Over the years I have sensed that there's a growing sense that Kentucky isn't getting the recruiting "excitement" that they had in the early part of the Stoops era.
It is true, we don't publicize things like bus tours, massive crowds of visitors from South Florida, etc., as much as we used to. At times in the Stoops era this was the focus. There were years when tons of kids from South Florida came up. Guys with stars and offers and clout. Kentucky brought those guys in and tried to get those guys. They got a few good players out of it, but the result was not the best period of the Stoops era.
Over time, Stoops and staff have transitioned from a recruiting "hype" program to a recruiting "substance" program.
They are less concerned with the # of four-star players who are visiting, but at the same time, they have had more 4-star commitments than ever. Just look at recent classes. The big complaint you would have to have over recent classes is the lack of OL recruiting and developmental success. But it's mostly limited to OL. They still have top end draft talent. Getting more draft picks than they did when they brought in all of those visitors in the past. Maybe not as much "flash" but the "substance" in terms of NFL picks is as good/better than ever. They have and kept Deone Walker. They have and kept Barion Brown. In the NIL era, they should always be able to "pick" a few "great" talents, as you would expect, as an SEC school.
What has really hurt them is that the state of KY did not produce guys like Damien Harris and Jedrick Wills who UK could have realistically landed after 10 win seasons. KY guys are the ones they are likely to get of that caliber.
But at the same time, the overall recruiting results have been BETTER than they have usually been. That's not a slant, that's fact. Based on the rankings. Based on draft picks.
Getting massive numbers of 3 and 4-star recruits to camps and junior days really doesn't matter. Kentucky is the northern most school in the SEC. It's not an easy travel hub for players, schools, and trainers when they are planning visits. These top guys are visiting schools in a circle. Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Texas, etc. Kentucky is far north of that, doesn't have the history, doesn't have the same sell, so just hoping you get a bunch of top guys to visit at the same rate that they visit those other schools doesn't make sense. The important thing is the actual results. Who are they signing.
The only area where that has been deficient is the offensive line, and UK has to be a developmental offensive line program. Top guys in KY, OH, MI is a good strategy. It's never going to be easy but that is the path. Wolford is a great recruiter in a position where you need a great recruiter and it will pay off. They need him to stay for a while.
But in the big picture, while there might not be as much "hype" in terms of "who's visiting", etc., just look at who they are signing. At almost every other position than OL, it's better than ever, and OL recruiting was almost always contingent on KY talent to begin with. This might be uncomfortable but it is true.
There has been no big picture recruiting "dip" from the earlier "hype" days of UK football recruiting. They have just settled into a pattern they are more comfortable with. They know who they have a shot with and who they don't. They better know the kinds of players they can get and the kinds of players they can't. That's not to say they can't have upgrades in certain coaching positions or recruiting areas, but the important thing is CHOOSING who to pursue and target. And the results, rankings and commits, shows that its as good/better than ever.
It is true, we don't publicize things like bus tours, massive crowds of visitors from South Florida, etc., as much as we used to. At times in the Stoops era this was the focus. There were years when tons of kids from South Florida came up. Guys with stars and offers and clout. Kentucky brought those guys in and tried to get those guys. They got a few good players out of it, but the result was not the best period of the Stoops era.
Over time, Stoops and staff have transitioned from a recruiting "hype" program to a recruiting "substance" program.
They are less concerned with the # of four-star players who are visiting, but at the same time, they have had more 4-star commitments than ever. Just look at recent classes. The big complaint you would have to have over recent classes is the lack of OL recruiting and developmental success. But it's mostly limited to OL. They still have top end draft talent. Getting more draft picks than they did when they brought in all of those visitors in the past. Maybe not as much "flash" but the "substance" in terms of NFL picks is as good/better than ever. They have and kept Deone Walker. They have and kept Barion Brown. In the NIL era, they should always be able to "pick" a few "great" talents, as you would expect, as an SEC school.
What has really hurt them is that the state of KY did not produce guys like Damien Harris and Jedrick Wills who UK could have realistically landed after 10 win seasons. KY guys are the ones they are likely to get of that caliber.
But at the same time, the overall recruiting results have been BETTER than they have usually been. That's not a slant, that's fact. Based on the rankings. Based on draft picks.
Getting massive numbers of 3 and 4-star recruits to camps and junior days really doesn't matter. Kentucky is the northern most school in the SEC. It's not an easy travel hub for players, schools, and trainers when they are planning visits. These top guys are visiting schools in a circle. Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Texas, etc. Kentucky is far north of that, doesn't have the history, doesn't have the same sell, so just hoping you get a bunch of top guys to visit at the same rate that they visit those other schools doesn't make sense. The important thing is the actual results. Who are they signing.
The only area where that has been deficient is the offensive line, and UK has to be a developmental offensive line program. Top guys in KY, OH, MI is a good strategy. It's never going to be easy but that is the path. Wolford is a great recruiter in a position where you need a great recruiter and it will pay off. They need him to stay for a while.
But in the big picture, while there might not be as much "hype" in terms of "who's visiting", etc., just look at who they are signing. At almost every other position than OL, it's better than ever, and OL recruiting was almost always contingent on KY talent to begin with. This might be uncomfortable but it is true.
There has been no big picture recruiting "dip" from the earlier "hype" days of UK football recruiting. They have just settled into a pattern they are more comfortable with. They know who they have a shot with and who they don't. They better know the kinds of players they can get and the kinds of players they can't. That's not to say they can't have upgrades in certain coaching positions or recruiting areas, but the important thing is CHOOSING who to pursue and target. And the results, rankings and commits, shows that its as good/better than ever.
