Assessing The Recruit: Jeff Badet

Jeff Badet — Wide Receiver; 6’0″, 162 lbs.; Orlando, FL 40 Time: 4.5 Rivals: 3-Star ESPN: 3-Star, #104 WR ----------------- Kentucky fans can start getting used to hearing that skill guys of Jeff Badet's caliber are considering playing their collegiate football in Lexington. The days of the Randall Cobb's, Keenan Burton's and Stevie Johnson's being few and far between are over. Why, you ask? It's simple, really. Wide receivers know they will have the opportunity to make plays in Neal Brown's Air Raid. Once they commit, they are immediately made a priority in the offense, and Brown makes no bones about it. The old-school Kentucky fan need not worry about a lack of a run game in the new offense. Brown will incorporate that as well. And why wouldn't he? Kentucky brings back a corps of tailbacks that are all capable of anchoring a rushing attack. If you aren't excited about Kentucky's depth at skill positions for the 2013 season, mixed with Brown's philosophies, then you need to check your pulse. Badet, who visited Kentucky this past weekend, is likely to be a part of that group next year. After cancelling recruiting visits directly after his trip to Kentucky, many believe that he is leaning towards becoming a Wildcat. After watching Badet's highlight tape, I am blown away by the ability this guy has. Here is what I saw from the Freedom High School (FL) Senior: -Familiarity with the spread offense. Coaches around the nation now realize the correlation between a successful offense and more passing attempts. A lot of teams are starting to run spread offenses in high school, which produce guys like Badet. The first step to getting more reps on the field is learning what your assignment is. Once you have that down, you do a lot less thinking on the field, which leads to being more comfortable, and ultimately making plays. Badet played every position in Freedom's offense. From flanker, to slot, to wildcat quarterback, Badet has done it. It will be a smooth transition to Brown's offense for the Orlando-native, and his versatility will make him one of the first options to see the field. -Red-Zone Target. One of the things missing from Kentucky's offense in the last couple of years is a big receiver that can make plays in the short field. At six-feet, Badet uses his size to his advantage, especially in the red-zone. His highlight tape shows that he has a nose for the end zone when the field shortens, something that is not easy to do. He was often the first option for his quarterback in those situations and he made the best of passes thrown his way. His ability to high-point the football, run precise routes (a fade to the back of the end zone was called most often), and gain position over shorter defenders makes him an excellent option near the pay dirt. -Lethal speed and cuts. Badet's speed looks a little faster than 4.5 when he's on the field. He has great lateral movement that allows him to shake defenders, break tackles, and gain yard after catch. Combine all of that with great balance and great hands and you've got a guy you can run your offense through. He's the type of receiver that run a 5-yard hitch route and turn it into a 60-yard touchdown.   Along with UK, Badet is considering NC State, South Florida and Wake Forest. You can take a look at his senior highlight film here.