Yes, let's try to keep this thread focused on UK's 2022 recruiting class.
Current 2022 recruiting class-
Alex Afari, ATH, West Chester, OH
Jordan Anthony, slotR, Tylertown, MS
Grant Bingham, OL, Paintsville, KY
Tomiwa Durojaiye, DL, Middletown DE
Tyreese Fearbry, LB, Pittsburgh, PA
Kiyaunta Goodwin, OL, Charlestown, IN
Nikolas Hall, OL, Austin, TX
Josh Kattus, TE, Cincinnati, OH
Treyveon Longmire, ATH. Corbin, KY
DeCarlos Nicholson, DB, Perkinston, MS
Jackson Smith, K, Danville, KY
Andre Stewart, DB, Kennesaw, GA
Destin Wade, ATH, Spring Hill, TN
Keaton Wade, LB, Spring Hill, TN
Brandon White, slotR, Cincinnati, OH
All college football coaching staffs focus on developing their teams in August, September, and October, because that is their meal ticket. Typically, there are certain times of year when recruiting heats up. During Mark Stoops' time in Lexington, we have learned to anticipate multiple verbal commitments in May-June and November-December.
We are entering a period of time when we can anticipate multiple important commitments. This evening, Lexington WR Dane Key will commit to UK. Key's UK commitment has been expected for months, and I have commented on him here many times going back to the earliest recruiting news for Stoops' 2022 class. In case anyone doesn't know yet, Dane is Donte Key's son. Donte Key was a pretty good UK football player in his time. Key will need to work on his body and get stronger, but he has a good future in UK's balanced offense.
At least three other major uncommitted prospects have been closely connected with UK lately (Barion Brown, Aamil Wagner, Deone Walker).
Walker's history is interesting. He is from Detroit, and he is huge. In hs, he has played OT and DT. Walker has received at least nine SEC scholarship offers. Originally, Walker's UK recruiter was Steve Clinkscale. When Clinkscale left UK and took a job at MI, many assumed Walker would sign with Jim Harbaugh and play in Ann Arbor. But UK's new OL coach Eric Wolford has done an amazing job recruiting Walker. Recently, Walker said in a published interview that he is currently favoring UK. It is generally believed that Walker would initially be developed at UK as a NT, with the option of moving over to OT if that became a better role for him. I don't believe Walker is a slam dunk for UK yet, but UK obviously has the inside track right now. Walker would be a great addition for our class, and it would be reassuring to see UK continue to snatch top players away from the state of MI even after Clinkscale's departure. Fingers crossed.
Brown is a highly regarded WR from Pearl Cohn hs in Nashville. He is also being recruited by Coach Wolford. He has received at least eleven SEC scholarship offers. At one time earlier this summer, he held a committable scholarship offer from Alabama. I believe that window has closed because Alabama's staff is focused on other receivers now. But Brown is an excellent prospect. Some talking heads are publicly projecting Brown to UK now.
Wagner is the younger brother of former Wildcat Ahmad Wagner. He is a skinny OT prospect from Dayton. Earlier in the year, there was some commentary that Wagner had enough speed and athleticism to be developed as a TE in college. Since then, he has added some weight and is now starting to look more like a legitimate OT prospect. At one time or another, Wagner has held at least four SEC offers and ten B10 offers. Wagner will need some physical development but has a very high upside. His recruitment has been quiet lately, but OH St insider Bill Kurelic has booked a crystal ball prediction for UK.
Here are some other uncommitted 2022 prospects who are known to have been actively recruited at one time or another by UK's coaching staff-
Quinton Conley, WR, Kansas City, MO
Joshua Josephs, LB, Kennesaw, GA
Grayson Morgan, OL, Nashville, TN
Jawaun Northington, RB, Louisville, KY
Elijah Reed, DB, Louisville, KY
Andrew Saaviinaea, DL, Graham, WA
Elijah Zollicoffer, OL, Covington, GA
