Insights into In-State Football Recruiting

by:Nick Roush10/11/18

@RoushKSR

[caption id="attachment_241323" align="alignnone" width="798"] @jjtimeee[/caption] The final uncommitted prospects in the state of Kentucky's talented 2019 recruiting class will soon be making their decisions, beginning tonight with four-star linebacker Jared Casey. To get a better feel for where UK stands with in-state recruits, I spoke to Dave Lackford on this morning's Kentucky Roll Call.  Nobody is closer to the in-state recruits than the Rivals writer.  He was kind enough to tell us where UK stands before they make their final decisions. The centerpiece for each player's recruitment is Vince Marrow.  Once The Big Dog hit the trail around the Commonwealth this spring, things changed. "The Cats weren't really mentioned that much when I talked to these guys about who they were looking at in their top five or six.  I just started seeing Vince pop up at high school games and I thought to myself, 'That's odd.'  Then out of nowhere they started moving up on people's lists.  Right now they're in play for all the guys." Louisville used to be Kentucky's toughest competition within the state.  Halfway through the season, that's no longer the case. "It looks like Louisville isn't going to get anybody.  It's swung momentum tremendously," Lackford said.  "They're (UK) already winning in my opinion." Lackford would not reveal whether or not Casey would pick Kentucky tonight, but one thing is certain. "Louisville was never in consideration for Jared."  Lackford said Casey told him early on, "I'm not going to Louisville. I'm getting out of here." Lackford believes Kentucky will probably get another commitment from the city of Louisville, Shawnkel Knight-Goff.  The versatile athlete has flown under the radar during the season, but the one-time UK commit will be an exceptional addition to UK's 2019 class. Last weekend J.J. Weaver took an official visit to Miami.  Raised in nearby Broward County, Miami is Kentucky's toughest competition, although Weaver said early in the recruiting process he does not want to play college football far from his mother in Louisville.  The Louisville Moore edge rusher will officially visit UK later this month before announcing on November 3. Milton Wright is undoubtedly the most mysterious recruit.  He has not taken any official visits, but one scheduled official to Alabama was postponed.  Wright plans on deciding before the December signing period and Lackford believes it's essentially down to Kentucky, Louisville and Purdue. The most intriguing prospect for fans left on the recruiting board is Western Hills' Wandale Robinson.  Lackford likened his game to future Freshman All-American Rondale Moore.  He explained the most attractive part of Kentucky's pitch. "For him it's about being able to establish his brand in Lexington, be the man in Kentucky and kind of branch out when he's done with football.  I think that's the key thing for Kentucky." Check out the entire interview below around the 3:00-minute mark to hear about potential 2020 in-state targets and much more.  I also wouldn't mind if you listened to the show each morning before KSR from 8:00-10:00 a.m. and subscribed to the podcast. [mobile_ad]

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2024-03-28