Shamar Porter's OC breaks down 4-star WR's game, decision to pick Kentucky
Shamar Porter’s commitment to Kentucky last week was quite the pleasant surprise for the Big Blue Nation. But make no mistake, Porter and UK have been building a tight-knit relationship for months.
Porter, a class of 2023 four-star WR considered the No. 151 ranked recruit in the country, initially picked up his offer from the Wildcats back on Nov. 19. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound pass-catcher out of Ensworth High School (TN) took a visit to Lexington for UK’s 56-16 win over New Mexico State where the scholarship came in from wide receivers coach Scott Woodward.
Prior to the hiring of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, recruits of Porter’s caliber never felt like a possibility to wind up in Lexington. Now UK has two of them in Porter and class of 2022 4-star WR Barion Brown. The allure of Coen’s new-aged NFL-type offense has proved to be an elite recruiting tool for the ‘Cats, especially after the historic season that QB Will Levis and WR Wan’Dale Robinson had running the show.
In fact, you can directly point to Robinson as a primary factor in Porter ultimately committing to Kentucky.
“Being a coach I spent a lot of time watching a lot of film, and Kentucky was a lot of fun to watch last year, especially with all the stuff they did with Wan’Dale Robinson,” Zach Schneider, Porter’s offensive coordinator at Ensworth, told KSR on Wednesday.
What Robinson did during his lone season at Kentucky will keep his name in the history books forever. In 2021, he was named a Second-Team All-American and the Lexington-Herald Sports Figure of the Year. Robinson set single-season program records in receiving yards (1,334) and receptions (104). He recently declared for the 2022 NFL Draft and is expected to hear his name called in the first three rounds.
Make no mistake, Kentucky doesn’t receive commitments from Porter or Brown if not for Coen and Robinson.
“Gosh, it’s crazy to say but Kentucky has turned into one of those programs in the SEC that looks like it’s gonna have some staying power,” Schneider said. “That’s turning into some recruiting wins for them. I think that was a big thing for him. The possibility again, what Robinson did again on the field, showing that being a good receiver at Kentucky is gonna get you the next level if you do it the right way.”
Porter had his picking of potential colleges, but the bond he formed not only with Coen, but with Coach Woodward and the rest of the Kentucky staff made him feel comfortable in the situation. Tennessee, Georgia, Penn State, and Vanderbilt were after him before he chose the ‘Cats. Cincinnati, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and West Virginia also extended offers to Porter.
“He wouldn’t have done this if he didn’t feel like he saw himself as a good fit,” Schneider added.
On the field, it doesn’t take long to see why Porter is ranked so highly by recruiting services. His 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame is dangerously complemented by track-level speed. In addition to football, Porter also participates in track and field along with basketball. He ran a 10.91-second 100-yard dash and a 22.90-second 200-yard dash last spring.
Porter’s track coach at Ensworth, Nick Johnson, is actually a former wide receiver who played a brief stint in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams. It’s not unusual for Ensworth’s football players to double as track stars for this reason, and Porter is the latest to shine in both. But what speed is hardly what makes him such a tantalizing prospect.
“Yes, but I don’t think it’s his best thing,” Schneider said in regards to if Porter’s speed is his best trait. “I think it’s a huge attribute for him. The first thing I tell any Kentucky fan is he’s got some tremendous size. I think at some point when he focuses all on football, the size attribute and the strength he could possibly put on his frame, it could be scary. Especially if he can keep up his speed. I think the one thing that will stand out to you, when he’s outside of his pads, he’s really well put together.”
During his junior season in 2021, his first with Ensworth, Porter logged 33 receptions for 495 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games played. He also split time returning punts, doing so six times on the season for a total of 73 yards (12.2 yards per return).
“You put it anywhere around him, he’s gonna catch the ball,” Schneider said. “He’s a guy who is a comfort level for quarterbacks knowing that if I can get it in his radius with his long arms and his hands — he’s got huge hands — is that there’s a chance he’s pulling it in too. The speed, the size, the strength, and then his ability to just catch the ball, all those things are big bonuses for him.”
In terms of what he’s like off the field, Porter’s offensive coordinator had nothing but good things to say about the young man.
“He is a great young man,” Schneider added. “Rarely do you ever see him walking around campus without a smile on his face. He’s one of those kids that seems to enjoy everything he gets to do academically, socially, and then obviously athletically. I think he’s one of those guys that’s very appreciative of the things he has around him and he’s always showing that, and once you guys see him a little bit, especially the smile on his face, you won’t forget it. It’s a big bright smile and you see it quite often.”
Porter is the third Kentucky commit from the class of 2023, joining a pair of local recruits in Kaden Moorman and Ty Bryant. His addition is just another positive for the potential of UK’s offense.
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