Steve Jones: Wilfong Talks About UK's Hot Start in Ohio

[Smashcat]

Steve Jones þ@SteveJones_CJ 10m10 minutes ago


New: http://cjky.it/1BzZo8f


Wiltfong thinks the early 2016 No. 4 ranking helps build momentum for UK.

“They’re not going to finish No. 4 when you look at their average rating,” Wiltfong said, “but what it does do and what I would emphasize, is people see they are putting together a strong class, No. 4 in the country right now, and kids see a lot of other kids are excited about Kentucky, and it makes them think, ‘Hey, I need to give Kentucky a look. All these guys, my peers are excited about Kentucky, and I need to go to see if it’s the place for me.’ That’s what’s exciting about the Kentucky class right now.”

All seven of UK’s 2016 high school commitments from Ohio are rated three stars and among the top 41 in the state by 247Sports. Ohio State, which has four highly touted in-state commitments and has made offers to none of the UK pledges, is the only other school to have more than one top-50 commitment from Ohio.

One of Wiltfong’s favorites among the early commitments is Rose, a multipositional player from Garfield Heights High School in Cleveland. Rose (6-2, 185) played quarterback for his high school team but expects to be a tall running back in college. He can also play defensive back.
This post was edited on 3/2 6:26 PM by Smashcat

 

[Cats_Tops]

I think that this class will have a higher average when its all said and done. If I'm not mistaken, some other posters have said that most recruits havent been evaluated yet.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Thus far most of my predictions for Stoops has come through. My prediction for the 2016 class is that it will be ranked in the top 15-20. I think the combination of a class leader (Jackson), a uncharacteristically good Kentucky class, and the first winning season will yield positive results.

 

[jauk11]

Originally posted by Cats_Tops:
I think that this class will have a higher average when its all said and done. If I'm not mistaken, some other posters have said that most recruits havent been evaluated yet.

I agree with your post but think we will be shortchanged because the early commitment will cut down a great deal on their offers, what big school wants to be beat out for a recruit by UK, LOL. But forget the ratings, JMO but I think most of our commits should be rated higher and will turn out better than their ranking. I trust our coaches, think they have already proven that they can evaluate talent, witness all the big dogs trying to steal our commits.

It gripes me that Rivals still has two of our commits not evaluated yet, which really hurts us in our ranking, and I agree that the high ranking while it won't last does help recruiting a lot. Being NUMBER ONE for so long in 14 was a great help I think. Not having those points now hurts, not much excuse for it IMO, hope they aren't waiting for them to go to one of their camps. I particularly think the commits from Kentucky should be above a 5.5, good size and speed.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Originally posted by jauk11:

Originally posted by Cats_Tops:
I think that this class will have a higher average when its all said and done. If I'm not mistaken, some other posters have said that most recruits havent been evaluated yet.

I agree with your post but think we will be shortchanged because the early commitment will cut down a great deal on their offers, what big school wants to be beat out for a recruit by UK, LOL. But forget the ratings, JMO but I think most of our commits should be rated higher and will turn out better than their ranking. I trust our coaches, think they have already proven that they can evaluate talent, witness all the big dogs trying to steal our commits.

It gripes me that Rivals still has two of our commits not evaluated yet, which really hurts us in our ranking, and I agree that the high ranking while it won't last does help recruiting a lot. Being NUMBER ONE for so long in 14 was a great help I think. Not having those points now hurts, not much excuse for it IMO, hope they aren't waiting for them to go to one of their camps. I particularly think the commits from Kentucky should be above a 5.5, good size and speed.

Don't get me wrong, because I think Rivals and the other sites miss on their fair share of kids. But many times its not on the sites for a kid having no ranking. Lots of kids don't make it to camps, but they don't get lots of film out there. I am not saying thats the case on your 2 guys who haven't been ranked but it isn't really fair to give a ranking based on highlight tapes sent to colleges as their sole basis for giving a ranking, every kid would be a 5* if that were the case. Rivals will likely give them a star rating the next time they hand them out. I checked one one of the other sites who has them ranked and both are 3* kids.

We have had a few of those with no ranking over the years and Rivals usually gives them a 3* next time they release a new ranking. I know that doesn't help now, but its the way they operate.

 

[jnewc2]

Originally posted by Cats_Tops:
I think that this class will have a higher average when its all said and done. If I'm not mistaken, some other posters have said that most recruits havent been evaluated yet.

The problem is that recruits have a tendency of not rising in star-rankings once they commit to Kentucky. If the guys we had now we're uncommitted, I have no doubt several, if not most, of them would rise in the rankings. But being committed to Kentucky usually means a downward trajectory for your rankings.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by jnewc2:

Originally posted by Cats_Tops:
I think that this class will have a higher average when its all said and done. If I'm not mistaken, some other posters have said that most recruits havent been evaluated yet.

The problem is that recruits have a tendency of not rising in star-rankings once they commit to Kentucky. If the guys we had now we're uncommitted, I have no doubt several, if not most, of them would rise in the rankings. But being committed to Kentucky usually means a downward trajectory for your rankings.

Even if this is true which I seriously doubt. My take is that this has little to no bearing on whether they will be good football players at UK. If what you state is true it just cast even more doubt on the validity of the star rating system.

It is probably true that players get a bump when they commit or sign with the big time teams because of the raters respect of those teams coaching staffs judgment of recruits. IMO if UKs coaching staff gets the reputation of being a good judge of recruits their recruits will also get that type bump.

I have always put much more faith in who is offering kids than in their star rating. That is a rating by professional whose high paying jobs depend on them being able to judge football talent.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Originally posted by jnewc2:


The problem is that recruits have a tendency of not rising in star-rankings once they commit to Kentucky. If the guys we had now we're uncommitted, I have no doubt several, if not most, of them would rise in the rankings. But being committed to Kentucky usually means a downward trajectory for your rankings.

Since the recruiting websites have been around (let's just say the last 10 yrs), UK has recruited and lived off mainly 3* players.....and some 2*'s. If your statement is true, then it would mean that UK actually has had a bunch of 4* and 3* talent over the last decade. Umm, I would like to believe that if this were true that we would've seen a better on-field product.

A more likely explanation is that UK has just been recruiting a lesser product over the yrs. And when guys are evaluated and re-evaluated, the ratings more accurately reflect what UK has been actually bringing in. Now that's a sobering thought......ouch.

Now, look to what Stoops has done. When guys are evaluated/re-evaluated, the ratings don't seem to drop or level off as much as we've seen over the last decade. This staff is getting it done.