The Lay of the Land for Kentucky Recruits the Night Before Signing Day

Good evening, friends. It’s pouring rain in Boca Raton, which means Toledo is in a slobber-knocker with Hugh Freeze’s old team before he loses a recruit to Kentucky. That can only mean one thing: it’s the night before Signing Day. The Early Signing Period kicks off tomorrow and there’s some movement for Kentucky targets.

The Wildcats currently have 15 commits. The class slipped from No. 34 to No. 36 as other schools piled up a few prospects. Kentucky just stuck to transfer on Tuesday (and a few pretty big ones at that). The rest of big names will send in their faxes early Wednesday morning. We’ll have LIVE updates rolling at 7 am. Here’s where UK stands with its final targets.

Big Battles with Michigan

Of all the toss ups down the stretch, many of them are down to Kentucky and Michigan. Unfortunately, the team in the CFB Playoff appears to be winning out. It would be a real shame if more “Jim Harbaugh to the Colts” momentum picked up tonight.

Kentucky felt like it was in a good place with Karmello English last week. Then something changed for the four-star recruit. What exactly, I am not sure, but predictions are rolling in for Michigan on Tuesday. Jyaire Hill shocked many when he did not include Michigan as one of his finalists, but that appears to just be a bit of theatrics as Michigan will be the likely choice. UK also was in on DJ Waller until he committed over the weekend.

Sing it with me, “We don’t give a damn about the whole state of Michigan, the whole state of Michigan…”

Kentucky Running Back Targets

Devin Leary visited Auburn over the weekend, then the quarterback picked Kentucky. Jamarion Wilcox was supposed to visit Auburn over the weekend. Instead he hosted Jay Boulware for an in-home visit. It would be a real shame if the Tigers lost another player to Kentucky on Signing Day for the third year in a row, a real shame.

Elsewhere, Cincinnati Winton Woods’ Trey Cornist was on the Cats’ radar but it appears UK will be content to add just two backs — Wilcox and Ray Davis — to next year’s roster.

Kentucky Linebacker Off the Board

Over the weekend Kentucky hosted Iowa four-star linebacker Asa Newsom for an official visit. The Hawkeyes once appeared to be the team to beat, but it was actually a team from the Big 12 that emerged, Kansas State. He committed to the Wildcats from the Little Apple Tuesday night. Now Kentucky’s only linebacker option left is a new name on the Big Board, Jayvant Brown. We’ll see if the Cats can make some signing day magic.

Tavion Gadson will Sign

Tavion Gadson, a three-star defensive lineman from Savannah, GA, was previously committed to Florida State. Last week he planned on officially visiting Kentucky, then taking an official visit to Tennessee before signing in February. Those plans changed after his trip to Lexington. He decommitted from Florida State and will now sign tomorrow. It’s looking good for the Cats.

ABC: Always Be ‘Crootin