Kiyaunta Goodwin goes on the record a week before signing day

Kentucky’s biggest football recruit, both literally and metaphorically speaking, spoke publicly one week before the beginning of the early signing period. Kiyaunta Goodwin‘s remarks will leave some around the BBN worried, while making others optimistic.

A Worrisome Quote

The Courier Journal’s Jon Hale spoke with the five-star recruit on Wednesday, who said, “There’s not really a true leader,” in his recruitment.

Doesn’t sound great, right? One would think that if he’s technically committed to Kentucky, they would be in the lead. Especially when Goodwin was publicly lobbying for a former Cardinal to “save himself” ten days ago. However, college football recruiting is a fickle, fluid business.

A Reassuring Quote

Hale followed that question up by asking what Goodwin was looking for in a future college home. It appears to check all of the boxes that UK has offered throughout his recruitment and what led him to commit to the Cats in the spring.

“I’m really just looking into development and relationships,” Goodwin said. “What feels like a family. A lot of the camaraderie, somewhere with guys that are like-minded. … Somewhere guys are trying to get better and get to the next level.”

Those remarks echo what he told KSR when he committed to Kentucky in April.

“It just felt like home,” he told KSR. “I feel like I have a great relationship with the coaches there. I’ve been around them since I was in seventh grade. It just feels like family.” 

On Vince Marrow: “I feel like I have a great relationship with him,” said Goodwin. “He’s always recruited me, even when I was heavy, it’s been the same relationship since then. It’s never changed.”

Final Visits for Goodwin

Tuesday afternoon Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher visited Goodwin at his high school. Later that night Goodwin traveled to Lexington for the UK basketball game against Southern. On the docket for this weekend is an official visit to Michigan State, but not before he hosts Mark Stoops and a contingent of UK coaches for an in-home visit.

The final week before the beginning of the early signing period will be a roller coaster ride, and it may not even end Dec. 15. He could wait until February’s National Signing Day to put pen to paper. When you go hunting for Big Fish, you better bring a large tackle box and a big boat that can withstand some turbulent waters.

[The Courier Journal]