With all the talk earlier this year about a bevy of South Florida offers, with the post-visit reports on Florida players, with the talk about Jedrick Wills -- all justified story lines -- at the end of the day Ohio recruiting is still Kentucky's bread and butter.
So this edition of the War Room will be an update on where things stand with players in the Buckeye State.
I'm told that UK recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow has been traveling through the state of Ohio, as you would expect. His mission has been twofold. Checking on Kentucky's 2017 commitments and then getting to know (and getting to know more about) the younger guys from the 2018 class.
I heard from someone just the other day that he had stopped by Pickerington Central. That's the school that Jaylin Bannerman attends, and the one that Davon Hamilton (now at OSU) was at before. So Marrow clearly knows the lay of the land there well and has good connections. He was checking on 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback Xavier Henderson, big-time tight end prospect Trenton Gillison, and possibly 6-foot safety Jeremiah Wood. I could be mistaken but I believe Henderson and Gillison would rate as top-tier Kentucky targets for the 2018 class right now, while Wood is 'on the radar.' Marrow probably has a particular interest in Gillison as the tight ends coach. Both he and Henderson can be four-star players, and Kentucky's probably going to be a serious player for both.
Those players all visited Kentucky for the Cats' game against Tennessee last fall (link: read our write up here - sorry for the formatting). Gillison told Cats Illustrated late last year that he's pretty close with Bannerman and he's gotten to know Tobias Gilliam, Roland Walder and guys like that.
Another player that Marrow recently stopped by to check in on: Malik Vann of Fairfield. Vann has visited Kentucky two times in a very short period on the calendar and a source told me recently that he may have visited as much as three or four times overall. Kentucky was the first SEC offer for the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Class of 2018 defensive end/linebacker. Tennessee recently offered Vann as well.
When I asked a source for an update on where UK probably stands with Vann, I can tell you that they were pretty bullish on the Cats' chances.
Marrow was recently spotted at Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne, where he's a regular presence, of course. He was on a mission to check out Alex Reigelsperger and L'Christian "Blue" Smith.
Reigelsperger was just about ready to commit to Kentucky recently but I think they're in no rush to start filling up on 2018 guys with 2017 the focus. But I'm told they are probably going to be in a position to accept his commitment before too long. I'm told Reigelsperger's body is developing at a good rate and he may be already close to 6-foot-5, 240 pounds or so. Could project as a 260-pound freshman (true or RS) on the defensive line, and some folks are pretty excited about him. Smith is a beast and one of the Midwest's best 2018 players.
Marrow is obviously always checking in on Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic, with Mike Warren and James Hudson committed to Kentucky. There's been a ton of talk about James Hudson and whether his commitment is going to stick. I've reported for some time that there is a disconnect between the media perception some places, and the reality at least as UK understands it. The Cats believe they are in great shape to keep Hudson even as some media people have been adamant that the is a strong flip possibility.
It's true that Hudson visited Michigan State again recently, but sources have underscored a point we reported on recently: Hudson's parents really like Kentucky. Previously they had only visited for a night game, but their recent trip allowed them to get to know the coaches very well, and they've "signed off," so to speak, on Lexington for their son. Of course UK is going to continue recruiting Hudson as though they can't take him for granted. I'm told his mother really feels comfortable with UK now. They spent the whole day Friday (upon a late arrival) and then Sunday in Lexington and he's putting off the same vibe as some of the other Ohio guys that have stuck with UK through other big interest from elsewhere over the last few years. Good signs.
Warren is someone UK likes a lot, but Bryant Koback? Well, I've heard some high, heavy praise for this future Cat.
"We don't have anybody like him," one person told me recently. In other words, at least some believe that Bryant Koback can be the best running back that Kentucky will have signed under Mark Stoops. I'm told he's solid. Sources have pointed to the fact that he plays in a very competitive level of Ohio high school football, he's huge production, his speed, and the fact that he's bigger than most people seem to realize. He's a home run hitter with elite speed, but he's not a little guy. I heard from a source that Marrow was up at his school recently, last week, and is likely to return for Koback's track meet on Saturday. Taking no chances in keeping that guy on board.
He's no longer in Ohio but I've heard a little more about former Buckeye State resident Russ Yeast, who was offered by Ole Miss not long ago (quite an impressive offer). Yeast has quietly put together a very, very impressive offer list and a Kentucky source recently told me that the staff is "higher than ever" on what the kid is capable of.
I've heard conflicting reports on whether he's a receiver or DB with some people saying DB is possible and others tending to disagree. Right now I can tell you it's probably 60-40 wide receiver but this week I heard some very legitimate talk that Yeast could absolutely play DB at Kentucky. He's a player who is really growing on the coaches, apparently.
As far as other 2017 news, offensive tackle Matt Sichterman is still in the staff's sights. Initially he wasn't the biggest guy but I'm told he's up to around 270 pounds and he's garnering more attention from coaches. I know Michigan State, Duke and some others have sent coaches by his school recently.
One X-Factor to watch in Sichterman's recruitment is his brother. He's probably not a scholarship option for Kentucky, but they're twins and I recently heard talk that he could be a grayshirt or preferred walk-on candidate. That's not something Matt has singled out as a huge factor, or the decisive factor, but one would have to imagine that the Sichtermans as a packaged deal could make Kentucky even more attractive. Remember, they've got a spot for Wills and a spot for one more offensive tackle.
So this edition of the War Room will be an update on where things stand with players in the Buckeye State.
I'm told that UK recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow has been traveling through the state of Ohio, as you would expect. His mission has been twofold. Checking on Kentucky's 2017 commitments and then getting to know (and getting to know more about) the younger guys from the 2018 class.
I heard from someone just the other day that he had stopped by Pickerington Central. That's the school that Jaylin Bannerman attends, and the one that Davon Hamilton (now at OSU) was at before. So Marrow clearly knows the lay of the land there well and has good connections. He was checking on 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback Xavier Henderson, big-time tight end prospect Trenton Gillison, and possibly 6-foot safety Jeremiah Wood. I could be mistaken but I believe Henderson and Gillison would rate as top-tier Kentucky targets for the 2018 class right now, while Wood is 'on the radar.' Marrow probably has a particular interest in Gillison as the tight ends coach. Both he and Henderson can be four-star players, and Kentucky's probably going to be a serious player for both.
Those players all visited Kentucky for the Cats' game against Tennessee last fall (link: read our write up here - sorry for the formatting). Gillison told Cats Illustrated late last year that he's pretty close with Bannerman and he's gotten to know Tobias Gilliam, Roland Walder and guys like that.
Another player that Marrow recently stopped by to check in on: Malik Vann of Fairfield. Vann has visited Kentucky two times in a very short period on the calendar and a source told me recently that he may have visited as much as three or four times overall. Kentucky was the first SEC offer for the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Class of 2018 defensive end/linebacker. Tennessee recently offered Vann as well.
When I asked a source for an update on where UK probably stands with Vann, I can tell you that they were pretty bullish on the Cats' chances.
Marrow was recently spotted at Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne, where he's a regular presence, of course. He was on a mission to check out Alex Reigelsperger and L'Christian "Blue" Smith.
Reigelsperger was just about ready to commit to Kentucky recently but I think they're in no rush to start filling up on 2018 guys with 2017 the focus. But I'm told they are probably going to be in a position to accept his commitment before too long. I'm told Reigelsperger's body is developing at a good rate and he may be already close to 6-foot-5, 240 pounds or so. Could project as a 260-pound freshman (true or RS) on the defensive line, and some folks are pretty excited about him. Smith is a beast and one of the Midwest's best 2018 players.
Marrow is obviously always checking in on Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic, with Mike Warren and James Hudson committed to Kentucky. There's been a ton of talk about James Hudson and whether his commitment is going to stick. I've reported for some time that there is a disconnect between the media perception some places, and the reality at least as UK understands it. The Cats believe they are in great shape to keep Hudson even as some media people have been adamant that the is a strong flip possibility.
It's true that Hudson visited Michigan State again recently, but sources have underscored a point we reported on recently: Hudson's parents really like Kentucky. Previously they had only visited for a night game, but their recent trip allowed them to get to know the coaches very well, and they've "signed off," so to speak, on Lexington for their son. Of course UK is going to continue recruiting Hudson as though they can't take him for granted. I'm told his mother really feels comfortable with UK now. They spent the whole day Friday (upon a late arrival) and then Sunday in Lexington and he's putting off the same vibe as some of the other Ohio guys that have stuck with UK through other big interest from elsewhere over the last few years. Good signs.
Warren is someone UK likes a lot, but Bryant Koback? Well, I've heard some high, heavy praise for this future Cat.
"We don't have anybody like him," one person told me recently. In other words, at least some believe that Bryant Koback can be the best running back that Kentucky will have signed under Mark Stoops. I'm told he's solid. Sources have pointed to the fact that he plays in a very competitive level of Ohio high school football, he's huge production, his speed, and the fact that he's bigger than most people seem to realize. He's a home run hitter with elite speed, but he's not a little guy. I heard from a source that Marrow was up at his school recently, last week, and is likely to return for Koback's track meet on Saturday. Taking no chances in keeping that guy on board.
He's no longer in Ohio but I've heard a little more about former Buckeye State resident Russ Yeast, who was offered by Ole Miss not long ago (quite an impressive offer). Yeast has quietly put together a very, very impressive offer list and a Kentucky source recently told me that the staff is "higher than ever" on what the kid is capable of.
I've heard conflicting reports on whether he's a receiver or DB with some people saying DB is possible and others tending to disagree. Right now I can tell you it's probably 60-40 wide receiver but this week I heard some very legitimate talk that Yeast could absolutely play DB at Kentucky. He's a player who is really growing on the coaches, apparently.
As far as other 2017 news, offensive tackle Matt Sichterman is still in the staff's sights. Initially he wasn't the biggest guy but I'm told he's up to around 270 pounds and he's garnering more attention from coaches. I know Michigan State, Duke and some others have sent coaches by his school recently.
One X-Factor to watch in Sichterman's recruitment is his brother. He's probably not a scholarship option for Kentucky, but they're twins and I recently heard talk that he could be a grayshirt or preferred walk-on candidate. That's not something Matt has singled out as a huge factor, or the decisive factor, but one would have to imagine that the Sichtermans as a packaged deal could make Kentucky even more attractive. Remember, they've got a spot for Wills and a spot for one more offensive tackle.
