2016 Commitments-BCS Offers

[Crankdatmustard_rivals66299]

Looking down the list it is easy to see we have recruited some nice looking kids who other successful programs wanted. The star system is a starting point to determining recruiting but the "Offer list" usually can give a better idea of what schools think about a kids ability to perform on the collegiate level.

Jaylin Bannerman- Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Michigan State
Jaquize Cross-Kentucky, Minnesota
Kash Daniel-Kentucky, Louisville, South Carolina
Luke Fortner-Kentucky, Cincy, Maryland
Tobias Gilliam-Kentucky, Cincy, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, West Virginia
Jordan Griffin-Kentucky, Auburn, Clemson
Gunner Hoak-Kentucky, Cincy
Dakota Holtzclaw-Kentucky, Louisville, Pitt, VA Tech
Zy'Aire Hughes-Kentucky, Louisville
Drake Jackson-Kentucky, Florida , Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State
Tate Leavitt-Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma
Kordell Looney-Kentucky, Louisville, Pitt
Justin Rigg-Kentucky, Pitt, West Virginia
Davonte Robinson-Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame
Asmin Rose-Kentucky, Indiana
Kayuane Ross-Kentucky, Texas Tech
Kobe Smith-Kentucky, Miami, Tennessee, Arkansas, Miss State
Benny Snell-Kentucky, Cincy, Iowa, Pitt
Roland Walker-Kentucky, Nebraska, Pitt
Jamar Watson-Kentucky, Boston College
Landon Young-Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ohio State, Miami

Looks like Pitt was in on several defensive guys we landed. I think they is a great sign with how Narduzzi is going to build Pitt into a defensive clone of Mich State.

 

[ukalum1988]

Thanks for putting this list together. The interesting thing to see going forward is which recruits will continue to get offers and be recruited by other schools. The underwhelming finish to close out the season leaves UK vulnerable to other schools picking off some of our commits. We will soon find out who's truly "committed" to UK and who is waiting for a better offer.

In the end, IMO, probably 90+% of these guys will stick with UK. I would be pleasantly surprised if the entire class as of today stays intact until NSD, but I'm also hoping we don't repeat what happened last year.

 

[seccats04]

It's a very solid class. Many in our fan base see 22nd ranked and 11th in the SEC and ask themselves how we will ever move up? What they fail to realize is almost every recruit in this class has at least one Power 5 offer, which was never the case pre-Stoops. And you can compete in the SEC with consistent Top 30-35 classes. Just ask Missouri and Miss St. We just have to improve on how to coach them up.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

There are only so many 4 and 5 star kids...unrealistic to think that UK will ever get more than a couple of those guys...and the ones we do snag will be home grown...

where we have to make headway is the type 3* kids we get...alot of those guys to go around...but there are different levels of 3 stars...

you got the 3* star kids who are getting offers from Toledo, IU, Ohio, Bowling Green, ECU, WKU, Wake Forest, Cinci etc...and then you got the 3* star kids who are getting offers from LSU, Ohio St, Miami, Bama, UT...

I know Stoops has his roots in Ohio, which does produce some talent...but most of that talent is going to Michigan, OSU, MSU, Penn St and then the rest of the B10 cleans up whats left...I'm all for recruiting Ohio...but I think there is a severe drop off after the cream of the crop that are going to the big schools...

However, I would like to see more of a focus from the staff on Florida recruiting...I think in this class and the previous 2, about 7 kids were from florida...that ain't gonna cut the mustard...

Florida has twice the population of Ohio...so a 3* from florida could probably be a 4* in ohio...and there are more of them to go around...the kids we can grab down there have at least been playing with and against SEC players in sports...the competitive and talent drop off isn't as extreme...you can go way down the 3* shelf and still have elite talent that are getting serious consideration from top programs...those are the guys we have to grab by pitching playing earlier and more often...

Same for Texas...I know we don't really have any kind of pipeline established there and that everybody recruits Texas dry...but we need to tap into it a little more than what we do...same deal as florida...a 3* star kid from texas could be a 4* a lot of other places...

 

[Mr Schwump]

There are only so many 4 and 5 star kids...unrealistic to think that UK will ever get more than a couple of those guys...and the ones we do snag will be home grown...

where we have to make headway is the type 3* kids we get...alot of those guys to go around...but there are different levels of 3 stars...

you got the 3* star kids who are getting offers from Toledo, IU, Ohio, Bowling Green, ECU, WKU, Wake Forest, Cinci etc...and then you got the 3* star kids who are getting offers from LSU, Ohio St, Miami, Bama, UT...

I know Stoops has his roots in Ohio, which does produce some talent...but most of that talent is going to Michigan, OSU, MSU, Penn St and then the rest of the B10 cleans up whats left...I'm all for recruiting Ohio...but I think there is a severe drop off after the cream of the crop that are going to the big schools...

However, I would like to see more of a focus from the staff on Florida recruiting...I think in this class and the previous 2, about 7 kids were from florida...that ain't gonna cut the mustard...

Florida has twice the population of Ohio...so a 3* from florida could probably be a 4* in ohio...and there are more of them to go around...the kids we can grab down there have at least been playing with and against SEC players in sports...the competitive and talent drop off isn't as extreme...you can go way down the 3* shelf and still have elite talent that are getting serious consideration from top programs...those are the guys we have to grab by pitching playing earlier and more often...

Same for Texas...I know we don't really have any kind of pipeline established there and that everybody recruits Texas dry...but we need to tap into it a little more than what we do...same deal as florida...a 3* star kid from texas could be a 4* a lot of other places...

Re Florida, don't think it's not from not trying. Ansley, Scott and Eliot spend a lot of time there but success has been modest at best.

 

[lz]

A few coaches in the past have tried Texas and had assistants with ties, not much success.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Looking down the list it is easy to see we have recruited some nice looking kids who other successful programs wanted. The star system is a starting point to determining recruiting but the "Offer list" usually can give a better idea of what schools think about a kids ability to perform on the collegiate level.

Jaylin Bannerman- Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Michigan State
Jaquize Cross-Kentucky, Minnesota
Kash Daniel-Kentucky, Louisville, South Carolina
Luke Fortner-Kentucky, Cincy, Maryland
Tobias Gilliam-Kentucky, Cincy, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, West Virginia
Jordan Griffin-Kentucky, Auburn, Clemson
Gunner Hoak-Kentucky, Cincy
Dakota Holtzclaw-Kentucky, Louisville, Pitt, VA Tech
Zy'Aire Hughes-Kentucky, Louisville
Drake Jackson-Kentucky, Florida , Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State
Tate Leavitt-Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma
Kordell Looney-Kentucky, Louisville, Pitt
Justin Rigg-Kentucky, Pitt, West Virginia
Davonte Robinson-Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame
Asmin Rose-Kentucky, Indiana
Kayuane Ross-Kentucky, Texas Tech
Kobe Smith-Kentucky, Miami, Tennessee, Arkansas, Miss State
Benny Snell-Kentucky, Cincy, Iowa, Pitt
Roland Walker-Kentucky, Nebraska, Pitt
Jamar Watson-Kentucky, Boston College
Landon Young-Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ohio State, Miami

Looks like Pitt was in on several defensive guys we landed. I think they is a great sign with how Narduzzi is going to build Pitt into a defensive clone of Mich State.

4 kids out of 20 with offers from other SEC schools... just saying

 

[TJS4UK]

Using Ohio as a "home" territory, in addition to KY, is pretty smart, IMHO.

However, I totally agree that Florida should be the #1 priority after that.

Totally disagree regarding Texas.

I also think that UK should take a close look at how Synder turned KState around... Recruit the JUCO's. Bringing in a handful of JUCO's EVERY YEAR is almost a necessity. I know that some hate that idea, But again, I think that it's a necessity for a school like UK. It would help even more if you could RS some of them. Some of them don't pan out, but that is true with HS kids. Plus, we've put several JUCO kids in the NFL. Likely a MUCH higher % than with our HS recruits, if the truth be told.

 

[sluggercatfan]

There are only so many 4 and 5 star kids...unrealistic to think that UK will ever get more than a couple of those guys...and the ones we do snag will be home grown...

where we have to make headway is the type 3* kids we get...alot of those guys to go around...but there are different levels of 3 stars...

you got the 3* star kids who are getting offers from Toledo, IU, Ohio, Bowling Green, ECU, WKU, Wake Forest, Cinci etc...and then you got the 3* star kids who are getting offers from LSU, Ohio St, Miami, Bama, UT...

I know Stoops has his roots in Ohio, which does produce some talent...but most of that talent is going to Michigan, OSU, MSU, Penn St and then the rest of the B10 cleans up whats left...I'm all for recruiting Ohio...but I think there is a severe drop off after the cream of the crop that are going to the big schools...

However, I would like to see more of a focus from the staff on Florida recruiting...I think in this class and the previous 2, about 7 kids were from florida...that ain't gonna cut the mustard...

Florida has twice the population of Ohio...so a 3* from florida could probably be a 4* in ohio...and there are more of them to go around...the kids we can grab down there have at least been playing with and against SEC players in sports...the competitive and talent drop off isn't as extreme...you can go way down the 3* shelf and still have elite talent that are getting serious consideration from top programs...those are the guys we have to grab by pitching playing earlier and more often...

Same for Texas...I know we don't really have any kind of pipeline established there and that everybody recruits Texas dry...but we need to tap into it a little more than what we do...same deal as florida...a 3* star kid from texas could be a 4* a lot of other places...

Very good post... Very accurate and the south is where the speed is

 

[usinfantrycat85]

Very good post... Very accurate and the south is where the speed is

Agree 100% I may be wrong but I always looked at Georgia and Florida as speed states that we have to recruit well.. if we get speed that can correct a lot of mistakes. If you're faster than your guy you have a edge. And I've always seen Kentucky and Ohio as two states to get the big guys that will get in the trenches and fight. If we can control those 4 states it will be a instant change.

 

[WildCard]

First of all, I agree that "offers" paint a picture that stars and recruiting articles do not. And I always trust coaching evaluations more than independent evaluators. That said, for the most part, we never really know "how solid" are such offers and what contingencies just might be attached. On paper this (2016) is a "good" class. More importantly, in terms of "stars", I think it is the kind of class UK can expect from year to year and must win with (i.e., do "more with less" until you can get "more").

I heard Maggard say something in that season wrap up podcast that struck a chord with me. He said the Cat's watershed TEN 4* 2014 class may be the class that determines his future at UK. I agree.

Peace

 

[seccats04]

4 kids out of 20 with offers from other SEC schools... just saying

Most SEC schools don't recruit that far north. May be a little misleading.

 

[billue]

most people don't understand that a 4.4 in the south is faster than a 4.4 from the north. if football went in a straight line then all would be the same. it seems like southern kids can cut on a dime and not loose speed.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

would agree with hitting the JUCO trail hard...also, maybe this staff needs to become a bit more active on the transfer wire...transfers are usually older and battle tested and ready to play competitively right away...

would love to see an Juco or transfer QB brought in this off season...preferably a dual threat guy...as well as a WR...need play making ability at both desperately...

 

[seccats04]

would agree with hitting the JUCO trail hard...also, maybe this staff needs to become a bit more active on the transfer wire...transfers are usually older and battle tested and ready to play competitively right away...

would love to see an Juco or transfer QB brought in this off season...preferably a dual threat guy...as well as a WR...need play making ability at both desperately...

It won't matter with Dawson calling the plays. He who calls three straight running plays up the middle at the 1 yard line with a 185lb RB :flush:

 

[vhcat70]

The most amazing thing is that everyone had a UK offer. Aren't too many schools that can say that.

 

[Chuckinden]

4 kids out of 20 with offers from other SEC schools... just saying

I count six.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

It's a very solid class. Many in our fan base see 22nd ranked and 11th in the SEC and ask themselves how we will ever move up? What they fail to realize is almost every recruit in this class has at least one Power 5 offer, which was never the case pre-Stoops. And you can compete in the SEC with consistent Top 30-35 classes. Just ask Missouri and Miss St. We just have to improve on how to coach them up.

Agreed, but whenever Stoops finds the ability to "coach them up" please call me back...Until then, I won't be watching.

 

[ukalum1988]

Agreed, but whenever Stoops finds the ability to "coach them up" please call me back...Until then, I won't be watching.

Does this mean you'll stop posting also??

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

Very good post... Very accurate and the south is where the speed is

A 40 or shuttle time is the same, no matter where you live. I'll never understandwhy people say that.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

most people don't understand that a 4.4 in the south is faster than a 4.4 from the north. if football went in a straight line then all would be the same. it seems like southern kids can cut on a dime and not loose speed.

I'm really good in math. 4.4 = 4.4.

You must be referring to shuttle speed.

Is a 3.5 south speed faster than a 3.5 north speed in the shuttle?

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

Most SEC schools don't recruit that far north. May be a little misleading.

This.