jrow, based on the tea leaves, I'm thinking that UK is allocating one scholarship for a Juco DB, specifically safety. It more than likely comes down to Lonnie Johnson or Brian cole. Who do you take?
1 ride for a JUCO db
- Thread starter TrollCat_rivals128405
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Juco players are just as much a gamble as high school kids, imo. We got S. Johnson, who turned out really good and we hadn't heard much of, and we got Tate Leavitt....who MAY live up to his four star cred but red shirted.
You DO get that extra two years of maturity and grades settling down though....and that never hurts.
You DO get that extra two years of maturity and grades settling down though....and that never hurts.
I think it is a safety. West has been injury prone. Losing McClain and McWilson, it would probably be good to bring in a more mature player for depth. I think Cole might be that guy, but I see he plays a lot of RB in CC.
Troll, great ? I think Stoops wants to take 2. I think he would take both Johnson and Cole if he could get them. 1 likely starts opposite Edwards. 1 likely subs at nickel. and they likely rotate. JMO but Stoops clearly loves and focuses on the secondary. I think that might be how he plays this. I think Stoops believes he has a1-2 year window where UK can have a very good secondary, so get some jucos in here and have a competition.
Anyone think the staff believes there will be substantial attrition? The way the staff is currently recruiting....I have no idea where all of the rides will come from without it
Anyone think the staff believes there will be substantial attrition? The way the staff is currently recruiting....I have no idea where all of the rides will come from without it
Jucos are usually a gamble. The advantage is that the juco has that extra playing experience after high school. There are disadvantages. They are often academically challenged, usually not in the best physical condition. The juco typically has 2 years of eligibility, a short window for the coaches to use him. It's like everything else. Recruiting is about evaluation and communication. The better the staff does with evaluation, the more likely that the recruit can help. Typically, there are 2 reasons to sign jucos. The 1st reason is the team needs immediate help at a particular position, and a particular juco is a good fit there. That's why Auburn took Cam Newton, why Kentucky took Ryan Flannigan, Steve Johnson. The 2nd reason is you are down to the end of your recruiting season, and you failed to sign primary targets. So you have open scholarships left and you fill them with jucos who might contribute. This is why Kentucky took Miggins, and he starting as a senior. It's usually better to carefully evaluate and sign talented high school players who can play in your program for 4 years. I don't know how much urgency Stoops feels about the safety position. He has Mike Edwards, Marcus Walker, Kendall Randolph, Darius West back, with Ajian coming in the class. If he thinks West will be physically sound, that's a strong group. He might choose to add 1 more since Randolph will be a senior. Defensive tackle is another story. We are not in good shape there. Pringle and Elam will be seniors. Middleton is a proven player but they don't know what they will get from Dubose, Looney, Cross, Bohanna. As far as jucos are concerned, they already have Hoskins who might or might not be a defensive tackle. They sure could use 1 more, maybe 2 more.
With Darius West, Davnote Robinson, Jordan Griffin, and Kei Beckam all available to play next year, plus 3 of our 4 starters back, and several backups, do not understand the need for a JUCO defensive back. At all. Would much rather take a JUCO defensive lineman.
Not sure if Kobie Walker can play safety, but I honestly wouldn't mind seeing if Eli Brown could play safety. Very athletic and fast. Right now still a little small to be an every down LB but would be considered a big hard hitting safety.
Remember that he absolutely destroyed and laid the wood to a wide receiver in the Mizzou game.
Remember that he absolutely destroyed and laid the wood to a wide receiver in the Mizzou game.
Think folks need to move on from Kobie Walker. Cannot stay healthy and when he was on the field I just did not see what folks were hyping over the summer about him. I am sure he is a good guy and is talented, but right now I am not sure he has much of a football future. Hopefully this next time around things will start to go his way.
As things stand, Edwards, Walker, Randolph, West, Ajian are our 2017 safeties. Edwards is 1 of the best players on our team. Randolph has been impressive and had a breakout season. Walker was an elite recruit who picked Kentucky over Florida and other SEC teams. West chose Kentucky over Notre Dame, Michigan State, Wisconsin. If West was healthy this year, he would be starting. So if West is healthy for 2017, we are in good shape. Ajian is another elite recruit, would be nice to redshirt him if possible. Griffin, Robinson are physical corners with size who can play some snaps at safety if needed. We have great talent and depth at the corners. We don't really need a juco safety or corner, which is why we see the list of recruiting targets for the secondary getting smaller now. But Lonnie Johnson is an exception. Johnson is a former track star with a long frame, the type of high level prospect who makes a team better. If Stoops could get him, it's a no brainier. But I don't think he will be easy to sign.
1. The goal for our defense is to get faster not slower...Kobie Walker and Eli Brown are Lbers and really need to focus on growing into their bodies and be Lbrs (I agree with the comment on Kobie...I'm not sure what we can expect from him the next few years).
2. To help clarify the safety spots...Mike Edwards is a strong safety which to me plays more of a role in playing in the box, support in run game..whereas free safety (McClain and McWilson) plays deep safety and supports in passing game moreso.
- Darius West was playing at free safety alongside Mike Edwards before he got hurt.
- Isn't Marcus Walker slotted at free safety as well and would slot to compete for starting free safety?
- Kendall Randolph play some nickel as is depth charted behind Mike Edwards
I am assuming all the others young DBs in Beckham, Griffin and Devante Robinson are slated for CBs moreso than safety spots.
So that isn't a ton of depth at all for fee safety...probably better get a JUCO if West isn't 100% next year.
2. To help clarify the safety spots...Mike Edwards is a strong safety which to me plays more of a role in playing in the box, support in run game..whereas free safety (McClain and McWilson) plays deep safety and supports in passing game moreso.
- Darius West was playing at free safety alongside Mike Edwards before he got hurt.
- Isn't Marcus Walker slotted at free safety as well and would slot to compete for starting free safety?
- Kendall Randolph play some nickel as is depth charted behind Mike Edwards
I am assuming all the others young DBs in Beckham, Griffin and Devante Robinson are slated for CBs moreso than safety spots.
So that isn't a ton of depth at all for fee safety...probably better get a JUCO if West isn't 100% next year.
It's really hard to get excited about West ever contributing here. I hope and pray he has an injury free 2017 but his history is not promising. Guys with that many major injuries rarely return to their former glory. We need a backup plan in case he can't contribute or gets injured again.