Joe Crocker remains high on Kentucky despite Eric Wolford's departure
Whatever your thoughts on Eric Wolford are after his secret move to Alabama, it’s tough to deny he isn’t a stellar recruiter. During his one season in Lexington, Wolford was one of Kentucky’s top pitchmen, particularly when it came to the Tennessee area and the offensive line position. Following his departure, UK was left with an unexpected hole in those two regards. Recent reports indicate that a new hire is on the way in San Francisco 49ers assistant offensive line coach Zach Yenser, although nothing has been confirmed by the university as of yet.
Until that moment comes, Kentucky could find itself at a minor disadvantage. Recruiting is a full-time job and any lapse in communication can bend a relationship. Luckily for the ‘Cats, that doesn’t appear to be the case with at least one high-profile prospect who was previously recruited by Wolford.
Joe Crocker is a name we have mentioned on this website multiple times before. Checking in at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, the class of 2023 four-star offensive lineman out of Franklin Road Academy (Nashville, TN) was hearing the most from Wolford when it came to his Kentucky recruitment. However, that is obviously no longer the case with Wolford — who has already begun to recruit Crocker to the Crimson Tide — taking the o-line gig with Alabama.
“I’ve actually not really talked to anyone at Kentucky recently ever since (Wolford) left,” Crocker told KSR on Tuesday. “I guess they’re either waiting for the o-line coach to get back in there but I haven’t talked to anybody at Kentucky recently. I was talking to Wolford at ‘Bama but not been talking to anyone at Kentucky.”
His communication with Kentucky has briefly stalled, but Crocker isn’t concerned. He expected it, honestly, and knows that UK will reach out once all of the semantics are worked out and Yenser (or whoever else) can officially be named the next offensive line coach.
“For me, Kentucky was definitely one of my top schools before he left,” Crocker said. “And I’m not really too surprised about it because to be fair they still have to hire someone else as the o-line coach and I know that Wolf was covering most of middle Tennessee so I imagine that’s probably the case for most kids across the state. I’ll just have to see when they hire the new one from the 49ers, when he officially gets settled in, I’ll expect him to reach out and if not then you have to reevaluate everything.”
It would be a shock for Kentucky to not reach out, too. Crocker has held an offer from UK since Dec. 2019 — his very first from a Divison I program. He’s been to Lexington several times over that span, most recently visiting during January’s Junior Day. Crocker’s relationship with Kentucky goes far beyond Wolford.
“I’m always going to be high on Kentucky,” Crocker added. “They had pretty much everything that I was looking for. It was definitely one of my top schools for more than just the coach. Coach Wolf was obviously a big part of that and over the last year we’ve built a pretty solid relationship whether that was through calling or texting.
“It’s not even just him though, Coach (Ryan) Finck left as well, and that was the assistant (offensive line) coach. Kinda everyone that I had built a solid relationship with left. I’m definitely excited to build a relationship with the new people. All my friends, they’re still high on Kentucky and some of us would love to play together.”
Crocker is taking the logical approach to his recruitment. He understands how college athletics work, where coaches can up and leave at a moment’s notice for a new opportunity. It’s now becoming a trend with the athletes as well through the reworking of the transfer portal. Crocker witnessed this situation play out firsthand with Wolford and says that he isn’t going to choose a college because of the relationship with one coach.
“I know what it’s all about there,” Crocker said of Kentucky. “I know that they’re going really hard after kids from middle Tennessee. Everything they had is still there. It’s only the personnel. So for me it’s really not that big of a deal because you see all the stuff that’s happening, Kentucky is still on the way up. Coach (Mark) Stoops has been there for like 10 years now and to have him be stable and keep upgrading everything else. To me it just speaks volumes and coaching changes will happen anywhere I go. Most likely in three or four years, someone you’ve got close to will probably leave.”
Crocker actually received his offer from UK courtesy of then-defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale, who is now at Michigan in the same position. Kentucky isn’t unique to this situation either. All of the schools he’s hearing from have had some sort of personnel turnover in recent years.
“Coaches change everywhere. You gotta like the school as well.”
Crocker is adamant that he’s “definitely still high on Kentucky” as he heads into his senior season of high school. The ‘Cats aren’t alone though, which is why reconnecting with Crocker sooner rather than later could be critical. Georgia, Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, and Florida State are all schools he’s expressing significant interest in with Alabama sneaking into the race as well, especially if Wolford extends a scholarship in the near future.
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