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State of 2023 Recruiting

Everyone wanted Kiyaunta Goodwin. At one time, he was receiving crystal ball predictions for Ohio State. Once it became apparent that Goodwin wasn't going to Ohio State, they turned their attention to other players. But he had an offer from Ohio State, and they prioritized him while he was talking with them.

Rivals and other outlets reported that Ohio State offered and prioritized Drake Jackson, Justin Rogers, and Jager Burton for a time until they tilted toward us.
I was going to elevenwarriors which is an Ohio state board practically everyday during the Goodwin recruitment. They wanted him bad and the fans were so confident/cocky that they were gonna get him. It was hilarious when he spurned them but to their credit, some of osu fans were level headed and started trashing their oline coach while complimenting ours.
 
A lot seem to think he's headed to Rutgers. He is from NJ.

Edit: Just checked. He doesn't have an offer from Rutgers.
 
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Said to be UK, FSU or Mich St and those schools are wanting him as a CB.
Another case of a guys offers being way better than his rating. Haven’t watched his tape, but based on those I’d bet this kid is better than the sites give him credit for. Hope we can get him. MSU has been recruiting their asses off recently.
 
Thoughts on Jakob? @Rock_Cat78

I honestly don't think he should take up a scholarship spot, but that's just me
 
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Thoughts on Jakob? @Rock_Cat78

I honestly don't think he should take up a scholarship spot, but that's just me.
I'm really excited about this one. I watched him up close at one of UK's camps last month and his size jumps out big time. The coaches saw him that same night of course and brought him back for a second look three days later where they offered. This kid is 6'5/200 and ran a 4.53 laser at UK. His best football is ahead of him. Huge potential.
 
I'm really excited about this one. I watched him up close at one of UK's camps last month and his size jumps out big time. The coaches saw him that same night of course and brought him back for a second look three days later where they offered. This kid is 6'5/200 and ran a 4.53 laser at UK. His best football is ahead of him. Huge potential.
I trust you

2023 or 2024?
 
I'm really excited about this one. I watched him up close at one of UK's camps last month and his size jumps out big time. The coaches saw him that same night of course and brought him back for a second look three days later where they offered. This kid is 6'5/200 and ran a 4.53 laser at UK. His best football is ahead of him. Huge potential.
Family are HUGE Card fans so if they offer I’d say he goes there and they can claim a recruiting win in the city
 
I thought I said Ohio kids, well the rest of the post was about Ohio kids. Drake wanted to go to OSU, but wasn't offered till last minute and almost flipped. I got that info from the coach that he went to torn about his decision Again none of these are Ohio kids. Also the other poster said they don't offer kids so the don't miss on any. They offered everyone you mentioned
Drake liked OH ST better than us?
 
We can't ever ignore that this staff has coached up players over their time here so that many leave better than they projected. Some fizzle, but a lot get better than their ranking. The ones that many see as fizzles in terms of the pros, were ranked high as college prospects, but other aspects kept them from being pro prospects (height, reach, etc).
 
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I just watched his film as well. He has a knack for the ball.

He's going to have to spend at least 2 years in the weight room. JRow described him as a H-Back, but I think he'll ultimately end up as a TE.

2023 TE's
Izayah Cummings
Jordan Dingle
Josh Kattus
Tanner LeMaster
Jakob Dixon
 
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"It wasn't committable" they like to say.

It's hard to pull a kid out of Ohio that they offer early enough. The Buckeyes are the pro team in that state, NFL teams be damned.

They grow up wanting to be a Buckeye. I don't know of another team/state that has this dynamic to this degree.
LSU has Louisiana locked down pretty tight. Only a program like Bama has any real chance of pulling a kid out of Louisiana if LSU really wants him.
 
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A valuable skill.

This sounds like a Stoops’ “Money Ball,” move: find a freakish sized player with length to affect the game.

Back in Brook’s era we had a 6’ 6” dude that blocked a bunch one season, and then left college ball.

I can’t remember his name!

Lonnie Dewalt, maybe?
Lonnell DeWalt. Total freak but apparently couldn't stay eligible.
 
A valuable skill.

This sounds like a Stoops’ “Money Ball,” move: find a freakish sized player with length to affect the game.

Back in Brook’s era we had a 6’ 6” dude that blocked a bunch one season, and then left college ball.

I can’t remember his name!

Lonnie Dewalt, maybe?
DeWalt was from BG area if my memory is correct. He also had a few key receptions.
 
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Love getting some under the radar guys but man where are the top 250 kids? Got 2 of them right now. Not going to cut it
I wonder if it has to do with the fact that we offer almost zero early playing time. Outside of Wallace who has really played much their 1st years and injuries helped him there. We have older players that are set almost every position and even our top 100 recruits, Rogers, Wallace, Burton, etc aren't strating till year 3. Of course Valentine was like #900 and came in playing and started as a Soph, but isn't happening much
 
UK's current 2023 recruiting class-

Ty Bryant, DB, Lexington, KY
Koby Keenum, OL, Florence, AL
Khalife Keith, RB, Birmingham, AL
Tanner Lemaster, TE, Washington CH, OH
Kaden Moorman, RB, Frankfort, KY
Shamar Porter, WR, Nashville, TN
Austin Ramsey, OL, Philadelphia, PA
Avery Stuart, DB, Montgomery, AL
Malachi Wood, OL, Richmond, KY
Tommy Ziesmer, LB, Danville, KY

It is likely that Jakob Dixon will commit to UK later today. Dixon is a tall WR out of PRP hs in southwest Jefferson County, same school that produced Elijah Reed last year. Dixon participated in two recent camps in Lexington and received his offer from our coaches after running 4.5 there. Conventional wisdom says he runs solid routes and has dependable hands. For those worried about his player ranking, our coaching staff's evaluation has been proven more reliable (Josh Allen, Benny Snell, Bunchy Stallings, Chris Rodriguez, Eli Cox). Conventional wisdom is that Dixon is being recruited as an H back/flex receiver. His eventual role depends on how his physique develops in UK's gym.

Here is a partial list of some other uncommitted 2023 players who might be considering UK seriously.

Nasir Addison, WR, Irvington, NJ
Jaremiah Anglin, DB, Lake Wales, FL
Neeo Avery, LB, Olney, MD
Naquil Betrand, OL, Philadelphia, PA
Anthony Brown, slotR, Springfield, OH
Stanquan Clark, LB, Miami, FL
Jeremiah Collins, DB, Louisville, KY
Kendrick Gilbert, DE, Indianapolis, IN
Grant Godfrey, LB, Suwanee, GA
Dylan Gooden, LB, Olney, MD
Devin Hyatt, WR, Bradenton, FL
Ja'Keem Jackson, DB, Kissimmee, FL
Conner Knight, OL, Trussville, AL
Che Ojarikre, ATH, Alpharetta, GA
Curley Reed, DB, Lake Charles, LA
Arvell Reese, LB, Cleveland, OH
William Spencer, OL, Louisville, KY

I am not suggesting all of these offers are committable. I do not expect Betrand, Gilbert, Gooden, Jackson, Knight, Reed, or Reese to end up at UK. In particular, I do not believe the delay in Gilbert's announcement is good news for us. But they are all uncommitted, and UK still has a chance.

I am cautiously optimistic with Jaremiah Anglin, Neeo Avery, Anthony Brown, Jeremiah Collins, Grant Godfrey, Devin Hyatt, and William Spencer. We won't sign all of them, but we will get some of them. With Spencer, it could just be a matter of him improving his grades this fall. Maybe that helps to explain a reason why he is transferring to a hs in southern IN.

More importantly, the recent storm of manufactured indignation from some fans over our 2023 recruiting class is, to be kind about it, premature. The signing date is in December, five months away. It is in the nature of college athletics that rules change over time. Let's be perfectly clear. There is no evidence whatsoever that any of us understands the NIL rule better than UK's athletics department does. In fact, particulars of the NIL rule are stated inaccurately in posts on this website fairly often. There is no evidence that our AD is tying the hands of our coaching staff. In fact, Vince Marrow recently tweeted exactly the opposite, while praising Barnhart as an asset. If Marrow did not believe this, he didn't have to say anything. There is no evidence that Stoops is unhappy with Barnhart. In fact, Stoops has repeatedly stated that the UK head coaching job is a great situation for him. He is prospering in Lexington. He has had opportunities to leave, and many fans continue to predict he will. But Stoops is still here. And there is no evidence that our athletic department's oversight is hurting our football program. In fact, UK has won four straight bowl games and recently signed our best class ever. Avery Stuart's commitment last week proves that Stoops is still attracting top talent.

Despite losing Steve Clinkscale, Jon Sumrall, and Liam Coen, Stoops and his staff have actually expanded their recruiting territory back into FL, TX and most of the eastern seaboard. They are competing with the cream of the SEC for elite players. That takes time. Yesterday's commitment from Koby Keenum proves that Zach Yenser is already getting the knack for SEC recruiting. Mike Stoops has not yet made a recruiting impact, but that is coming. He just got here.

I anticipate another excellent class.
 
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UK's current 2023 recruiting class-

Ty Bryant, DB, Lexington, KY
Koby Keenum, OL, Florence, AL
Khalife Keith, RB, Birmingham, AL
Tanner Lemaster, TE, Washington CH, OH
Kaden Moorman, RB, Frankfort, KY
Shamar Porter, WR, Nashville, TN
Austin Ramsey, OL, Philadelphia, PA
Avery Stuart, DB, Montgomery, AL
Malachi Wood, OL, Richmond, KY
Tommy Ziesmer, LB, Danville, KY

It is likely that Jakob Dixon will commit to UK later today. Dixon is a tall WR out of PRP hs in southwest Jefferson County, same school that produced Elijah Reed last year. Dixon participated in two recent camps in Lexington and received his offer from our coaches after running 4.5 there. Conventional wisdom says he runs solid routes and has dependable hands. For those worried about his player ranking, our coaching staff's evaluation has been proven more reliable (Josh Allen, Benny Snell, Bunchy Stallings, Chris Rodriguez, Eli Cox). Conventional wisdom is that Dixon is being recruited as an H back/flex receiver. His eventual role depends on how his physique develops in UK's gym.

Here is a partial list of some other uncommitted 2023 players who might be considering UK seriously.

Jaremiah Anglin, DB, Lake Wales, FL
Neeo Avery, LB, Olney, MD
Naquil Betrand, OL, Philadelphia, PA
Anthony Brown, slotR, Springfield, OH
Stanquan Clark, LB, Miami, FL
Jeremiah Collins, DB, Louisville, KY
Kendrick Gilbert, DE, Indianapolis, IN
Grant Godfrey, LB, Suwanee, GA
Dylan Gooden, LB, Olney, MD
Devin Hyatt, WR, Bradenton, FL
Ja'Keem Jackson, DB, Kissimmee, FL
Conner Knight, OL, Trussville, AL
Che Ojarikre, ATH, Alpharetta, GA
Curley Reed, DB, Lake Charles, LA
Arvell Reese, LB, Cleveland, OH
William Spencer, OL, Louisville, KY

I am not suggesting all of these offers are committable. I do not expect Betrand, Gilbert, Gooden, Jackson, Knight, Reed, or Reese to end up at UK. In particular, I do not believe the delay in Gilbert's announcement is good news for us. But they are all uncommitted, and UK still has a chance.

I am cautiously optimistic with Jaremiah Anglin, Neeo Avery, Anthony Brown, Jeremiah Collins, Grant Godfrey, Devin Hyatt, and William Spencer. We won't sign all of them, but we will get some of them. With Spencer, it could just be a matter of him improving his grades this fall. Maybe that helps to explain a reason why he is transferring to a hs in southern IN.

More importantly, the recent storm of manufactured indignation from some fans over our 2023 recruiting class is, to be kind about it, premature. The signing date is in December, five months away. It is in the nature of college athletics that rules change over time. Let's be perfectly clear. There is no evidence whatsoever that any of us understands the NIL rule better than UK's athletics department does. In fact, particulars of the NIL rule are stated inaccurately in posts on this website fairly often. There is no evidence that our AD is tying the hands of our coaching staff. In fact, Vince Marrow recently tweeted exactly the opposite, while praising Barnhart as an asset. If Marrow did not believe this, he didn't have to say anything. There is no evidence that Stoops is unhappy with Barnhart. In fact, Stoops has repeatedly stated that the UK head coaching job is a great situation for him. He is prospering in Lexington. He has had opportunities to leave, and many fans continue to predict he will. But Stoops is still here. And there is no evidence that our athletic department's oversight is hurting our football program. In fact, UK has won four straight bowl games and recently signed our best class ever. Avery Stuart's commitment last week proves that Stoops is still attracting top talent.

Despite losing Steve Clinkscale, Jon Sumrall, and Liam Coen, Stoops and his staff have actually expanded their recruiting territory back into FL, TX and most of the eastern seaboard. They are competing with the cream of the SEC for elite players. That takes time. Yesterday's commitment from Koby Keenum proves that Zach Yenser is already getting the knack for SEC recruiting. Mike Stoops has not yet made a recruiting impact, but that is coming. He just got here.

I anticipate another excellent class.

I am VERY CONCERNED that most of this class so far is leaning heavily towards the back half alphabetically. We really need Dixon to help balance that out. I'll be ok with it, either way, but it is a concern for the ocd folks out there
 
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