Couple of guys exceeding expectations by the early look test: Kei Beckham, who will play nickel but could play corner in a pinch, and Josh Allen, one of the big sleepers and late unexpected additions from the last class.
Beckham is a better athlete and moves better than I think some people gave him credit for.
Allen, because he was so unheralded, didn't arrive with much fanfare. But I'm hearing he looks the part. He looks a lot bigger or at least more cut and prepared to contribute at Jack or elsewhere than people realized. Remember that. Allen could be a surprise of the class.
On Marcelys Jones, I'm hearing Ohio State is not thrilled that he wants to transfer. It's a touchy situation. Glenville is a very important pipeline for them. Jones' relationship with Ohio State was never stellar. It's not like he hated the coaches but when I told you off the bat that he really liked Kentucky and ultimately picked Ohio State because it was 'the thing' guys in his shoes normally do maybe with a pressure, I wasn't kidding. He has never seemed especially happy, from what I'm hearing.
Now, here's a reality. Ohio State media have Ohio State sources, so from that side you are likely to hear one narrative that doesn't reflect as positively on the kid. I don't know what they would say but typically when a kid is leaving a program you start hearing how he didn't cut it, didn't do this or that, didn't measure up, etc. Take it with a grain of salt. Each situation is different. It takes two to form a bad fit.
There is some talk that Ohio State might drag their feet a bit on the release but I am expecting it to be granted and perhaps very soon. Kentucky's hands are tied. They can't really just call the kid up and tamper. I'm only saying what I suspect would be the case -- that Jones would be very high on Kentucky. That much is obvious.
Now, another huge story line. I'm told that Kentucky has a very real shot with Michigan commit David Reese, a high three-star linebacker from Farmington, Mich., who had been committed to Louisville earlier in the process before flipping to the Wolverines.
I'm told that Reese visited Kentucky yesterday. Michigan is part of Vince Marrow's territory though, as is true with western Pennsylvania outside of Youngstown and Pittsburgh, it's not as significant in terms of overall strategy or quantity. He's got his hands full with traveling Ohio to scout '17 and keep a dozen guys on board.
For those of you wondering about linebacker targets in addition to Kash Daniel, there you go.
Not sure if this has been reported but that '17 sleeper that Kentucky uncovered, Bryant Koback from a lesser-known Springfield H.S. in Ohio, topped his 4.38 that he ran at Kentucky. He ran a 4.33 at Ohio State, supposedly, and I'm told the suspicion is he will blow up. One source told me that like Daniel he attends a school that people just overlooked, plus he was playing way out of position as a 'Jack' linebacker/end hybrid type at only 190'ish pounds.
Also hearing good vibes on '17 running back Michael Warren who visited Kentucky recently. The Paducah native is reportedly very high on the Wildcats. Also has an offer from Iowa and will get a lot bigger in stature ... if he lets this drag out for a while.
One situation I cannot decipher is the nature of Kentucky's interest in four-star Syracuse running back commitment Robert Washington. I believe he or his dad are being followed by a few UK assistants and perceptive people have picked up on that. I've been very familiar with Washington's situation for a while so I will say a lot more on him personally, as a player, if it becomes more serious. But I will tease that I believe Snell and Rose are both better long-term prospects in spite of their lower ranking.
All in all I think Kentucky's top remaining '16 priorities are Kash Daniel, David Reese, Tate Leavitt, several athletes from the South that have or will be camping this summer or taking official visits, and a defensive lineman or two.
Beckham is a better athlete and moves better than I think some people gave him credit for.
Allen, because he was so unheralded, didn't arrive with much fanfare. But I'm hearing he looks the part. He looks a lot bigger or at least more cut and prepared to contribute at Jack or elsewhere than people realized. Remember that. Allen could be a surprise of the class.
On Marcelys Jones, I'm hearing Ohio State is not thrilled that he wants to transfer. It's a touchy situation. Glenville is a very important pipeline for them. Jones' relationship with Ohio State was never stellar. It's not like he hated the coaches but when I told you off the bat that he really liked Kentucky and ultimately picked Ohio State because it was 'the thing' guys in his shoes normally do maybe with a pressure, I wasn't kidding. He has never seemed especially happy, from what I'm hearing.
Now, here's a reality. Ohio State media have Ohio State sources, so from that side you are likely to hear one narrative that doesn't reflect as positively on the kid. I don't know what they would say but typically when a kid is leaving a program you start hearing how he didn't cut it, didn't do this or that, didn't measure up, etc. Take it with a grain of salt. Each situation is different. It takes two to form a bad fit.
There is some talk that Ohio State might drag their feet a bit on the release but I am expecting it to be granted and perhaps very soon. Kentucky's hands are tied. They can't really just call the kid up and tamper. I'm only saying what I suspect would be the case -- that Jones would be very high on Kentucky. That much is obvious.
Now, another huge story line. I'm told that Kentucky has a very real shot with Michigan commit David Reese, a high three-star linebacker from Farmington, Mich., who had been committed to Louisville earlier in the process before flipping to the Wolverines.
I'm told that Reese visited Kentucky yesterday. Michigan is part of Vince Marrow's territory though, as is true with western Pennsylvania outside of Youngstown and Pittsburgh, it's not as significant in terms of overall strategy or quantity. He's got his hands full with traveling Ohio to scout '17 and keep a dozen guys on board.
For those of you wondering about linebacker targets in addition to Kash Daniel, there you go.
Not sure if this has been reported but that '17 sleeper that Kentucky uncovered, Bryant Koback from a lesser-known Springfield H.S. in Ohio, topped his 4.38 that he ran at Kentucky. He ran a 4.33 at Ohio State, supposedly, and I'm told the suspicion is he will blow up. One source told me that like Daniel he attends a school that people just overlooked, plus he was playing way out of position as a 'Jack' linebacker/end hybrid type at only 190'ish pounds.
Also hearing good vibes on '17 running back Michael Warren who visited Kentucky recently. The Paducah native is reportedly very high on the Wildcats. Also has an offer from Iowa and will get a lot bigger in stature ... if he lets this drag out for a while.
One situation I cannot decipher is the nature of Kentucky's interest in four-star Syracuse running back commitment Robert Washington. I believe he or his dad are being followed by a few UK assistants and perceptive people have picked up on that. I've been very familiar with Washington's situation for a while so I will say a lot more on him personally, as a player, if it becomes more serious. But I will tease that I believe Snell and Rose are both better long-term prospects in spite of their lower ranking.
All in all I think Kentucky's top remaining '16 priorities are Kash Daniel, David Reese, Tate Leavitt, several athletes from the South that have or will be camping this summer or taking official visits, and a defensive lineman or two.
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