There have been several questions about underclassmen to watch in the Commonwealth beyond well-known names like Jedrick Wills and 2018 athlete Jairus Brents.
Kentucky has not offered any '17's other than Wills, at least to public knowledge, but I've been doing some research, talking to a few contacts, and watching some film. Not a lot of Commonwealth players have really blown the doors off at camp performances and I do have some knowledge of the testing data at some of the combines these guys have attended.
I have a lengthy piece coming detailing the top 2017's in Kentucky to watch, especially as relates to UK, but here I'll throw out a couple of under the radar names to watch.
Rayquan Horton had some pretty eye-popping numbers (120 tackles, 17 sacks, 43 TFL's) as a defensive tackle for Belfry last year, and his attributes (size, speed, overall build) are enough to keep him in the conversation as a potential guy for UK. He and Sean Cleasant of DuPont Manual may be the state's two best defensive linemen (more on Cleasant in the upcoming piece).
Desmond Ridder has been in the conversation for the quarterback position at St.Xavier and I don't know where that stands right now but there are things about Ridder that make him the kind of player that you at least keep an eye on from a long way out. He's 6-foot-3, almost 180 pounds and has run a 4.63 40. Looking to succeed recent UK enrollee Noah Hoak after very little spot duty last year.
Two more players that have caught my eye:
Tyrion Fox, a 6-foot-2, 213-pound linebacker/running back from Mason County, who missed the last half of last season with an injury but should produce at a very high level with the potential to earn offers.
Also, Dontell Brown of Dunbar is very raw but the 6-foot-5, 185-pound former basketball player is one of the best athletes in the state and I wouldn't be surprised if he really finds himself on the football field this year or next.
Kentucky has not offered any '17's other than Wills, at least to public knowledge, but I've been doing some research, talking to a few contacts, and watching some film. Not a lot of Commonwealth players have really blown the doors off at camp performances and I do have some knowledge of the testing data at some of the combines these guys have attended.
I have a lengthy piece coming detailing the top 2017's in Kentucky to watch, especially as relates to UK, but here I'll throw out a couple of under the radar names to watch.
Rayquan Horton had some pretty eye-popping numbers (120 tackles, 17 sacks, 43 TFL's) as a defensive tackle for Belfry last year, and his attributes (size, speed, overall build) are enough to keep him in the conversation as a potential guy for UK. He and Sean Cleasant of DuPont Manual may be the state's two best defensive linemen (more on Cleasant in the upcoming piece).
Desmond Ridder has been in the conversation for the quarterback position at St.Xavier and I don't know where that stands right now but there are things about Ridder that make him the kind of player that you at least keep an eye on from a long way out. He's 6-foot-3, almost 180 pounds and has run a 4.63 40. Looking to succeed recent UK enrollee Noah Hoak after very little spot duty last year.
Two more players that have caught my eye:
Tyrion Fox, a 6-foot-2, 213-pound linebacker/running back from Mason County, who missed the last half of last season with an injury but should produce at a very high level with the potential to earn offers.
Also, Dontell Brown of Dunbar is very raw but the 6-foot-5, 185-pound former basketball player is one of the best athletes in the state and I wouldn't be surprised if he really finds himself on the football field this year or next.
