How many can UK sign?

[TJS4UK]

Last year UK signed 23 (2 short of the 25 limit). However, only 20 of those players actually enrolled. I am certain that they can back count N Pringle, S Johnson & T Leavitt, if they have enough open spots to back count them. I don't think that they can back count any of the HS early enrollees, but I am not 100% certain about that. Does anybody know for sure?

My best guess is that if you go by the 23 signed LOI's, that UK would have 2 spots left that they could back count. If you go by the 20 that actually enrolled, it looks like they have 3 spots left that they can back count. That's either 27 or 28 total that UK could sign in this class.

Again, does anybody know for sure?

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Last year UK signed 23 (2 short of the 25 limit). However, only 20 of those players actually enrolled. I am certain that they can back count N Pringle, S Johnson & T Leavitt, if they have enough open spots to back count them. I don't think that they can back count any of the HS early enrollees, but I am not 100% certain about that. Does anybody know for sure?

My best guess is that if you go by the 23 signed LOI's, that UK would have 2 spots left that they could back count. If you go by the 20 that actually enrolled, it looks like they have 3 spots left that they can back count. That's either 27 or 28 total that UK could sign in this class.

Again, does anybody know for sure?

Did 3 not qualify? Unless the rule has changed in the last couple of years, if those 3 did not qualify to be admitted in 15 they have to be the one using those 3 spots in 16 or those spots just go away. Rule was put in to discourage signing so many kids who were borderline qualifiers.

 

[gobigblue812_rivals29381]

You can only sign 25 per year in the SEC unless you sign less from the year before. If you do sign less than 25, you can backcount those with early enrollees the next spring. So if UK only signed 23 then they can backcount 2 this year with early enrollees. I'm not sure how many UK signed last year. If the signees do not enroll because of grades those are not allowed to be refilled the next year.

 

[Los Gatos]

You can only sign 25 per year in the SEC unless you sign less from the year before. If you do sign less than 25, you can backcount those with early enrollees the next spring. So if UK only signed 23 then they can backcount 2 this year with early enrollees. I'm not sure how many UK signed last year. If the signees do not enroll because of grades those are not allowed to be refilled the next year.

This basically correct. I also am not sure how many UK signed last year or if any of those could have been backcounted. For some reason I though UK only had 22 counted as signed to a LOI in 2015. If so, they can backcount three this year and thus could sign 28. If it was 23 last year the total for this year will be 27. And both JC transfers and high schoolers who enroll early can be backcounted.

Some of the confusion result from there being two different 25 player limits. The above is in reference to the SEC LOI limit. There is also a NCAA "initial counter" limit of 25. As gobigblue posted you can't carryover a LOI for a player who does not enroll. You can carry over a player who fails to qualify and doesn't enroll against the NCAA limit.

This difference in how players are counted leads to a situation who a school can award a scholarship to a player who does not sign a LOI. There are restriction on who can be awarded a scholarship but I don't know these rules. I think this is referred to as "blueshirting" but not sure.

 

[kyhusker2]

The more important limit is the 85 total scholarship limit. No idea where UK stands in relation to that, but I don't think you have to be at or below 85 until August.

 

[VikingsCat]

There are two separate set of rules;

NCAA
- 25 initial counters each year, counted at enrollment in August. A player is counted only once, hence a transfer from a NCAA school don't count towards the initial counter, since they have been counted at their former school.
- 85 limit of scholarship players

SEC
- Limit of 25 signed LOI each year. This doesn't include financial papers signed by early enrollees.

We had 22 initial counters last year, so 3 of the early enrollees can be back-counted towards 2015.

 

[jauk11]

Just speculating, but I think the reason UK only took 22 last year is because we also took some transfers, which put us at the 85 limit, not because some didn't qualify AFTER they were counted as part of our class. Therefore those spots should be able to be used IF we also don't exceed the 85 total limit.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Just speculating, but I think the reason UK only took 22 last year is because we also took some transfers, which put us at the 85 limit, not because some didn't qualify AFTER they were counted as part of our class. Therefore those spots should be able to be used IF we also don't exceed the 85 total limit.

That 85 number really isn't an issue until Aug. Now I realize UK hasn't processed kids out in the past, but by the looks of things almost the entire conference is involved now. First it was Bama, UT followed with Jones, looks like Smart is bringing it to Athens, OM is fully envolved as is LSU. Big 10 is also doing the same thing, looks like if you don't get on board its going to be a big disadvantage.

 

[Los Gatos]

There are two separate set of rules;

NCAA
- 25 initial counters each year, counted at enrollment in August. A player is counted only once, hence a transfer from a NCAA school don't count towards the initial counter, since they have been counted at their former school.
- 85 limit of scholarship players

SEC
- Limit of 25 signed LOI each year. This doesn't include financial papers signed by early enrollees.

We had 22 initial counters last year, so 3 of the early enrollees can be back-counted towards 2015.

Believe the SEC changed the rule regarding early enrollee who sign financial aid papers so that they now count against the 25 LOI limit.

 

[TJS4UK]

We had 22 initial counters last year, so 3 of the early enrollees can be back-counted towards 2015.

Actually, I counted 1 too many. Sorry about that!!! That is where I got totally confused as I previously had been thinking that UK could back count up to 3.

Anyway, UK signed 21 initially & then added 1 more to make 22.

Grumpyolddawg asked if 3 failed to qualify. That is correct. Provitt, Gosier & Livingston. Which leaves 19 signees that actually enrolled.

So it sounds like the number of NCAA initial counters for 2015 is 19. That is the total number that actually enrolled in August. However, UK signed 22 LOI's which is 3 short of the SEC rule of 25 LOI's per year. So UK can therefore back count 3.

I think I've got it. Thanks for the help... And again, sorry about incorrectly counting!