First Down Kentucky: Monday Night Recruiting Updates
Hello friends. It’s great to speak with you during such a wonderful time of year. Okay, I lied. You know that feeling you have about 4-5 days before Christmas? There’s so much you still need to get done, but it’s a struggle because all you can think about is having some time off work for a wonderful celebration. That’s me right now ahead of Kentucky Derby 150.
Instead of sleeping, on Sunday night I watched a replay of the UAE Derby and made a mental checklist of the items I need to put in my race day fannypack. Oh, and there’s what I need to pick up at Kroger to make sure I’m having a good time, albeit one that’s not wasted without food in my belly. I also need to spend more time looking at the Kentucky Oaks program and finishing my laundry to make sure this year’s fits are complete.
And yes, there’s still Kentucky football to discuss. It’s at the back of my mental pecking order. For one week a year, I don’t want to spend time laboring over Mark Stoops’ football team. However, this is a 365-day-a-year job and it’s my duty to deliver the latest Kentucky football news right now. Fortunately, there are a few recruiting updates at our fingertips to make this Monday of Derby Week easy peasy.
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Transfer Portal Closes Tomorrow
The spring transfer portal window is about to slam shut. Only open for two weeks, most of the eight Kentucky football departures happened a week ago. Players who wish to seek out another school this fall must their submit paperwork before the calendar turns from April to May. Three wide receivers are on the move, but the one player fans didn’t want to see leave was cornerback Jaremiah Anglin, who’s bound for Pitt. That’s probably it for departures this spring.
Just because the transfer portal is closing, doesn’t mean Kentucky is done adding players. Those recruitments do not have to be completed until the summer session begins next month. Cornerback DJ Waller Jr. was a significant addition for the Cats, but he’s the only one so far. We’re still waiting to hear from Collin Schlee after the quarterback visited Virginia Tech over the weekend. Rene Konga (Louisville) and Brandon Lane (Michigan State) committed elsewhere, but the Cats are still in the mix with a defensive lineman or two late in the process.
Familiar Name Enters the Portal
Cristian Conyer is leaving Rocky Top after only one season in Knoxville. Ranked as the top player in the state a year ago by Rivals, Kentucky was the runner-up to Tennessee in his recruitment. The thought of bringing the Bowling Green native back to his old Kentucky home is intriguing, but intra-conference transfers are prohibited in the SEC during the spring portal window.
A New Kentucky Football Addition
Gerald Mincey is making it a family affair at Kentucky. His younger brother, Daniel Mincey, announced he will be a Wildcat. Ranked as a three-star talent by 247 Sports in the 2024 recruiting class, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive lineman had offers from UConn, Coastal Carolina, FIU and App. State, among others. Instead, he chose to join UK’s program as a PWO and play alongside his brother. Welcome to Kentucky, Mr. Mincey.
Kentucky Out of the Justin Hill Sweepstakes
Vince Marrow has won some significant recruiting battles out of Cincinnati Winton Woods High School. The Big Dog brought Justin Hill to campus a few times, but ultimately Hill decided to venture out of the area. He trimmed his list to four finalists and Ohio State is the only nearby school still in the mix. Oregon, Alabama, and USC are his other finalists, each of which will get an official visit in June.
Kentucky is out of the picture for the Top 100 talent, but Marrow may pull another from the high school in this cycle. The Wildcats are in a good spot with OL Raphael Greene. That cake will bake throughout the summer as Eric Wolford develops his big board for a very important offensive line recruiting class.
Kentucky in a War of Words with Michigan
When you scan through the On300 rankings, Marquise Davis appears to be the highest-ranked player that Kentucky has a legitimate shot to land. Vince Marrow has hosted No. 114 overall player in the class for multiple unofficial visits, but Michigan isn’t going away. Every time he speaks to recruiting reporters, he has nice things to say about the Wolverines. Not ideal.
RB coach Tony Alford recruited Davis at Ohio State before he made the move to Ann Arbor. Davis said over the weekend that of all of the position coaches involved in his recruitment, he has the best relationship Alford. Not ideal.
“He’s been pretty transparent,” Davis said of Alford. “He lets me know where I’m at and lets me know where he’s at in my recruitment — if I’m No. 1, No. 2. He’s real transparent, so whatever it is, we talk about it.”
Michigan will get Davis’ first official visit in June, followed by trips to Kentucky and Tennessee.
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