runner they were always in the mix. He ultimately signed with Auburn.
Mark Zerof/USA Today Sports
Ryan Flannigan (33) is expected to take a step forward this season at linebacker.
He had also recruited center Luke Hiers, who was committed at one point, but UK parted ways with the interior lineman.
From the Class of 2014 one of his top targets to sign elsewhere was four-star athlete T.J. Harrell, who could play multiple positions. He ultimately signed with Michigan State. In the same cycle there was some optimism with four-star offensive lineman Montel McBride, but once Alabama offered that moved south for the Cats. Also from the '14 class, Scott had secured a commitment from JUCO defensive back Shyquawn Pullium, a teammate of Flannigan's, but UK parted ways there, too. Scott made a solid push for offensive lineman Ray Raulerson, too.
Going all the way back to the 2013 class Scott was one of the coaches most involved with four-star receiver Ra'Shaad Samples.
Impact so far
When Kentucky's current staff arrived wide receivers were like endangered species and that was a crisis given the plans Neal Brown had for the offense. Kentucky relied heavily on Scott's recruiting to replenish the ranks on the outside.
Unfortunately, Badet and Montgomery have had injury issues. They could still factor into the mix moving forward. Johnson, on the other hand, showed flashes last year, notably with a huge performance in the Swamp against Florida, in a game that had a lot of personal meaning for him.
In Flannigan the Cats' running backs coach secured a starting linebacker, although that demonstrates the trouble with JUCOs -- he's already gone.
The Scott-recruited player with the biggest impact thus far has been Kemp, the hero of the Cats' win over South Carolina and a player that Scott coaches on a daily basis in the backfield.
Nico Firios is a linebacker that could be called upon to contribute this year.
Justin Rowland
CatsIllustrated.com Football Recruiting Analyst
Right from the start Chad Scott has been an important part of Kentucky's recruiting success.
He's a big part of the Wildcats' recruiting strategy in Florida, where he blankets the central Florida area of Tampa, St. Petersburg and elsewhere, which is one of the talent-packed areas on the map that you will find Kentucky's coaches targeting.
Scott has also recruited in the JUCO ranks and he's helped out with other recruits, particularly those at the running back position.
Chet White/UK Athletics
Chad Scott is a key recruiter in the state of Florida.
Mark Stoops' recruiting success actually did not start with the Class of 2014. It began in the previous cycle, in the two-month window the staff had to put together basically half of an SEC recruiting class. That year Scott was essential in helping to put the class together. But he didn't stop there.
By the numbers
Scott is credited with securing four commitments and subsequent signatures from Class of 2013 recruits in that December through February feverish finish.
While he has not been the lead recruiter for any of Kentucky's recruits from the Class of 2016, a class that has not signed yet, he led the charge with three Class of 2014 players and two more from the Class of 2015, as the staff worked to keep as much of that group in tact as they possibly could.
Who he's recruited
Class of 2013: Wide receivers Javess Blue, Jeff Badet and Alex Montgomery, and running back Jojo Kemp.
Class of 2014: Wide receiver Garrett Johnson, linebackers Nico Firios and Ryan Flannigan.
Class of 2015: Defensive backs Derrick Baity and Marcus Walker.
What might have been
The Wildcats' running backs coach often led the charge with five-star back Damien Harris, even building a strong relationship with his family. But it wasn't to be in what turned out to be UK's most high profile miss.
Scott spearheaded Kentucky's efforts with four-star receiver Ryan Davis out of the last class, and while Kentucky was never a front runner they were always in the mix. He ultimately signed with Auburn.
Mark Zerof/USA Today Sports
Ryan Flannigan (33) is expected to take a step forward this season at linebacker.
He had also recruited center Luke Hiers, who was committed at one point, but UK parted ways with the interior lineman.
From the Class of 2014 one of his top targets to sign elsewhere was four-star athlete T.J. Harrell, who could play multiple positions. He ultimately signed with Michigan State. In the same cycle there was some optimism with four-star offensive lineman Montel McBride, but once Alabama offered that moved south for the Cats. Also from the '14 class, Scott had secured a commitment from JUCO defensive back Shyquawn Pullium, a teammate of Flannigan's, but UK parted ways there, too. Scott made a solid push for offensive lineman Ray Raulerson, too.
Going all the way back to the 2013 class Scott was one of the coaches most involved with four-star receiver Ra'Shaad Samples.
Impact so far
When Kentucky's current staff arrived wide receivers were like endangered species and that was a crisis given the plans Neal Brown had for the offense. Kentucky relied heavily on Scott's recruiting to replenish the ranks on the outside.
Unfortunately, Badet and Montgomery have had injury issues. They could still factor into the mix moving forward. Johnson, on the other hand, showed flashes last year, notably with a huge performance in the Swamp against Florida, in a game that had a lot of personal meaning for him.
In Flannigan the Cats' running backs coach secured a starting linebacker, although that demonstrates the trouble with JUCOs -- he's already gone.
The Scott-recruited player with the biggest impact thus far has been Kemp, the hero of the Cats' win over South Carolina and a player that Scott coaches on a daily basis in the backfield.
Nico Firios is a linebacker that could be called upon to contribute this year.
