Jedrick Wills

jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
60,631
18,638
0
Injury riddled. They gave him the #55 jersey and everything, but he had 2 knee injuries and I think a broken rib or clavicle, all by his junior year. Then, last year, he had a season-ending shoulder injury. Kid was made of Legos, apparently. He signed in the 2011 class and just finished up last season as a RS Sr. with 137 career tackles (7.5 for losses, with 2.5 sack), 4 deflections and 2 interceptions in 20 career starts. Very meh.

Thanks for the info.
 
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Kybluedude

Heisman
Nov 19, 2005
9,398
12,075
0
Let's have a fun exciting winning season and see if Mr Wills catches our excitement. He will be watching closely so show him a bowl. We send o linemen into the pros and now he has the facilities to build himself into a NFL prospect .... You as well Matt Elam!
 

maysvilleky

All-American
Aug 13, 2003
15,769
5,109
0
Alabama is an elite Football program...they can just about get anyone that they truly want. It's nothing against UK. It's similar to how UK recruits basketball. Alabama can pick the best of the best from anywhere. If someone says no, they just move on to the next 5* talent on their list.
 
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Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
May be why UK is stepping up the push for Thayer Munford. BTW, despite all the proclamations otherwise, Wills will be an OG in college especially if he goes the Bama route.
 
Jun 11, 2012
15,051
15,723
0
Making a bowl game will not change his mind if he chooses elsewhere. All of the other schools he's interested in will make better bowls than UK will. His decision will have many factors in it and a minor bowl won't be a determining factor.
 

The_Godfather_rivals

All-Conference
May 22, 2002
25,432
3,795
0
Making a bowl game will not change his mind if he chooses elsewhere. All of the other schools he's interested in will make better bowls than UK will. His decision will have many factors in it and a minor bowl won't be a determining factor.
Disagree.

At least this is not the case for all hometown kids. Many of them simply need to see some signs of life from the home program in order to justify rejecting an elite offer like from a place like Bama.

Not saying that 6+ win season would definitely win over a guy like Wills, but continuing to look like a bunch of sucking amateurs will eliminate any shot.
 

SmokinGun9

Senior
Apr 4, 2014
519
449
0
Until we can lock up the top in-state prospects and keep them at home, we're never going to reach the level we want to be at. This team MUST start winning games so that the few local stud 5 star recruits we produce will WANT to come here.

Results for sure, I agree, but you can't expect to get every player, every year. It may be his dream school, maybe a legacy, maybe a kid wants to branch out on their own, who knows but whatever this cat chooses, it won't make or break us. I sense the relationship between him and UK isn't that hot. By that I mean you dont hear alot about him coming from anyone close to the program.
 

willievic

All-American
Aug 28, 2005
6,167
7,111
0
I sure hope we still field a team even if he doesn't come. Is he more important to us then a good QB? I know he is highly touted, but he is only one guy, and I doubt he is as important as some of the other players we need.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
 

jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
60,631
18,638
0
Making a bowl game will not change his mind if he chooses elsewhere. All of the other schools he's interested in will make better bowls than UK will. His decision will have many factors in it and a minor bowl won't be a determining factor.

You have to start somewhere, and a minor bowl is worlds ahead of a two win record, with NO wins in the SEC, that would be solid progress and proof that the plan is working.

But I expect 7 wins this year, and yes, that will have to include at least one pretty big upset. I can wait for eight OR MORE in 17, and while getting Wills would be a great help (in recruiting also) I think that by that time we will still have a very good OL with or without him. Our QB play should be the only thing that "might" hold us back, we have a LOT of talent elsewhere and name the last time we had a highly sought after 5.9 rated QB to lead us. He should have a lot of help the next few years. I even think we aren't hurting too bad in our backup QBs and it looks like we will have some excellent talent coming in in the future, but it is crucial that Barker AND Johnson are at least adequate in the meantime.
 

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,125
10,861
113
FWIW, apparently Wills was visiting UK today or yesterday or whatever the hell it is right now. Too tired.
 

jauk11

Heisman
Dec 6, 2006
60,631
18,638
0
FWIW, apparently Wills was visiting UK today or yesterday or whatever the hell it is right now. Too tired.

It is today. It is always today, no matter what time it is.

But I appreciate your post, we needed a little encouragement. I still think UK has a lot going for it with his recruitment, I still think a five star from Kentucky is always going to be a much bigger hero here than he would be anywhere else. He also would have a much bigger impact on recruiting, we would owe him a lot from that viewpoint alone. And the facilities AND coaching are not being neglected any more.
 
Sep 27, 2015
15,077
25,146
98
Harris didn't have a former teammate on the team and one committed to the same class he's in.

Walker Wood and Landon Young are recruiting Wills to UK.

I do hope it means something but in light of recent news I am not going to get my hopes up for him. I do expect a really nice class, though
 
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Stenchymouse

All-American
Jul 31, 2005
12,633
6,219
113
UK football is on an upward trajectory!

They've made a 100% commitment to success!

Recruiting has been good and we've been pulling top 30 classes.

Wills is a luxury that we'd love to have, but one player is not making or breaking this program.

The days of us living and dying on a handful of recruits are over.

We'll end up with a top 30 class no matter where Wills goes.
 

Comebakatz3

Heisman
Aug 8, 2008
41,305
31,300
113
A tackle can often be just as important as a quarterback. Think of how many drives that were killed because of false starts or even worse because of sacks off the edge. If our quarterback is comfortable about his backside then he can be much more relaxed. Those are huge factors. If Wills can lock down one of the tackle spots for 2-3 years then we can be a much better team IMO.
 

TuckyFB

Heisman
Jun 21, 2016
8,220
21,263
65
A tackle can often be just as important as a quarterback. Think of how many drives that were killed because of false starts or even worse because of sacks off the edge. If our quarterback is comfortable about his backside then he can be much more relaxed. Those are huge factors. If Wills can lock down one of the tackle spots for 2-3 years then we can be a much better team IMO.
Yep

It's seems the ones who complain about the Offensive Line are the same ones saying Wills isn't that big of a loss.

He is.
 
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VikingsCat

All-Conference
Feb 7, 2013
3,129
2,574
0
For the record, that is what we are hearing as well. Bama is thinking they are going to sign Leatherwood, a 5* on the other site, Wilson, Wills and a JUCO in this class, all 5* OTs. This is to go alone with already having a 5* frosh starting at one OT this fall. That's insane.
Bama got 3 OT's committed already, and two more 5*/4* OT's may committ to theme soon and that's not including Wills.
That's the reason Wills eventually may end up at some other place than Bama. It may be ND or it may be UK, but that depends on what other recruits do and how UK does this season.
 

cookscats

Freshman
Aug 1, 2006
1,089
61
0
All the momentum for Wills is going Bama's way right now. One Bama guy even said he expects a Wills commitment within the next few weeks. Even though Wills is one of the top OTs in the country, not being able to keep a Lexington guy at UK is a huge blow IMO especially with the new facility updates. Even if it is to Bama, it'll be tough to swallow this and Harris if it does happen. The only good thing if it were to happen, would be that it is occurring so early. Gives the staff time to keep recruiting him and other guys instead of him dragging it out like Harris did. I hope this isn't true.
Not really, can't get them all & winning games is still the medicine to fix this....
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,415
37,195
113
Bama got 3 OT's committed already, and two more 5*/4* OT's may committ to theme soon and that's not including Wills.
That's the reason Wills eventually may end up at some other place than Bama. It may be ND or it may be UK, but that depends on what other recruits do and how UK does this season.

Doesn't matter to Bama if they convince WIlson and Wills to come, they will offer 1 or 2 of the others a chance to gray shirt and hope they go somewhere else. They pull that every year with someone on their committment list, doesn't matter if he was the first commit in the class or the last. I can't think of any entering Bama in January. I don't think any school would tell a 5* OT they were full at the position if he wanted to come.
 

kyrivals

Sophomore
Jul 27, 2016
131
153
0
Kid is a once in a decade type player to be in Lexington. Very smart with great work ethic. Probably would rank him higher than Landon Young due to his athleticism and quickness. Combine him with Young, Jackson and GAA and you have a Alabama type oline.
 

greginky1957

All-Conference
Oct 10, 2008
2,387
3,080
113
My question is this: Has Stoops and company learned a lesson from what blew Wills away about Alabama? ie the plan Alabama laid out to get Wills to the NFL? Will Stoops and company improvise, adapt and overcome? (not copy) I sure hope we do, if it is too late for Wills, then on the next recruit. Our coaching staff has a real opportunity to learn from this no matter which way Wills decides to go. I am hoping a successful season sways him back our way. I am hoping that he doesn't give in to the bright lights and allure of Alabama.
 
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Koaltil

Senior
Jan 22, 2016
531
467
63
My question is this: Has Stoops and company learned a lesson from what blew Wills away about Alabama? ie the plan Alabama laid out to get Wills to the NFL? Will Stoops and company improvise, adapt and overcome? (not copy) I sure hope we do, if it is too late for Wills, then on the next recruit. Our coaching staff has a real opportunity to learn from this no matter which way Wills decides to go. I am hoping a successful season sways him back our way. I am hoping that he doesn't give in to the bright lights and allure of Alabama.
 

Kooky Kats_anon

Heisman
Aug 17, 2002
25,741
46,563
0
Kid is a once in a decade type player to be in Lexington. Very smart with great work ethic. Probably would rank him higher than Landon Young due to his athleticism and quickness. Combine him with Young, Jackson and GAA and you have a Alabama type oline.
I'll take Arkansas type o-line, thanks.
 

Real Deal 2

Heisman
Jan 25, 2007
10,894
12,299
113
My question is this: Has Stoops and company learned a lesson from what blew Wills away about Alabama? ie the plan Alabama laid out to get Wills to the NFL? Will Stoops and company improvise, adapt and overcome? (not copy) I sure hope we do, if it is too late for Wills, then on the next recruit. Our coaching staff has a real opportunity to learn from this no matter which way Wills decides to go. I am hoping a successful season sways him back our way. I am hoping that he doesn't give in to the bright lights and allure of Alabama.
Learned what? Alabama can talk all they want about the NFL and frankly most are being produced are duds when you look at their success. I mean Julio Jones is maybe the only superstar. Titans blew an OL pick on Bama guy, a dud, all those 4-5 star guys, All SEC, All American guys, none of those have panned out much on OL. The OT at Cincy has been ok, not great, not as great as his draft status. This is a myth about them producing great pro's. Ohio St, LSU, Fla. St, USC and many others produce better pro's. I mean ESPN, NFL Network have had stories about Alabama players being not so good in the pro's. Not me saying it.

Those great DE, OLB, DB's, Jets blew a first rounder, Just not a true statement from them

They can claim NC or SEC championships, yes, Pro aspirations no way.
All of those vaunted OL, there are very few on NFL rosters, not good with 4-5 star guys.
 
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uk_king_cat2

Junior
Sep 5, 2006
2,038
265
0
It was great and fun thinking about the O-line we could have had over the next 4 years. Still gonna be a good one but man Wills would sure have helped it become a great one.