Kentucky's coaches are out on the road and visiting high schools and homes. Mark Stoops was on the road before the dead period and during that time his main priority was to visit and check in on the guys who would be enrolling early, since visiting them now obviously wouldn't do much good. So Stoops will now be out on the road checking in on the commitments who have not already enrolled. That's a bigger task since the great majority of the class will be arriving before the fall semester, but that's why they pay him the big bucks.
Kentucky's position coaches will be checking in on their commitments, sometimes themselves and in some cases with Stoops himself. They are also tasked with visiting the most important schools of the most important recruits in their normal territory.
I'll just go point by point with Kentucky's top targets and recap where things stand and what to expect.
Stephen Johnson - The junior college quarterback finished his official visit, will announce his decision tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m., and the choice is going to be Kentucky. He knew when Kentucky offered that it was likely he'd up in Lexington. That he didn't try to squeeze in any more visits, that he chose to visit Kentucky, and most telling of all the fact that Gran and Hinshaw went 'all in' with him makes this a no-brainer and we can also confirm it. I'm told that Johnson really enjoyed himself and has a good attitude about going in with both the expectation of competing to win the job and also arriving knowing that it won't be given to him.
Tylin Oden - The three-star Louisville quarterback commitment has been the subject of a lot of speculation. I've been in contact with him off and on for more than a year and even recently. He told me this morning that a visit to Kentucky has not been set up "yet". He'll let me know if that changes. Previously he had told me that Derrick Ansley had spoken with him and just touched base about how his recruitment was going. I will say that there are definitely other schools in play. He's had an official visit to Iowa State scheduled and both Rutgers and South Carolina are in regular contact with him. Not long ago it was reported that he would officially visit South Carolina as well.
J.J. Holmes - The junior college defensive tackle still plans on visiting Kentucky on Jan. 22. Kentucky has not offered. He did tell me two nights ago that he felt like the coaches were close to offering, but contact has been relatively limited. They want to get him on campus and size him up while everything else that's going on with other players becomes more clear. If Kentucky offers he will almost certainly commit, telling me recently he's 95-percent sure he would do that. He knows Tate Leavitt and Denzil Ware already.
T.J. Carter - Yesterday night we reported that Carter had set a Jan. 22 official visit date as well. This followed Jimmy Brumbaugh's visit. It also follows news that Jaquwan Nelson had picked up an offer from Georgia. Carter does not yet have an offer from Kentucky. His offer list isn't going to wow you but it is telling that Brumbaugh, the man who would be his position coach, has taken a special interest in him.
Jaquwan Nelson - Speaking of Nelson, he's not out of the picture. The Georgia offer does complicate things. They won't just give up on him, however. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound pass rusher is supposed to be officially visiting Purdue this weekend and he recently told me about a Jan. 22 visit to Syracuse. If it were strictly between Kentucky, Purdue and Syracuse and all three had room for him then I think Kentucky would be the obvious choice. He likes D.J. Eliot a lot, he has a good relationship with Derrick Baity and has stayed in contact with him, and he has told me two times now that he feels very much at home in Lexington. When I asked whether he would officially visit Georgia he said, "Yes, I will surely visit them."
TaDarryl Marshall - Right now his two scheduled official visits are to Kentucky (Jan. 22) and Illinois (Jan. 29). I still think Kentucky appears to be in good position. Trying to get something more updated on him but no reason to believe the Leeds, Ala., athlete is anywhere other than where he's been on the Cats.
Deshaunte Jones - The Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain athlete would probably jump at a Kentucky offer but I'm not 100-percent sure on how close he is to getting one. I do think he's a quality three-star level skill position player and because the staff is pretty familiar with him he's likely to remain a possibility until all the spots are full.
Nyquez Pringle - Believe that he is still on the radar as a very possible addition. Not 100-percent sure it is a full go, however. There was a lot of earlier chatter about him but it was always contingent on academic performance. The reason I was reluctant to blow this possibility up is I heard from one person that there was still some reason to wonder about his availability. Cannot confirm if he is all set yet.
D'Anfernee McGriff - The former Florida signee was, last I heard, a "possibility," but it wasn't played up in the way that led me to believe it was likely.
Trysten Hill - This one-time Georgia Tech commitment is not off the radar but not sure he's as high as one or two of the guys listed above.
If you're asking me for the most likely scenario I think it surely involves Johnson, may involve Marshall and Holmes, and increasingly looks like it could involve T.J. Carter as well.
Here are some miscellaneous notes on 2017's:
Jedrick Wills - Still hearing good vibes. Probably going to junior day in February.
Javonte Richardson - Also still hear the Cats are in good shape and still planning to attend junior day.
Bryant Koback - Believe that Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow will be going up to visit his school soon. Full court press.
Adarius Lemons - I believe they would find room for both Koback and Lemons. The hope is to get Lemons up for a visit in the spring or summer.
Thayer Munford - Still lots of mutual interest with Kentucky, good chance here.
Tony Gray - Followed by new coaches, interesting they're not giving up so quickly on the Rivals100 OL.
Obinna Eze - Probably one of UK's top line targets along with some of the above.
J'Marick Woods - Hearing that he's still very receptive to Kentucky and isn't against visiting again.
Jarell White - Likely to attend UK's February junior day.
Caleb Rozar - Definitely still likes Kentucky a lot. Probably the favorite.
Kentucky's position coaches will be checking in on their commitments, sometimes themselves and in some cases with Stoops himself. They are also tasked with visiting the most important schools of the most important recruits in their normal territory.
I'll just go point by point with Kentucky's top targets and recap where things stand and what to expect.
Stephen Johnson - The junior college quarterback finished his official visit, will announce his decision tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m., and the choice is going to be Kentucky. He knew when Kentucky offered that it was likely he'd up in Lexington. That he didn't try to squeeze in any more visits, that he chose to visit Kentucky, and most telling of all the fact that Gran and Hinshaw went 'all in' with him makes this a no-brainer and we can also confirm it. I'm told that Johnson really enjoyed himself and has a good attitude about going in with both the expectation of competing to win the job and also arriving knowing that it won't be given to him.
Tylin Oden - The three-star Louisville quarterback commitment has been the subject of a lot of speculation. I've been in contact with him off and on for more than a year and even recently. He told me this morning that a visit to Kentucky has not been set up "yet". He'll let me know if that changes. Previously he had told me that Derrick Ansley had spoken with him and just touched base about how his recruitment was going. I will say that there are definitely other schools in play. He's had an official visit to Iowa State scheduled and both Rutgers and South Carolina are in regular contact with him. Not long ago it was reported that he would officially visit South Carolina as well.
J.J. Holmes - The junior college defensive tackle still plans on visiting Kentucky on Jan. 22. Kentucky has not offered. He did tell me two nights ago that he felt like the coaches were close to offering, but contact has been relatively limited. They want to get him on campus and size him up while everything else that's going on with other players becomes more clear. If Kentucky offers he will almost certainly commit, telling me recently he's 95-percent sure he would do that. He knows Tate Leavitt and Denzil Ware already.
T.J. Carter - Yesterday night we reported that Carter had set a Jan. 22 official visit date as well. This followed Jimmy Brumbaugh's visit. It also follows news that Jaquwan Nelson had picked up an offer from Georgia. Carter does not yet have an offer from Kentucky. His offer list isn't going to wow you but it is telling that Brumbaugh, the man who would be his position coach, has taken a special interest in him.
Jaquwan Nelson - Speaking of Nelson, he's not out of the picture. The Georgia offer does complicate things. They won't just give up on him, however. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound pass rusher is supposed to be officially visiting Purdue this weekend and he recently told me about a Jan. 22 visit to Syracuse. If it were strictly between Kentucky, Purdue and Syracuse and all three had room for him then I think Kentucky would be the obvious choice. He likes D.J. Eliot a lot, he has a good relationship with Derrick Baity and has stayed in contact with him, and he has told me two times now that he feels very much at home in Lexington. When I asked whether he would officially visit Georgia he said, "Yes, I will surely visit them."
TaDarryl Marshall - Right now his two scheduled official visits are to Kentucky (Jan. 22) and Illinois (Jan. 29). I still think Kentucky appears to be in good position. Trying to get something more updated on him but no reason to believe the Leeds, Ala., athlete is anywhere other than where he's been on the Cats.
Deshaunte Jones - The Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain athlete would probably jump at a Kentucky offer but I'm not 100-percent sure on how close he is to getting one. I do think he's a quality three-star level skill position player and because the staff is pretty familiar with him he's likely to remain a possibility until all the spots are full.
Nyquez Pringle - Believe that he is still on the radar as a very possible addition. Not 100-percent sure it is a full go, however. There was a lot of earlier chatter about him but it was always contingent on academic performance. The reason I was reluctant to blow this possibility up is I heard from one person that there was still some reason to wonder about his availability. Cannot confirm if he is all set yet.
D'Anfernee McGriff - The former Florida signee was, last I heard, a "possibility," but it wasn't played up in the way that led me to believe it was likely.
Trysten Hill - This one-time Georgia Tech commitment is not off the radar but not sure he's as high as one or two of the guys listed above.
If you're asking me for the most likely scenario I think it surely involves Johnson, may involve Marshall and Holmes, and increasingly looks like it could involve T.J. Carter as well.
Here are some miscellaneous notes on 2017's:
Jedrick Wills - Still hearing good vibes. Probably going to junior day in February.
Javonte Richardson - Also still hear the Cats are in good shape and still planning to attend junior day.
Bryant Koback - Believe that Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow will be going up to visit his school soon. Full court press.
Adarius Lemons - I believe they would find room for both Koback and Lemons. The hope is to get Lemons up for a visit in the spring or summer.
Thayer Munford - Still lots of mutual interest with Kentucky, good chance here.
Tony Gray - Followed by new coaches, interesting they're not giving up so quickly on the Rivals100 OL.
Obinna Eze - Probably one of UK's top line targets along with some of the above.
J'Marick Woods - Hearing that he's still very receptive to Kentucky and isn't against visiting again.
Jarell White - Likely to attend UK's February junior day.
Caleb Rozar - Definitely still likes Kentucky a lot. Probably the favorite.
