Prepare for the Most Chaotic Signing Day of the Mark Stoops Era
Embrace the madness, Big Blue Nation. Early Signing Day is fast approaching and this will be unlike any other of its predecessors, thanks to more than a handful of late-breaking decisions. Filled with excitement and uncertainty, Kentucky is toeing a thin line between devastating heartbreak and the greatest signing class ever assembled.
When the clock struck midnight, a quiet recruiting period began, ending in-person visits between coaches and recruits. Now we wait for signatures. Before we look into potential additions and subtractions from the class, here’s who is currently in the fold for Kentucky’s top 25 2022 recruiting class.
Secure the Signing Day Signature from Kiyaunta Goodwin
Kiyaunta Goodwin is the most important player in Kentucky’s 2022 recruiting class for a myriad of reasons. One rarely discussed is his impact on the 2022 roster. The Wildcats are building something special, particularly on offense. With Will Levis as the centerpiece, the offensive skill talent will be the best we’ve seen in the Bluegrass in quite some time. It also is the first time in a long time that there are questions on the offensive line.
Landon Young and Darian Kinnard served as stalwarts on the edge of the Big Blue Wall for years. Replacing that production is much easier said than done. If Dare Rosenthal returns and the Cats keep Kiyaunta Goodwin in the fold, there’s reason to believe Levis will be in good hands next year. Even though Goodwin lacks experience, he has the physical tools to become a productive true freshman in the SEC.
The problem is that if there is a swing and a miss, you can’t find another Kiyaunta in the portal. Quality offensive tackles don’t move from school to school like quarterbacks and receivers (even though Rosenthal is an exceptional to that norm). He spent the weekend officially visiting Michigan State. Ultimately, I still believe Vince Marrow will get the job done. His track record speaks for itself. Still, there will be some anxiety until that fax is received at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.
Kentucky vs. Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin spent his last weekend impressing a couple targets with ties to Kentucky in the Sip. Days after Rutgers’ Greg Schiano flew in a helicopter to visit Davison Igbinosun, the four-star cornerback kicked it with Kiffin in a Porsche.
A talented cornerback that officially visited Lexington two weeks ago, Kentucky will be working the phones to try to cash in on Signing Day. It’s still up in the air, but the trip to Oxford may be too much for UK’s staff to overcome.
This weekend Kiffin also entertained former UofL wide receiver Jordan Watkins. A one-time UK commit, when he initially entered the portal Kentucky appeared to be the most likely destination. When the Wildcats did not immediately reciprocate interest, Watkins kept his eyes peeled and now appears to have found a nice landing spot in Oxford.
Flipping Away from UK?
DeCarlos Nicholson is considered one of the ten best JUCO prospects in America. He committed to Kentucky in September, but that commitment is on shaky ground entering the homestretch. A Mississippi native, Ole Miss and Mississippi State each expected him to officially visit last weekend, while Kentucky’s coaches hoped he would stay home. Nicholson ended up in Starkville, likely keeping him in the Magnolia State.
If Nicholson does flip to Mississippi State, Kentucky will not be left emty-handed. Zahquan Frazier, another lengthy JUCO cornerback, officially visited UK over the weekend. Choosing between UK, Utah, UTSA and Miss. State on Wednesday, if he gets the green light from Kentucky, I expect him to join the Wildcats’ 22 class.
In addition to Goodwin, Vince Marrow has one other long-time commitment hanging in the balance as Signing Day approaches. 247’s Steve Wiltfong put four-star cornerback Alex Afari on flip watch after the Lakota West product officially visited Cincinnati over the weekend. To make history, Marrow needs to beat schools he’s consistently defeated in the past.
Signing Day Flip to UK?
I delivered the bad news before sharing the good news. Similar to the last minute coaching change at Auburn that landed Trevin Wallace at Kentucky, a coaching change could bring in another enormous recruit. Like Jon Sumrall with Wallace, Eric Wolford remained in constant contact with 6-foot-5, 325 offensive tackle Jalen Farmer throughout the recruiting process. Once Billy Napier took the reins at Florida, Wolford cranked up the heat and got Farmer on campus for an official visit over the weekend.
Florida and Auburn are trying to convince Farmer to wait to sign in February. Those efforts could be futile. Kentucky could have another significant recruiting win in the Atlanta metro area, one of the best talent pools to fish in annually.
Another SEC commit was once seen as a long shot, but the Cats have a chance to flip Ja’Kobi Albert. A four-star athlete, he committed to Auburn over the summer, yet Jon Sumrall remained persistent. When Sumrall departed for Troy, I thought the ship had sailed for an eleventh hour flip. Somehow, Kentucky still managed to get Albert up for an official visit over the weekend. An exceptional athlete that could play receiver or defensive back at the next level, the Wildcats have a chance to hit another home run in the South.
An Odd Last Minute Visit
A coaching change almost hurt Kentucky in the recruitment of Deone Walker. When Steve Clinkscale left for Michigan, UK did not abandon the four-star talent, enlisting Wolford to prevent the Detroit pipeline from completely shutting down.
A 6-foot-6, 360-pound nose guard, even though UK is not the home state school, Kentucky is an easy sell for Walker. The Wildcats are on the verge of putting two straight nose guards into the pros, one of which is from his hometown, Marquan McCall. Another Detroit nose guard, Justin Rogers, was put on billboards in Lexington before ever starting a game. You better believe Kentucky grad assistants drove by those billboards during Walker’s official visit this weekend.
Even though UK’s had the momentum in this recruitment for weeks, there are two reasons to be cautious before he announces his commitment Wednesday on CBS Sports HQ.
- Kentucky is competing against Georgia and Michigan.
- Michigan’s 247 site reports Walker unofficially visited Ann Arbor after his plane landed from the UK official visit.
You can read the latter as a positive or negative from UK’s standpoint. What is abundantly clear: Clinkscale is doing everything he can to keep one of his own from leaving the state to play for his former employer.
Transfer Portal Players
Unlike high school recruits, there is no hard deadline for players in the transfer portal to find new homes. Even so, signing day is a great day to put another feather in your cap. That is why Tayvion Robinson’s UK commitment Tweet was quickly deleted Saturday afternoon.
Two other SEC transfers, Auburn guard Tashawn Manning and Khris Bogle, visited Kentucky over the weekend. I like where the Wildcats stand, but the timing of their decisions is unclear. Either could pop on signing day or we might need to let the cake bake a little longer.
Statements You Will Not Believe Until You Say Them Out Loud on Signing Day
A lot can change over the final 48 hours before the fax machines go to work, but here’s what we could be saying Wednesday evening if all goes well for the Wildcats.
- Kentucky signed multiple five-star football prospects.
- A Top 250 player picked Kentucky over two CFB Playoff teams in a nationally televised Signing Day ceremony.
- Kentucky flipped a Florida and Auburn commit on Signing Day.
- Two Tennessee Mr. Football players signed with Kentucky.
- Three blue chip legacy recruits will play for UK.
- Mark Stoops signed a Top 10 recruiting class, top five in the SEC.
Kentucky can make history Wednesday. Now it’s closing time.
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