Temperature check time.
Kentucky's class is ranked No. 39 in the nation. Its 3.21 star average is No. 31 in the nation. That's good enough for the No. 9 class in the SEC.
The class obviously started out slow but the Cats are picking up steam and there is a clear road map to the kind of finish that would make this pretty much a par for the course Mark Stoops class. I've repeated that message a few times now, not because I'm trying to steer the conversation, but because in my own head that's pretty much how I feel about things. I think ultimately the finished product is going to look pretty standard. Not the highest ranked, not the lowest ranked.
The big thing is I now feel like there's good reason to believe the new/recent hires can ultimately be as successful, recruiting, as the guys who were on the last iteration of the staff.
Chris Collins had a big breakthrough get with Grant Godfrey. Mike Stoops and Brad White talking about his role in the defense was big.
The commits I am most intrigued by are WR Porter, WR Brown, OL Keenum, DL Ziesmer, LB Godfrey, and DB Stuart. Not writing off any of the others of course, but I feel especially confident about the impact ability of those players.
The hope has to be that between Moorman and Keith, UK has at least one really productive/helpful player there. Same with tight end: Hope that LeMaster or Dixon hits, and then complement them down the road with a player who fills the opposite in-line/hybrid role. I see some development with some of the offensive linemen and that's the biggest variable about this class long term, IMO. How those guys develop and whether they are prepared to be the next wave of successful Big Blue Wall big uglies.
DL Kendrick Gilbert - Has announced written offers from LSU, Iowa, Kentucky, and Purdue, his four finalists. Has visited UK and Purdue in the last few days. The thinking has been UK has been in the lead and just trying to lock him down and get an announcement. Since he has let it go on longer than some thought it would, that has emboldened those other schools and Purdue in particular to make a final push. But still hearing optimism. I think you want to lock him up as soon as possible to leave little to doubt.
OL Naquil Betrand - Announcing this weekend, in recent weeks the feeling has been Kentucky's out in front. At the same time, I'm still curious to hear something a little more solid to be more confident. Texas A&M, Syracuse, Auburn, and Kentucky have extended written offers so if Betrand picks Kentucky, that's a huge recruiting W. He'd give some important punch to this offensive line class. One of the most important guys on the board given how difficult it has been for them to find tackles in some recent years.
DB Kenton "KJ" Kirkland - We've known that Kentucky and Florida State are two of the main schools here and sure enough, those are the two written offers Kirkland mentioned on Twitter today. Therefore you have to believe it's a two-horse race. However, the common thinking has been that Florida State is probably the frontrunner and it will take a great effort to overcome that.
ATH Jmaury Davis - John Settle recruit for many months who has since committed to Texas Tech as a safety. UK recruited him as a RB/ATH and the Cats already have two RB commits so they must really love his talent and ability. UK's involvement with Davis was huge early in the process because they were showing more interest than other schools. Davis is the kind of guy who could end up multiple positions or on either side of the ball, but Settle's longstanding involvement makes it seem like he's a RB in UK's view.
RB TJ Harvison - Another 2023 running back to receive a written offer from Kentucky. Think about it: UK could be replacing C Rod, Jefferson, and Smoke at the position after this year, and they've also said farewell to some guys recently. Tons of turnover at running back so maybe that explains it. Kentucky, App State, and Ga Southern are the three written offers he has announced.
DL Tavion Gadson - Recently released a top five which included Kentucky, Florida State, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Georgia. He announced written offers from UK, FSU, UT, Minnesota, and Auburn but has not announced a written offer from UGA yet. I asked him why Kentucky made the cut this week and he said, "Because I like the vibe and coaching staff of Kentucky and my feel that they have a lot of great tings coming soon for them." He also said he does not have any plans for official visits in the fall yet.
OL Woo Spencer - IIRC, Travis mentioned something about a November timetable. I've heard that Kentucky is all in and it looks good for him being good to go. Four-star prospect who I have a FutureCast in for Kentucky. Would be surprised if he ended up somewhere else.
OLB Branden Palmer - Announced a written offer from Kentucky this week. Camped at UK last month and got the verbal offer then. Picked up a verbal offer from Virginia Tech recently. I was not sure he was going to get a written offer so quickly so that's an interesting statement as to how the coaches feel about him. After Kentucky offered he told CI that White made Josh Allen comparisons. White also apparently floated the idea of an official visit in the season sometime, so that seems like something that will probably happen. He definitely moves into the top tier of guys UK is targeting.
WR Devin Hyatt - His recruitment has been one of the real mysteries of the class. Everybody's doing a good job of keeping things quiet but we do know that Hyatt is supposed to officially visit UK this fall. That's as much as anybody knows about anything at this point, which is a pretty good deal.
RB Jamarion Wilcox - Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Troy are the schools that have offered verbal offers to the Georgia running back. He did visit Kentucky back in June so there is definitely a lot of familiarity there.
LB Arvell Reese - With Ohio State missing out on some guys this class it seems increasingly likely that Reese could eventually be a guy for them. But obviously that situation is still in flux. It does seem more likely that he is a guy OSU gives that written to. UK is hopeful they would still have a shot. Since Urban left Columbus the feeling has been they aren't necessarily as locked on Glenville, but I don't know the extent to which that would give UK a chance if OSU comes in. Definitely still a situation of interest, you have to think, with Palmer a comparable prospect.
DB Cameron Calhoun - Cincinnati commit who would have committed to Kentucky earlier in the year if they had accepted his commitment. Every so often I hear rumblings that indicate he could still be an option later on. Not turning the page completely but also not predicting a flip at this point. Someone to monitor.
As of right now...
** You have to forecast that Kentucky probably takes another running back, otherwise they wouldn't have so many written offers out to others.
** Would currently predict Gilbert, Spencer, and Betrand to Kentucky.
** Think Hyatt is very interesting as a possibility but it's been quiet.
** Palmer more likely to join class over time, dynamics in Reese recruitment make OSU a bit more likely.
Kentucky's class is ranked No. 39 in the nation. Its 3.21 star average is No. 31 in the nation. That's good enough for the No. 9 class in the SEC.
The class obviously started out slow but the Cats are picking up steam and there is a clear road map to the kind of finish that would make this pretty much a par for the course Mark Stoops class. I've repeated that message a few times now, not because I'm trying to steer the conversation, but because in my own head that's pretty much how I feel about things. I think ultimately the finished product is going to look pretty standard. Not the highest ranked, not the lowest ranked.
The big thing is I now feel like there's good reason to believe the new/recent hires can ultimately be as successful, recruiting, as the guys who were on the last iteration of the staff.
Chris Collins had a big breakthrough get with Grant Godfrey. Mike Stoops and Brad White talking about his role in the defense was big.
The commits I am most intrigued by are WR Porter, WR Brown, OL Keenum, DL Ziesmer, LB Godfrey, and DB Stuart. Not writing off any of the others of course, but I feel especially confident about the impact ability of those players.
The hope has to be that between Moorman and Keith, UK has at least one really productive/helpful player there. Same with tight end: Hope that LeMaster or Dixon hits, and then complement them down the road with a player who fills the opposite in-line/hybrid role. I see some development with some of the offensive linemen and that's the biggest variable about this class long term, IMO. How those guys develop and whether they are prepared to be the next wave of successful Big Blue Wall big uglies.
DL Kendrick Gilbert - Has announced written offers from LSU, Iowa, Kentucky, and Purdue, his four finalists. Has visited UK and Purdue in the last few days. The thinking has been UK has been in the lead and just trying to lock him down and get an announcement. Since he has let it go on longer than some thought it would, that has emboldened those other schools and Purdue in particular to make a final push. But still hearing optimism. I think you want to lock him up as soon as possible to leave little to doubt.
OL Naquil Betrand - Announcing this weekend, in recent weeks the feeling has been Kentucky's out in front. At the same time, I'm still curious to hear something a little more solid to be more confident. Texas A&M, Syracuse, Auburn, and Kentucky have extended written offers so if Betrand picks Kentucky, that's a huge recruiting W. He'd give some important punch to this offensive line class. One of the most important guys on the board given how difficult it has been for them to find tackles in some recent years.
DB Kenton "KJ" Kirkland - We've known that Kentucky and Florida State are two of the main schools here and sure enough, those are the two written offers Kirkland mentioned on Twitter today. Therefore you have to believe it's a two-horse race. However, the common thinking has been that Florida State is probably the frontrunner and it will take a great effort to overcome that.
ATH Jmaury Davis - John Settle recruit for many months who has since committed to Texas Tech as a safety. UK recruited him as a RB/ATH and the Cats already have two RB commits so they must really love his talent and ability. UK's involvement with Davis was huge early in the process because they were showing more interest than other schools. Davis is the kind of guy who could end up multiple positions or on either side of the ball, but Settle's longstanding involvement makes it seem like he's a RB in UK's view.
RB TJ Harvison - Another 2023 running back to receive a written offer from Kentucky. Think about it: UK could be replacing C Rod, Jefferson, and Smoke at the position after this year, and they've also said farewell to some guys recently. Tons of turnover at running back so maybe that explains it. Kentucky, App State, and Ga Southern are the three written offers he has announced.
DL Tavion Gadson - Recently released a top five which included Kentucky, Florida State, Tennessee, Minnesota, and Georgia. He announced written offers from UK, FSU, UT, Minnesota, and Auburn but has not announced a written offer from UGA yet. I asked him why Kentucky made the cut this week and he said, "Because I like the vibe and coaching staff of Kentucky and my feel that they have a lot of great tings coming soon for them." He also said he does not have any plans for official visits in the fall yet.
OL Woo Spencer - IIRC, Travis mentioned something about a November timetable. I've heard that Kentucky is all in and it looks good for him being good to go. Four-star prospect who I have a FutureCast in for Kentucky. Would be surprised if he ended up somewhere else.
OLB Branden Palmer - Announced a written offer from Kentucky this week. Camped at UK last month and got the verbal offer then. Picked up a verbal offer from Virginia Tech recently. I was not sure he was going to get a written offer so quickly so that's an interesting statement as to how the coaches feel about him. After Kentucky offered he told CI that White made Josh Allen comparisons. White also apparently floated the idea of an official visit in the season sometime, so that seems like something that will probably happen. He definitely moves into the top tier of guys UK is targeting.
WR Devin Hyatt - His recruitment has been one of the real mysteries of the class. Everybody's doing a good job of keeping things quiet but we do know that Hyatt is supposed to officially visit UK this fall. That's as much as anybody knows about anything at this point, which is a pretty good deal.
RB Jamarion Wilcox - Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Troy are the schools that have offered verbal offers to the Georgia running back. He did visit Kentucky back in June so there is definitely a lot of familiarity there.
LB Arvell Reese - With Ohio State missing out on some guys this class it seems increasingly likely that Reese could eventually be a guy for them. But obviously that situation is still in flux. It does seem more likely that he is a guy OSU gives that written to. UK is hopeful they would still have a shot. Since Urban left Columbus the feeling has been they aren't necessarily as locked on Glenville, but I don't know the extent to which that would give UK a chance if OSU comes in. Definitely still a situation of interest, you have to think, with Palmer a comparable prospect.
DB Cameron Calhoun - Cincinnati commit who would have committed to Kentucky earlier in the year if they had accepted his commitment. Every so often I hear rumblings that indicate he could still be an option later on. Not turning the page completely but also not predicting a flip at this point. Someone to monitor.
As of right now...
** You have to forecast that Kentucky probably takes another running back, otherwise they wouldn't have so many written offers out to others.
** Would currently predict Gilbert, Spencer, and Betrand to Kentucky.
** Think Hyatt is very interesting as a possibility but it's been quiet.
** Palmer more likely to join class over time, dynamics in Reese recruitment make OSU a bit more likely.
