Your Opinion concerning remaining SS slots.

[C1180]

What do you think UK should do with the remaining SS they have available. Should they offer them to project players and diamond in the rough types or should they keep them to offer to early enrollee high school players and JUCOs next December?

IMO some should be reserved so they can sign more than 25 next signing period unless they have legitimate backups. Next year is supposed to be a big year for instate Kentucky high school football recruits and I think UK is in on quite a few recruits nationally so a few extra SSs over 25 might be needed.

 

[KapitalCat]

Given the two Nebraska transfers count toward this years class (in terms of counters) we were never going to sign 25. I hope we get to 20 so our class ranking can get near that 30-35 range. Marcus Lewis is the key missing piece. I think we end up with 20-22 ish.... and I agree with you lets hold as many as we can for the 2016 class. Regardless though we have to stay within the 85. Finally...this staff isn't going to sign anyone they don't think can compete in the SEC.

 

[semowildcatfan]

The transfers do not count against the 25 LOI limit. They do count against the 85 total scholarship limit. I think they will save at least two or three rides for 2016.

 

[KapitalCat]

Originally posted by semowildcatfan:
The transfers do not count against the 25 LOI limit. They do count against the 85 total scholarship limit. I think they will save at least two or three rides for 2016.

They do. This was discussed in a thread a few weeks ago when Jen Smith wrote and article that mentioned they counted. I emailed her and challenged her on it but she said that information came per a release from UK and that Ben Roberts (LHL) had double checked with UK and indeed given when they transferred they count toward the 25. Here is the release from UK:


The mid-year enrollees are four high school stars who graduated in December - offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei, tight end C.J. Conrad, defensive end Kengera Daniel and linebacker Jordan Jones - along with a pair of transfers from the University of Nebraska, tight end Greg Hart and linebacker Courtney Love.

All six players will count toward the 2015 signing class. They will go through the off-season high performance program and participate in spring practice.

UK Release on Transfers

 

[C1180]

I think it matters little whether they sign them now or wait until Dec. because IMO most any recruit they get now will most likely need to redshirt. The up side to waiting until Dec. is that you will likely be able to get a better grade of recruit.

 

[brian.mikeson]

Unless it's to fill a position of great need (LB?) with a stud/very well-researched diamond-in-the-rough OR some high 3*/4* I say you save them for 2016 -- Neal Brown said the 2016 class in Ky was a VERY much an anomaly in terms of the quantity and quality. I assume they have built some very good relationships with those kids since I'd heard him talking about them since last winter (when they were only Sophs).

You sign maybe 20 this year and save the 5 to sign 30 next year -- allowing you to get 3 or 4 you wouldn't have gotten if you only had 25 to give. Those 3 or 4 might be 'tweeners' you wouldn't usually have offered -- might be a Randall Cobb in that group.

The 2015 class will be a weak-spot going forward, but one you might be able to shore up with a JUCO or two. Also, in football one weak class doesn't kill you UNLESS you have a weak class immediately before or after it. When the 2015 class are Seniors, if you have an unusually good 2016 class, they'll be JUNIORS and thus just as ready to contribute as a senior would be (IF, that is, they are able to redshirt...and given our good 2013 and 14 classes, that should be possible).

 

[TheThack]

I think calling this class weak is a misnomer and unfair. The average star ranking that so many of us are enamored with is still over 3 as I recall and one of the highest averages outside of the top 30. We may not end up with quantity but we still have quality players that fill needs.

 

[brian.mikeson]

Originally posted by TheThack:
I think calling this class weak is a misnomer and unfair. The average star ranking that so many of us are enamored with is still over 3 as I recall and one of the highest averages outside of the top 30. We may not end up with quantity but we still have quality players that fill needs.

Sorry...should've termed it, "relatively weak" as I was referring mainly to it being weak QUANTITY-wise if we only take 20.

This post was edited on 2/1 12:22 PM by brian.mikeson

 

[WildCard]

Originally posted by KapitalCat:

Originally posted by semowildcatfan:
The transfers do not count against the 25 LOI limit. They do count against the 85 total scholarship limit. I think they will save at least two or three rides for 2016.

They do. This was discussed in a thread a few weeks ago when Jen Smith wrote and article that mentioned they counted. I emailed her and challenged her on it but she said that information came per a release from UK and that Ben Roberts (LHL) had double checked with UK and indeed given when they transferred they count toward the 25. Here is the release from UK:


The mid-year enrollees are four high school stars who graduated in December - offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei, tight end C.J. Conrad, defensive end Kengera Daniel and linebacker Jordan Jones - along with a pair of transfers from the University of Nebraska, tight end Greg Hart and linebacker Courtney Love.

All six players will count toward the 2015 signing class. They will go through the off-season high performance program and participate in spring practice.

I recall this discussion and I believe Jen Smith acknowledge the "correction" and said the UK press release wrong. Regardless, transfers from 4 year schools DO NOT count against the 25/year maximum limit, only the 85 limit. The 25 limit applies only to first time "counters".

IRT the OP's question I think the obvious answer is UK should make a last minute push for the 3 remaining uncommitted 5* prospects.

Seriously, it depends on the potential upside of any under the radar type players as well as how many schollies would be left over. Many schools stay a few short of the 85 max so they can accommodate an off season transfer or reward a deserving walk on.

Peace

 

[TheThack]

Originally posted by brian.mikeson:

Originally posted by TheThack:
I think calling this class weak is a misnomer and unfair. The average star ranking that so many of us are enamored with is still over 3 as I recall and one of the highest averages outside of the top 30. We may not end up with quantity but we still have quality players that fill needs.

Sorry...should've termed it, "relatively weak" as I was referring mainly to it being weak QUANTITY-wise if we only take 20.

This post was edited on 2/1 12:22 PM by brian.mikeson

I can buy that and agree. One thing I seem to recall is that one of the classes had a small number of seniors and could impact the number we could take because of the 85 limit. I am not sure if that was this year or next year or if it is a legitimate concern or not.

 

[KapitalCat]

Originally posted by WildCard:

Originally posted by KapitalCat:

Originally posted by semowildcatfan:
The transfers do not count against the 25 LOI limit. They do count against the 85 total scholarship limit. I think they will save at least two or three rides for 2016.

They do. This was discussed in a thread a few weeks ago when Jen Smith wrote and article that mentioned they counted. I emailed her and challenged her on it but she said that information came per a release from UK and that Ben Roberts (LHL) had double checked with UK and indeed given when they transferred they count toward the 25. Here is the release from UK:


The mid-year enrollees are four high school stars who graduated in December - offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei, tight end C.J. Conrad, defensive end Kengera Daniel and linebacker Jordan Jones - along with a pair of transfers from the University of Nebraska, tight end Greg Hart and linebacker Courtney Love.

All six players will count toward the 2015 signing class. They will go through the off-season high performance program and participate in spring practice.

I recall this discussion and I believe Jen Smith acknowledge the "correction" and said the UK press release wrong. Regardless, transfers from 4 year schools DO NOT count against the 25/year maximum limit, only the 85 limit. The 25 limit applies only to first time "counters".

IRT the OP's question I think the obvious answer is UK should make a last minute push for the 3 remaining uncommitted 5* prospects.

Seriously, it depends on the potential upside of any under the radar type players as well as how many schollies would be left over. Many schools stay a few short of the 85 max so they can accommodate an off season transfer or reward a deserving walk on.

Peace

Really? I didn't finish out that thread but I don't recall her saying UK got it wrong, although at the time it never made any sense to me . I'll drop her another email. She's always very kind to respond. Here was her email response to me when I challenged her on that info:


The information about all six counting toward the 2015 signing
class came directly from UK officials. It was in the release in two
different places. It also came from one of the top recruiting guys on
Stoops' staff who confirmed it with Ben Roberts, our recruiting writer.








Have a nice day.


P.S. - it seemed weird to us, too, which is why I double checked with two different people.





Jen

 

[Deeeefense]

Originally posted by TheThack:
I think calling this class weak is a misnomer and unfair. The average star ranking that so many of us are enamored with is still over 3 as I recall and one of the highest averages outside of the top 30. We may not end up with quantity but we still have quality players that fill needs.

That's correct and if we ink Lewis that will put us well over 3.0.

One thing that may not be apparent in the numbers is the fact that our roster is so full at this point that we don't have room for a full 25 in this class is evidence that Stoops & his staff are doing a great job of bringing in kids that are working out well so far and avoiding the normal levels of attrition that you see at many other schools. If you go back an look at some of the previous staff's classes the amount of attrition was enormous. Keeping the ones you bring in and developing them pays big dividends down the road as opposed to the revolving door we have seen here in the past.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by Deeeefense:

Originally posted by TheThack:
I think calling this class weak is a misnomer and unfair. The average star ranking that so many of us are enamored with is still over 3 as I recall and one of the highest averages outside of the top 30. We may not end up with quantity but we still have quality players that fill needs.

That's correct and if we ink Lewis that will put us well over 3.0.

One thing that may not be apparent in the numbers is the fact that our roster is so full at this point that we don't have room for a full 25 in this class is evidence that Stoops & his staff are doing a great job of bringing in kids that are working out well so far and avoiding the normal levels of attrition that you see at many other schools. If you go back an look at some of the previous staff's classes the amount of attrition was enormous. Keeping the ones you bring in and developing them pays big dividends down the road as opposed to the revolving door we have seen here in the past.

IMO the fact that there has not been much attrition with Stoops recruits needs further discussion. I can not think of any just off the top of my head. Does anyone know if there has been any? I guess Tubman if he is in fact going to be an attrition and that is not a certainty yet. Let hope we don't have attrition as a results of the Richmond incident.

 

[Blue Decade]

Originally posted by KapitalCat

Originally posted by semowildcatfan:
The transfers do not count against the 25 LOI limit. They do count against the 85 total scholarship limit. I think they will save at least two or three rides for 2016.

They do. This was discussed in a thread a few weeks ago when Jen Smith wrote and article that mentioned they counted. I emailed her and challenged her on it but she said that information came per a release from UK and that Ben Roberts (LHL) had double checked with UK and indeed given when they transferred they count toward the 25. Here is the release from UK:

The mid-year enrollees are four high school stars who graduated in December - offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei, tight end C.J. Conrad, defensive end Kengera Daniel and linebacker Jordan Jones - along with a pair of transfers from the University of Nebraska, tight end Greg Hart and linebacker Courtney Love.

All six players will count toward the 2015 signing class. They will go through the off-season high performance program and participate in spring practice.

Jen Smith was incorrect. Has been clarified in multiple threads. Semowildcatfan is correct. Kentucky like all teams is allowed to sign up to 25 new freshmen and juco transfers. Transfers from 4 year schools count against the 85 man limit but not the class limit. At the moment, we have at least 9 more scholarships left, maybe 10 if Strowbridge de-commits. I do not think Stoops will deliberately save scholarships. He will fill as many as he can, as long as he gets players he wants. They won't take marginal players just to fill. Think we probably get Lewis, Custis, Ross. Possibly Miller, McNair. Probably a couple more surprises on Wednesday.
This post was edited on 2/1 2:50 PM by Blue Decade

 

[jauk11]

Originally posted by WildCard:

Originally posted by KapitalCat:

Originally posted by semowildcatfan:
The transfers do not count against the 25 LOI limit. They do count against the 85 total scholarship limit. I think they will save at least two or three rides for 2016.

They do. This was discussed in a thread a few weeks ago when Jen Smith wrote and article that mentioned they counted. I emailed her and challenged her on it but she said that information came per a release from UK and that Ben Roberts (LHL) had double checked with UK and indeed given when they transferred they count toward the 25. Here is the release from UK:


The mid-year enrollees are four high school stars who graduated in December - offensive lineman George Asafo-Adjei, tight end C.J. Conrad, defensive end Kengera Daniel and linebacker Jordan Jones - along with a pair of transfers from the University of Nebraska, tight end Greg Hart and linebacker Courtney Love.

All six players will count toward the 2015 signing class. They will go through the off-season high performance program and participate in spring practice.

I recall this discussion and I believe Jen Smith acknowledge the "correction" and said the UK press release wrong. Regardless, transfers from 4 year schools DO NOT count against the 25/year maximum limit, only the 85 limit. The 25 limit applies only to first time "counters".

IRT the OP's question I think the obvious answer is UK should make a last minute push for the 3 remaining uncommitted 5* prospects.

Seriously, it depends on the potential upside of any under the radar type players as well as how many schollies would be left over. Many schools stay a few short of the 85 max so they can accommodate an off season transfer or reward a deserving walk on.

Peace

Since there are only a couple of schools out there that will offer some of the five star rejects out there maybe we should join that fray?

Nah, if we have to sink to the level of some of our competition (perhaps you know one of those schools that will/have done anything to win) then I had rather lose a few games, I think we will be doing pretty well even with our enforcement officer scared to death of the inept and toothless NCAA.

 

[southindycat]

DB Lewis
DB Custis
CB Baity
LB McNair
DT Miggins
OL Any high quality HS
RB Any high quality HS

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

When we have 2 transfers come in they will take 2 scholarships, we had 2 players leave for right now in Heard and Max Smith. So problem solved. I'm sure by the end of spring practice their will be some more guys leave that are injured or want more playing time elsewhere.

 

[ebwildcat1]

Imo
1 rb
1 qb
2 wr
1 dt
1-de if we lose Strowbridge
1- lb
2-db

 

[Poetax]

First I don't think Stoops will take anyone just for filling a spot. We have seen several recruits the last 2 years+ that were not looked at earlier but later had the top dogs came into the picture that tried or did take then from us. So I don't think anyone can deny that this staff can find talent. We have NO clue what is in store for us on NSD so I'm hoping it works out for us. Plus unless they can get REAL talent at RB and QB, I don't think they go there if nothing happens with the current players.