How Do We End Up VS SEC in Recruiting?

[UKWinsAgainYep]

What's your prediction on how our class ends up ranked vs the rest of the SEC?

IMO, we have to start beating out Mizzou, Vandy, and either Miss State or SC in recruiting to keep momentum in climbing the SEC ladder.

 

[Bank Cat]

Unfortunately, probably 9th or 10th. But fortunately, probably in the top 30 nationally.

I am no evaluator, but I think after the top 5 to 10, it is a crapshoot. And I think we have a staff recruiting that's players as good as any team in the SEC not named Alabama.

 

[Dallas-Wild]

Believe we are currently 9th.

22nd nation.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Here's the thing. If you are in a race and the cars are thus:

1. 400 hp
2. 380
3. 370
4. 369
5. 330
6. 328
7. 327
8. 326
9. 250
10. 245


We used to have a 250 hp car but now we're in the 330 range. We may be ranked 7th or maybe 8th but we have enough ponies to hang with anyone in the middle.....and occasionally surprise a upper tier team.

People get so caught up in how we recruit compared to the rest of the SEC but it's an inexact science. Just note that we now have the recruits to compete with most of the SEC. Now whether or not we do that is another topic entirely.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

Here's the thing. If you are in a race and the cars are thus:

1. 400 hp
2. 380
3. 370
4. 369
5. 330
6. 328
7. 327
8. 326
9. 250
10. 245


We used to have a 250 hp car but now we're in the 330 range. We may be ranked 7th or maybe 8th but we have enough ponies to hang with anyone in the middle.....and occasionally surprise a upper tier team.

People get so caught up in how we recruit compared to the rest of the SEC but it's an inexact science. Just note that we now have the recruits to compete with most of the SEC. Now whether or not we do that is another topic entirely.

But I would say the law of averages helps get you more wins the higher your recruiting rankings are....

 

[willievic]

I know the STARS are important, but I think, more important then the STARS, is the coaches ability to coach them up. I think that was proven this year with the OL. I can remember a lot of fans wanting to get rid of Coach Schlarman, because our OL was not doing a good job, even though our OL was inexperienced. With some patience, we saw a different OL after the first couple of games, and they were still improving at the Louisville game.
The QB we had at the Louisville game, was not the QB we had at the Florida or Alabama game. Coach Gran and Hinshaw coached him up. I think our receivers improved a lot, and Williams went straight ahead instead of dancing in the backfield.
Overall, I think the glass is over half-full. What do you think?

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[cardkilla_rivals379685]

We'll probably finish between 8-10 but be top 25 nationally. Talent is there next year to be a top 25 team

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

I know the STARS are important, but I think, more important then the STARS, is the coaches ability to coach them up. I think that was proven this year with the OL. I can remember a lot of fans wanting to get rid of Coach Schlarman, because our OL was not doing a good job, even though our OL was inexperienced. With some patience, we saw a different OL after the first couple of games, and they were still improving at the Louisville game.
The QB we had at the Louisville game, was not the QB we had at the Florida or Alabama game. Coach Gran and Hinshaw coached him up. I think our receivers improved a lot, and Williams went straight ahead instead of dancing in the backfield.
Overall, I think the glass is over half-full. What do you think?

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

Agree, I saw improvement in players. Also, I can honestly say I see more athletes than I've ever seen on a UK team and I've been watching about 30 years.

Saying that, I was kind of stunned when I looked at the players on our side compared to Georgia when we played. They were CLEARLY bigger, stronger, and faster.

So, I'm just saying, we still need to eventually catch up with teams like that if we want to compete for an East title, which is my goal.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Close enough.

 

[DCFseattle]

Here's the thing. If you are in a race and the cars are thus:

1. 400 hp
2. 380
3. 370
4. 369
5. 330
6. 328
7. 327
8. 326
9. 250
10. 245


We used to have a 250 hp car but now we're in the 330 range. We may be ranked 7th or maybe 8th but we have enough ponies to hang with anyone in the middle.....and occasionally surprise a upper tier team.

People get so caught up in how we recruit compared to the rest of the SEC but it's an inexact science. Just note that we now have the recruits to compete with most of the SEC. Now whether or not we do that is another topic entirely.

Yeah, i can't go with that analogy.
My mustang is slightly above 400whp and i lose as many as i win red light to red light.

1 has to be well north of 500 these days.
That's my petty gripe for the day.

 

[mtn cat1]

Compared to where we normally rank, (13 or 14), we will be light years ahead with a 7-9 ranking!!!!!

 

[jimjeffries]

Here's the thing. If you are in a race and the cars are thus:

1. 400 hp
2. 380
3. 370
4. 369
5. 330
6. 328
7. 327
8. 326
9. 250
10. 245


We used to have a 250 hp car but now we're in the 330 range. We may be ranked 7th or maybe 8th but we have enough ponies to hang with anyone in the middle.....and occasionally surprise a upper tier team.

People get so caught up in how we recruit compared to the rest of the SEC but it's an inexact science. Just note that we now have the recruits to compete with most of the SEC. Now whether or not we do that is another topic entirely.

I can appreciate the analogy. Do we have the talent to compete for a final four birth? Not really. but do we have the talent to upset some traditonal powers? yes. keep up the recruiting around the 20-30 range on a regular basis and the math says we could shake things up.

Have a few things go our way, and who knows. Give me a more competent front seven, and the Oline/running game of last year, and i wouldnt want to play us on an off day if im a top level school. That front seven has some real opportunities now to get relevant, which I haven't always believed. Maybe I'm sipping the Kool-Aid a bit on the meat eaters up front, but the depth potential looks good on paper.

if you can stick with the top 30 recruiting classes, I am of the belief that we could be a real threat and I personally couldn't be more excited about the prospects of UK future.

And that's coming from me....

Pumped about our Oline and it's development (Schlarman) , Benny Snell, uptick in recruiting with this staff (Marrow, Gran, Hinshaw, Thomas)

If Stephen Johnson shows up like he did the last few weeks of the season, we could have a great team. so much relies on the QB at this level (Michigan St, Iowa, TCU, Louisville, Pitt, Houston etc.) once you have the other areas competent. I think we can be what Mich St has been. Finally at a position IMO to shake up the order of things.

 

[point1zerorock]

WHO CARES where we rank against the entire SEC? I say this all the time! Alabama, Auburn and LSU aren't on the schedule for many years. It ONLY matters where we rank among common opponents - the SEC east and MS St (and Louisville). We are about in the middle of the pack with them - and that's a pretty good. If we have talent in the ball park and good coaching we can compete for the SEC east title next year! Go Cats

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Gran has improved the play in just about every facet of the offensive unit. OL looked horrible over 3 years until he come in, qb play was disapointing until he come in with Hinshaw, rb play was decent but not exceptional as it is now. Not only is he teaching these kids how to play and be a winner but hes also teaching our other coaches as well.

Very proud by the hire that Stoops made with him. Dramatic turnaround. If the D steps up to another level then we would be a force in the east.

 

[supernova0221]

What's your prediction on how our class ends up ranked vs the rest of the SEC?

IMO, we have to start beating out Mizzou, Vandy, and either Miss State or SC in recruiting to keep momentum in climbing the SEC ladder.

7th after today

 

[Vonburns1]

Fortunately it's not about autos and horsepower. It's mainly about QB's and playmakers and lately we're looking pretty good in that department. I'll bet we're in the top seven in the SEC with those.

 

[BlueRaider22]

But I would say the law of averages helps get you more wins the higher your recruiting rankings are....

Very true, but in the reality of the inexact science of recruiting there is a wide variance. Often the team that finishes 8th is not statistically different than the team that finishes 6th.......or 10th for that matter. (this varies from yr to yr). But certainly the 8th team is not as good as the 1st team or as bad as the 14th team.

It also depends on other things, of course.
-were they rated appropriately? We all know there are the Cobb's of the world just as there are 5* busts. I like to look at each recruit's offer sheet.....and other recruiting sites when for each recruit. If you have a guy that has 15 offers from power 5 schools and he's rated a 2* then he's probably underrated and your overall ranking should be higher. Etc, etc.

-coachable and coachability. How well can the coaches coach and how well can the player improve? What good is a recruiting class if they can't be used and developed properly?

-make up - is the 8th ranked class full of 10 great TE recruits.....or is it varied? Does it fill you team needs? Do the style of player fit the team scheme?

-consistency - is this an 8th ranked class in the midst of a bunch of 12-14 ranked classes the last few yrs? Or do you consistently pull in 8th ranked classes?


If you nail all or most of the above your team will compete well.

 

[51stFan]

Agree, I saw improvement in players. Also, I can honestly say I see more athletes than I've ever seen on a UK team and I've been watching about 30 years.

I agree. I've been watching the Cats since the 80s and the talent level is at an all-time high now. A couple of years ago there was a Peyton Manning tribute on and it replayed Cats and Vols in Bill Curry's last year. It was very noticeable that half the team had no business being on an SEC field. It is not like that any longer. This thing may not work out, but at least we have a fighting chance now.

 

[mtn cat1]

I like the talent that the coaching staff is bringing-in!!!

 

[bthaunert]

WHO CARES where we rank against the entire SEC? I say this all the time! Alabama, Auburn and LSU aren't on the schedule for many years. It ONLY matters where we rank among common opponents - the SEC east and MS St (and Louisville). We are about in the middle of the pack with them - and that's a pretty good. If we have talent in the ball park and good coaching we can compete for the SEC east title next year! Go Cats

I say the same thing every time. We need to compare ourselves to the 8 teams you list if we do any comparing. Right now, we will continue to put better or comparable talent on the field against UL, Mississippi State, Missouri, Vandy, South Carolina and our other 3 OOC opponents.

 

[Gary4UK]

Agree, I saw improvement in players. Also, I can honestly say I see more athletes than I've ever seen on a UK team and I've been watching about 30 years.

Saying that, I was kind of stunned when I looked at the players on our side compared to Georgia when we played. They were CLEARLY bigger, stronger, and faster.

So, I'm just saying, we still need to eventually catch up with teams like that if we want to compete for an East title, which is my goal.

I didn't notice what you seen against Georgia... I noticed Alabama, Tennessee, but not Georgia.. They have their problems and we played them to a stand still.. They one in the last second of the game if you remember...

 

[Blue Decade]

What's your prediction on how our class ends up ranked vs the rest of the SEC?

IMO, we have to start beating out Mizzou, Vandy, and either Miss State or SC in recruiting to keep momentum in climbing the SEC ladder.

Recruiting prowess is determined by the performance of the class over 4-5 years. Not by what a website says about it.

 

[Stenchymouse]

The main thing is to stack several classes that are ranked in the the top 30, red shirt most of our freshmen, and limit the amount of attrition within our roster.

It's also important to have a clear vision of what we want to accomplish on offense and defense and recruit to that vision.

We have a great staff and its important to limit attrition within our staff as well.

We can definitely get to a bowl every year and if all of the things I listed happen, we can challenge in our division of the SEC.

 

[Blue Decade]

The main thing is to stack several classes that are ranked in the the top 30, red shirt most of our freshmen, and limit the amount of attrition within our roster.

It's also important to have a clear vision of what we want to accomplish on offense and defense and recruit to that vision.

We have a great staff and its important to limit attrition within our staff as well.

We can definitely get to a bowl every year and if all of the things I listed happen, we can challenge in our division of the SEC.

Very well said. The key is stacking strong recruiting classes and developing players well, then putting them in positions to win football games. Stoops has methodically rebuilt. It took him 4 seasons, which is coincidentally the same time it took Rich Brooks in 2003-06. But Stoops is about 20 years younger than Brooks, and Kentucky's returning roster will be loaded in 2017. So better things are ahead. It is interesting to wonder what happened to all the geniuses who were demanding Stoops' firing in October, and wanted Petrino instead. Where did all those guys go? Understanding a coach's rebuilding progress is not measured in 1 week or 1 month or 1 class. This lesson should not be lost on anyone here.

 

[Gary4UK]

Unfortunately, probably 9th or 10th. But fortunately, probably in the top 30 nationally.

I am no evaluator, but I think after the top 5 to 10, it is a crapshoot. And I think we have a staff recruiting that's players as good as any team in the SEC not named Alabama.

Actually, it's 8 right now... With room to grow... Of course others do too.. We're taking a couple or three kids that are 2 stars of low 3 star, but the coaches want those guys... This staff doesn't go after stars as much as talent... Jon Toth was a 2 star kid... How would you like to find another like him... Well, we have a 2 star o-lineman, so who knows what the staff seen in him?

 

[Blue Decade]

Actually, it's 8 right now... With room to grow... Of course others do too.. We're taking a couple or three kids that are 2 stars of low 3 star, but the coaches want those guys... This staff doesn't go after stars as much as talent... Jon Toth was a 2 star kid... How would you like to find another like him... Well, we have a 2 star o-lineman, so who knows what the staff seen in him?

Right. Proves that our coaches do their homework by watching high school players and breaking down film. Randall Cobb, the best football player at Kentucky since Tim Couch, was a 2 or low 3 star player (depending on website) who didn't even draw an offer from Tennessee until January, when he was already firmly committed to Kentucky. You mentioned Toth, now the best center in the SEC. Toth was a 2 star. Toth and Cobb weren't recruited by Stoops. But Austin MacGinnis, AJ Stamps, Courtney Muggins, Bunchy Stallings, Derrick Baity, Josh Allen, TJ Carter, Stephen Johnson, Naquez Pringle, Jamar Watson, Ja'Quize Cross, Gunnar Hoak, Benny Snell, Zy'Aire Hughes (all 2 and low 3 stars) were signed by Stoops. Stars are not as important as offer sheets, and neither is as important as a big heart and a thorough evaluation by a smart coach.

 

[HogCoyote]

7th after today

After yesterday the SEC Stands like this
1. Alabama 1st overall
2. Georgia 4th
3. Texas A&M 5th
4. LSU 6th
5. Tennessee 9th
6. South Carolina 12th
7. Auburn 15th
8. Florida 20th
9. Kentucky 22nd
10. Arkansas 23rd
11. Miss St. 26th
12. Missouri 31st
13. Vanderbilt 67th
14. Ole Miss 74th.

 

[Rickman]

After yesterday the SEC Stands like this
1. Alabama 1st overall
2. Georgia 4th
3. Texas A&M 5th
4. LSU 6th
5. Tennessee 9th
6. South Carolina 12th
7. Auburn 15th
8. Florida 20th
9. Kentucky 22nd
10. Arkansas 23rd
11. Miss St. 26th
12. Missouri 31st
13. Vanderbilt 67th
14. Ole Miss 74th.

Thanks for posting this.
In years past, UK would be in the high 50s, low 60s. The big thing was not that UK was 13th or 14th in the SEC in a given year, but that their was a HUGE gap between us and our competitors. I'm a firm believer that you simply can not compete week in / week out in the SEC with classes that average 60th in the nation. The talent gap is too big. Yes, you might find some diamonds in the rough from the 2 star types. But that will be the exception.

If we stack classes that are averaging 25-30, we can compete against most that we run up against. Then, if we can coach those kids up even more, we are ready for business.

I don't think there is a huge difference in 15th versus 30th in the nation. But I do think there is a wide chasm between 25th and 50th.

So, whether we are 8th or 12th in the final SEC rankings, I'm not concerned as long as we have a talented class in regards to the country as a whole.

 

[Blue Decade]

Well, didn't we just beat South Carolina? Maybe their recruiting classes have been overrated. Or ours have been underrated.

 

[dcspurlock]

We won't sign a full class this year either. If we finish in the top 10 of the SEC and top 30 nationally with only 20-22 signed then that's a hell of a class. With those extra 3-5 scholarships it could put us up a couple more spots in the SEC and as many as 10 spots nationally. This is as good of a class that's ever been signed at our school. If our coaches develop them the way they have our current roster then we're in for a few good seasons in the next few years.

 

[HogCoyote]

Well, didn't we just beat South Carolina? Maybe their recruiting classes have been overrated. Or ours have been underrated.

South Carolina and Tennessee were the surprises to me. South Carolina has been trending downward since Marcus Lattimore's leg blew up, and Tennessee had so much turmoil down the stretch I figured they might have a recruiting exodus.

 

[UKUGA]

Collectively, I think the board has hit on it.

If we move into the middle of the pack (anywhere from 5 to 9), that is a nice bounce for us, especially if we have at least 3 annual opponents (SC, Vandy, and Missouri) below us.

The staff has shown the ability to coach up to make this roughly a mid-tier SEC team.

Now, it's the job of the staff to coach the mid-tier talent up to a top 3-4 team, at least once, so they we can then hopefully push recruiting up to a round a top 4-5 in conference, even once.

It's a process, and we are in the middle of it.

As others have said, we have the makings of a top 25 team next year. Actually seeing that ranking (and having it stick) will be more progress.

Beating Florida and/or UT at home next year is another step.

And then Atlanta. And then . . .

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

After yesterday the SEC Stands like this
1. Alabama 1st overall
2. Georgia 4th
3. Texas A&M 5th
4. LSU 6th
5. Tennessee 9th
6. South Carolina 12th
7. Auburn 15th
8. Florida 20th
9. Kentucky 22nd
10. Arkansas 23rd
11. Miss St. 26th
12. Missouri 31st
13. Vanderbilt 67th
14. Ole Miss 74th.

looking very good compared to years past....