BB Recruiting Updates on a couple of 2019 South Florida prospects

[JRowland]

Kentucky appears to be in good standing with a number of respected wide receiver and slot targets from the Class of 2019.

One, who hails from a familiar pipeline for the UK programs, tells Cats Illustrated that Kentucky is his favorite.

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Mayo (right) with teammate and Auburn four-star running back signee Shaun Shivers

Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna receiver

Marlin Mayo
was a camp standout in Lexington last year. He earned recognition as one of Cats Illustrated's top performers at the event that he and many other South Florida prospects attended, so it wasn't surprising when Kentucky's coaching staff rewarded him with a verbal offer after the event.


Shortly after that offer, Mayo appeared prepared to make his college decision before tapping the brakes and postponing an announcement.

The 2017 high school and college football seasons passed, football programs wrapped up their 2018 recruiting classes, and now it's Mayo's turn in the spotlight, along with scores of other '19 prospects.

That camp seems like ages ago, but not much has changed in Mayo's recruitment.

Mayo said he's been hearing from other schools, "But Kentucky's where it's at."

That was his message to Cats Illustrated this week when asked for an update on his recruitment and what he's thinking about his future.

"Kentucky is the place to be," Mayo said, doubling down and leaving little to the imagination when it comes to where he'd like to end up.

Mayo made it clear last summer that he loved his short time in Lexington. He's obviously well-connected with the Chaminade Madonna trio that just signed with Kentucky earlier this month.

"Akeem (Hayes) is like my son, Marvin (Alexander) cool and laid back, Davoan (Hawkins) is one of the coolest people I know," the 2019 prospect said.

Mayo also said that UK offensive coordinator and area recruiter Eddie Gran stays in frequent contact with him.

"He talks about everything. We built a bond and we talk like every other day," Mayo said. "I'm going to visit probably after spring or I'm going to wait until the end of my senior season."

 

[JRowland]

Kentucky is recruiting a number of quarterbacks from the 2019 class and that wide net approach has yielded some interesting early returns on unique prospects.

Nik Scalzo is one quarterback the Wildcats are recruiting and he's got a leaderboard that's unlike most you're ever likely to come across.


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Although Scalzo is only 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds he's got a high three-star ranking and is regarded as one of the top passers in South Florida.

He has early offers from Illinois, Central Michigan, Harvard and Yale. But that only tells part of the story. Kentucky is in regular contact with Scalzo, and he camped in Lexington last summer with a large group of players from his home region.

Scalzo was one of the top quarterbacks at the Miami leg of the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp presented by adidas.

Shortly after that event Cats Illustrated touched base with Scalzo, who said Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran has been talking to him a lot over the past few days.

Gran was in South Florida recruiting recently and he stopped by Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons, Scalzo's school, and watched the 2019 prospect throw.

"He said that I am a true pocket passer that has the ability to extend plays," Scalzo said.

Scalzo only got to spend a brief amount of time at Kentucky last summer as the trip was exclusively about a camp. But he said "the campus is surreal" from the little bit that he saw.

"Love the coaches. I know a lot of the kids on the team," Scalzo added.

Class of 2018 Kentucky wide receiver commitment Marvin Alexander was on Scalzo's 7-on-7 passing tournament team.

Scalzo told Cats Illustrated that he will attend Kentucky's junior day on February 24th. Another Florida quarterback, Hayden Wolff, has said in the past that he plans to attend that event.

As far as favorites?

"I love Kentucky," Scalzo said. "And Harvard and Yale are there, too. I'm talking to Boston College, too."

As a junior at Cardinal Gibbons, Scalzo completed 175 of 307 passes for 2,065 yards, accounting for 25 touchdowns as a first team all-county selection.

 

[vhcat70]

Scalzo looks like he could pull a Brevin White.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

South Florida, where UK has top five buzz!

@WildCard

 

[WildCard]

South Florida, where UK has top five buzz!

@WildCard

YES they do!

Peace

 

[Caveman Catfan]

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

 

[KintuckyWildCayuts]

Seems like the staff really would like to get back to a more traditional passer, they just haven't been able to get the personnel to make it work.

 

[1991greywildcat]

Would be nice to steal Shivers from Auburn lol..

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

If I were a QB with almost zero shot of making it to the NFL because of my size and had the chance to attend Harvard or even Yale on a scholarship that would be my next stop. I would think being a former Harvard QB with a degree from there would open doors for you the rest of your life.that would never be open if you went to UK, UGA or just about any other college.

 

[Cazwheel1072]

If I were a QB with almost zero shot of making it to the NFL because of my size and had the chance to attend Harvard or even Yale on a scholarship that would be my next stop. I would think being a former Harvard QB with a degree from there would open doors for you the rest of your life.that would never be open if you went to UK, UGA or just about any other college.

Spot on.

 

[gobigblue812]

If I were a QB with almost zero shot of making it to the NFL because of my size and had the chance to attend Harvard or even Yale on a scholarship that would be my next stop. I would think being a former Harvard QB with a degree from there would open doors for you the rest of your life.that would never be open if you went to UK, UGA or just about any other college.

The question would be do you feel comfortable there? Do you fit in on campus, with the team, etc.

If the answer is yes, then get an Ivy league education. If no, then come on down to the SEC, LOL.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

If I were a QB with almost zero shot of making it to the NFL because of my size and had the chance to attend Harvard or even Yale on a scholarship that would be my next stop. I would think being a former Harvard QB with a degree from there would open doors for you the rest of your life.that would never be open if you went to UK, UGA or just about any other college.

He has an academic scholly to Harvard? Yale?

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

He has an academic scholly to Harvard? Yale?

If I am not mistaken the article said he had offers from there, they don't give athletic scholarships, so had to be academiic

The question would be do you feel comfortable there? Do you fit in on campus, with the team, etc.

If the answer is yes, then get an Ivy league education. If no, then come on down to the SEC, LOL.

I don't guess that has its good points, but a guy that size isn't likely to play much in the SEC, and right or wrong that Harvard diploma speaks loud and clear above any in the SEC.

In a sidenote, my cousin's daughter was accepted to Harvard, but being a mama' s girl didn't go and attendee Mercer, a small school in Ga. Unlike me or her mama who enjoyed the social side of college way too much, she studies.

 

[robo222]

Put that kid behind center in a blue jersey... If he's smart enough for Harvard then by gawd we'll outthink the likes of UGA, USC, MSU, and most certainly UT....

 

[Blue Decade]

Kentucky is recruiting a number of quarterbacks from the 2019 class and that wide net approach has yielded some interesting early returns on unique prospects.

Nik Scalzo is one quarterback the Wildcats are recruiting and he's got a leaderboard that's unlike most you're ever likely to come across.


Go premium at Cats Illustrated

Although Scalzo is only 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds he's got a high three-star ranking and is regarded as one of the top passers in South Florida.

He has early offers from Illinois, Central Michigan, Harvard and Yale. But that only tells part of the story. Kentucky is in regular contact with Scalzo, and he camped in Lexington last summer with a large group of players from his home region.

Scalzo was one of the top quarterbacks at the Miami leg of the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp presented by adidas.

Shortly after that event Cats Illustrated touched base with Scalzo, who said Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran has been talking to him a lot over the past few days.

Gran was in South Florida recruiting recently and he stopped by Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons, Scalzo's school, and watched the 2019 prospect throw.

"He said that I am a true pocket passer that has the ability to extend plays," Scalzo said.

Scalzo only got to spend a brief amount of time at Kentucky last summer as the trip was exclusively about a camp. But he said "the campus is surreal" from the little bit that he saw.

"Love the coaches. I know a lot of the kids on the team," Scalzo added.

Class of 2018 Kentucky wide receiver commitment Marvin Alexander was on Scalzo's 7-on-7 passing tournament team.

Scalzo told Cats Illustrated that he will attend Kentucky's junior day on February 24th. Another Florida quarterback, Hayden Wolff, has said in the past that he plans to attend that event.

As far as favorites?

"I love Kentucky," Scalzo said. "And Harvard and Yale are there, too. I'm talking to Boston College, too."

As a junior at Cardinal Gibbons, Scalzo completed 175 of 307 passes for 2,065 yards, accounting for 25 touchdowns as a first team all-county selection.

Stoops must sign another quarterback in 2019, just to keep a working number of viable SEC quarterbacks on UK's roster. In order to do it, he must find a younger player willing to pay his dues for several years on a roster with Hoak, Wilson, Clark initially ahead of him. In this situation, Stoops and Hinshaw will have to talk with a lot of candidates and find a high ceiling prospect with the right temperament and confidence. Someone willing to redshirt in 2019 and maybe start in 2021 or 2022. They seem to be going about it the right way.