These Backup Options are pretty darn good....

[catben]

Something I have never understood is how recruits flip to the bigger schools to become the 24th or 25th signee to a school that strung them along the whole time. I would want to be a priority to the coach I committed to instead of a fill in last option for a coach that only wanted me as a backup plan.

Now when it goes the other way, I totally understand it. When a kid is told he'll be a top option at the lower level school, why wouldn't the recruit flip to be wanted and featured?

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Originally posted by UKani:
For those who are losing faith because of these flips that are happening or because recruits that we are after suddenly get offered by other big schools, I'd say chill for a while and go look at film of these backup options.

DaVon Hamilton is going to flip to Ohio State if he hasn't already, but UK is in on another guy, Courtney Miggins, this dude is just as good with better open field speed. He's a JUCO guy with 4 years to play 3 seasons so he's got time to grow at UK as well. Courtney Miggins is an inch taller and the same weight as Hamilton. If that's not enough go and watch film of Javon Provitt, after you do that you won't come away with any other conclusion than he may be better than Hamilton.

Worried about Jeremiah Dinson flipping to Auburn or maybe UK doesn't get Marcus Lewis.... I'd say look at film of Marcus Lewis and tell me if you don't think he has tight hips or not. Players with tight hips usually have trouble at CB on the FBS level and have to switch to safety. I"m just saying.... But go look at film of Chris Westry and this new guy Derrick Baity both are 6'4" and 6'3" DBs who can play CB, that's a extremely long for a secondary and both are pretty athletic and has nice hips for there size, its a rarity to find that size at CB.

Perhaps you are worried about news that AD Miller got an offer from Oklahoma and you think he's going to commit there after he visits. I'd say go and watch film of Kayaune Ross, dude is a really nice WR that can stretch the field and has size. Not much of a drop off there either.


All in all these backup options in a lot of cases are just as good when you look at the film. Also these backup options are better than Joker's primary options in most cases.... They are pretty darn good.

We're going to land a really, really good class. The difference this year, is that wasn't the goal. The goal was a great class. Some top recruits we had are being gobbled up by bluebloods, but only after those bluebloods whiffed on 5* elite recruits. In comparison, we WERE the school whiffing, then taking recruits from MAC schools.

We're still landing a really good class. We're just shooting higher than before. That's why there are so many flips in this class imo.

 

[UKani]

Does everyone understand that this class was projected to be a top 15 class at first. Then all this flipping happen and players committing to other schools and still technically it still has a chance at a top 25 finish but realistically will finish in the top 30 somewhere.

Lets put this into perspective for a second. UK Football hasn't had a bowl game since 2011 and went 2-10 for 2 straight years and last year went 5-7. After all of that losing and seniors not experiencing a road win in the SEC, this recruiting class could still finish in the top 30 somewhere....

So I beg to question why are we complaining?
two years of Stoops recruiting has gotten us spoiled..lol...

 

[BlueRaider22]

That's just it.
-This class started out really hot
-We started out looking good on the field, then the last half of the season tanked
-Then Harris chose Bama
-Then some flipping is taking us further down the rankings

I think fans are a little frustrated at this time. It's not that they think the sky is falling, but rather just slightly "deflated"

. It's still a really good class, but there are a few small reasons for negativity over the last few months.


Personally, I expected it. My thoughts were that Stoops could sell the first class or two of immediate PT and the promise of building something.......but the 3rd and 4th classes are going to want to see some on-field results.

There's a storm brewing though. Next yr, Stoops likely will register his first winning season and bowl game birth. Kentucky's 2016 state class is going to be one of the best in a long time. The stadium will be fresh and exciting......and the new facilities will be underway. Drake Jackson will head up the 2016 class like Barker did in his. I expect the 2016 class to be the best class ever.

 

[Tskware]

Originally posted by TJS4UK:
Don't disagree with any of that. Some players pan out and some don't. Some don't get developed properly. Joker had trouble in those areas, no doubt. However, none of that changes the fact that they had better options than MTSU, UTC, etc. That is all I was saying.

Originally posted by usa1000:

Originally posted by TJS4UK:

Originally posted by DACats86:

Originally posted by TJS4UK:

Originally posted by KTIME

I remember when Joker would fall back on kids with offers from MTSU, UTC, etc..late in the game.

In fairness to Joker, he flipped at least 2 Bama commits, a UT commit, a Maryland commit, a Candy commit & a 4 star TE, just off the top of my head.


This post was edited on 1/27 7:44 AM by TJS4UK

Not going to debate what Joker did, or didn't do, but this is not true.

What is not true?

Justin Taylor- former Bama commit - Non-factor Transferred down
Darryl Collins- former Bama commit - Non-factor Transferred down
Kalid Henderson - former Tennessee commit - Contributor
Jerrel Priester - former Vandy commit - Non factor (did he ever play?)
Nerlin Delic - former Maryland commit - Never played a down
Marcus Caffey - former Purdue commit - Trouble from the start Transferred Down
Alex Smith - former UNC commit (4 star) - ???
Cody Quinn - former Illinois commit - Contributor

I don't want to debate either... The Joker ship has sailed. I also agree that Stoops has out recruited Joker overall during these past 3 classes. However, out of fairness.... These are the actual truthful facts in regards to a former UK player and coach.








This post was edited on 1/27 10:24 AM by TJS4UK

Exactly, we really busted up somebody's recruiting class to land those studs. If that is what you call top drawer recruiting, then . . .

 

[BoulderCat]

I don't follow the recruiting like many of you so it's nice to see some encouraging comments. I had the sense we're going to fall off a bit compared to the last two years, but if it's just a dip that's OK, and somewhat understandable given the last half of the season. I'm in the camp which has always thought getting this thing turned around is going to be a long, sustained effort. The 2nd half left a bad taste in many of our mouths, but in the big picture it was still a step forward. We won 5, which is what I thought in the beginning, and two SEC games. But we've got to take another step next year. Get to that 6th win somehow either by beating UL or a 3rd SEC team. A daunting challenge no doubt. Hopefully as some have said the 2nd half goes better next year, and that along with another step forward helps bring in another top 25 class. Then hopefully another step forward the next year, and perhaps a move into a top 15 or so class. We have to have it to win in the SEC. I'm still firmly on board with Stoop's, but I do think this coming season is critical to him. A slip back, and the howling will undoubtedly start. I'm hopeful though. He's got two great class (at least for UK), and some really good player's coming online next year. I think he gets it done.

 

[BIGBLUEQ]

Originally posted by mrschwump:

Originally posted by Blue Decade:

Originally posted by C1180:

This smells of a lets put those upstarts down there at UK in their place move by OSU.

It is hard for me to believe Ohio State would burn 1 of their 25 scholarships to target Kentucky's class. They are just working their board. For them, Hamilton is the next in line instate player with an interest in being a Buckeye. But whether he plays in Lexington or Columbus, Hamilton isn't an immediate impact player. If he wants to sit on the bench for his state school, I can respect that. I like Provitt a little better. If Strowbridge sticks with us, I think he ends up as a developmental tackle with some upside. I don't have an opinion on Miggins, and don't know his true level of interest in Kentucky. But we have Lewis, Elam, Meant, Johnson, Middleton, Hyde coming back. A good group. Adding Provitt and Strowbridge should help. Lot of talent there, and more help coming in our 2016 class. Hamilton just isn't that important.

I totally agree with you that Hamilton is long term, I'd just rather he RS here than OSU. As for what UK has returning...Hyde hasn't played much if any. Have to really wonder at this point if he has a future here. I'd caution too that Meant is coming off shoulder surgery and will miss the spring. The significance of that is he'll likely miss weight training therefore losing strength. On the plus side perhaps is it seems I read Dubose is around 300lbs now, may figure in at DT.

I would have to disagree with you on Hyde mrschwump. He was just a RS Frosh this past season, and from what I understand had some nagging injuries (back I believe) that kept him off the field this past season. Coming into 2015 as a RS Soph, and has been reported as one of the strongest, if not the strongest, player on the team. I would look for Jacob to see the field a lot this season, if healthy, and provide some good depth at the DT position.

With Meant, Elam, Johnson, Middleton, Lewis, and Hyde, that is a pretty strong rotation at DT this up coming season, IMO. If we can get better LB play I think our rush D improves significantly this season, and hopefully that will go a long way in shoring up one of our glaring weaknesses this past season.

 

[77PrincetonTiger]

Nice post UKani

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Originally posted by BlueRaider22:

That's just it.
-This class started out really hot
-We started out looking good on the field, then the last half of the season tanked
-Then Harris chose Bama
-Then some flipping is taking us further down the rankings

I think fans are a little frustrated at this time. It's not that they think the sky is falling, but rather just slightly "deflated"

. It's still a really good class, but there are a few small reasons for negativity over the last few months.


Personally, I expected it. My thoughts were that Stoops could sell the first class or two of immediate PT and the promise of building something.......but the 3rd and 4th classes are going to want to see some on-field results.

There's a storm brewing though. Next yr, Stoops likely will register his first winning season and bowl game birth. Kentucky's 2016 state class is going to be one of the best in a long time. The stadium will be fresh and exciting......and the new facilities will be underway. Drake Jackson will head up the 2016 class like Barker did in his. I expect the 2016 class to be the best class ever.

Agree totally. Late season slide hurt. Get Bud in the first round, Z in round 4 or so, Heard on a roster, go to a bowl this season; and we'll be set in 2016.