Kentucky Football: A Brief History of the Tony Franklin/Neal Brown Version of the Air Raid Offense
The Air Raid was developed primarily by Hal Mumme, his offensive coordinator, Mike Leach, and Dana Holgorson (QB Coach) at Valdosta State.
The Air Raid was something new and unique at the time at the Division I level. It was an immediate success in 1997 and 1998. The problem with Kentucky's Air Raid wasn't the offense, but Mumme's disdain for defense. That only goes so far in the defensive minded SEC.
When Leach left for Oklahoma to become Offensive Coordinator in 1999, he was replaced by running backs coach Tony Franklin. Franklin was the offensive coordinator until Mumme was fired two years later in 2000.
Most of us know about Leach's career at Texas Tech and now Washington State. One common misconception, however, is that Oklahoma won a BCS title with Leach as the offensive coordinator. Oklahoma won their title in 2000 with Mark Mangino as the offensive coordinator. Under him, Oklahoma ran the Triple Option, not the Air Raid.
Tony Franklin was blacklisted from college coaching for a number of years because of the book he wrote exposing the inside goings on of Mumme's time at Kentucky. In 2006, he was hired as the offensive coordinator at Troy University. He left for Auburn at the end of the 2007 season.
While there are many variations of the Air Raid today, Neal Brown's version was learned under Tony Franklin at Troy. Brown was hired at Troy in 2006 as the wide receivers coach. When Franklin left in 2007, he became the offensive coordinator at Troy until he was hired by Tommy Tuberville at Texas Tech in 2010.
Tuberville is a rather unique coach. At Auburn and Ole Miss had had a bit of success. I won't talk about his time at Ole Miss other than this from his Wikipedia bio:
"While at Mississippi Tuberville made the statement, "They'll have to carry me out of here in a pine box," in reference to not leaving to coach at another school. Two days after he made that statement, it was announced that he was departing for Auburn.[3]"
As Larry The Cable Guy likes to say, "I don't care who you are, that's funny."
At Auburn, he guided the Tigers to a 13-0 record in 2004, but Auburn was not chosen to play in the BCS Championship game. Instead, Auburn faced Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.
Tuberville hired Tony Franklin over the objections of his entire football staff, who wanted to stick with the offense they had been using for years. Franklin received little cooperation from the other assistant coaches and Tuberville controlled Franklin's offense to the point that it was ineffective.
It is well known that Tuberville is fascinated with the Air Raid offense, but he didn't trust it or the coaches running it. He showed a little more trust at Texas Tech, but he can't seem to keep his hands off and just let his offensive coordinator run the offense without his interference. After Tuberville fired Tony Franklin during the 2009 season, he, himself, was fired at the end of the season.
At Texas Tech, Tuberville replaced the departed Mike Leach. Leach ran his version of the Air Raid and was very successful on offense, not so much on defense. His defenses put up rather poor numbers. Sound familiar? Mumme at Kentucky was the same: big on offense, not so much on defense. Apparently, Texas Tech wanted to continue to run the Air Raid with more of a run game and Tuberville had "experience" with the offense and was hired.
He brought in Neal Brown as his Offensive Coordinator. Tuberville was hired on January 10, 2010 and hired Brown on January 12th.
In 2009, which was Mike Leach's final season, Texas Tech finished with a 9-4 record. Texas Tech was #2 in the NCAA in passing, # 4 in total offense and # 7 in scoring offense. However, the Red Raiders were 115th in rushing and 73rd in pass defense.
Tuberville's and Brown's first year saw a drop-off from Leach's performance. This was a different kind of Air Raid. The running game improved to 75th in the NCAA, and the rest of the offensive numbers dropped a little. The passing offense was ranked 7th, 15th in total offense and 23rd in scoring. It was Tuberville's defense which hurt the Red Raiders. They were 114th in Total Defense and 93rd in scoring defense. Texas Tech finished at 8-5, including a win over Northwestern in the Ticket City Bowl. Never hear of it? Read about it here.
2011 was not a good year for Texas Tech. They finished at 5-7 and 2-7 in the Big 12. It wasn't because of the offense. The Red Raiders finished nationally at 7th in passing, 87th in rushing, 13th in total offense and 22nd in scoring. The weakness, again, was the defense. They were 120th in rush defense, 66th in pass defense, 114th in total defense and 117th in scoring defense. The fans were getting restless, especially since Tuberville was known to have had some good defenses at Auburn.
In his 2012 and final season, Tuberville's Texas Tech team jumped to 2nd in passing offense, 86th in rushing, 13th in total offense and 20th in scoring offense, thanks to Neal Brown. The defensive numbers show that the Red Raiders improved on defense. They ranked 15th in pass defense, 74th in rushing defense, 38th in total defense and 90th in scoring defense. The Red Raiders finished with an 8-5 record, including a win over Minnesota in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
It took Neal Brown three years to get the Texas Tech passing game back to where Leach left it, but he never let the passing game get below 7th in the NCAA. Brown also improved the running game. It took Tuberville and three defensive coordinators, James Willis (Alabama), Chad Glasgow (TCU), and Art Kaufman (North Carolina) three years to make Texas Tech respectable on defense.
The Air Raid is a great offense, be it the Mumme/Leach version or the Tony Franklin/Neal Brown version. Yet, most of the teams who use the Air Raid don't do very well on defense. This begs a question. Does the Air Raid put too much pressure on your own defense?
Brown left Texas Tech before Tuberville. I've found the Texas Tech fan reaction surprising. They weren't upset. In fact, they seemed glad he was going elsewhere. You can see their reaction here. Be sure and read the comments, if you can stomach the references to Kentucky as a "lesser program" which I'll deal with later.
The Tech fans were not all that unhappy that Tuberville left for Cincinnati either. You can read about that here. Again, you need to read the comments
The mainstream media in Texas was more kind. Here's a Dallas News article about Tuberville and Brown.
I have to ask, "why are you glad to see the coach of the #2 passing attack leave for another program?" Did they want to see more of a running game? These are the same fans who loved the Mike Leach version of the Air Raid. If not, then why were they were upset when he was fired? I find it hard to understand what the Tech fans wanted. They never accepted Tommy Tuberville and they didn't like Neal Brown's offense. I am of the belief that the Tech fans are delusional, believing they are a major program who just couldn't get over the hump to greatness.
I can't blame either for leaving; it was a smart choice for both. The surprising thing is that Tuberville went to Cincinnati. He's an SEC guy. He may be closer geographically to the SEC, but he'll have difficulty recruiting SEC caliber players at UC. The Bearcats got lost in the realignment shuffle. Brown also fared better by going to a "lesser" SEC program.
I want to address this "lesser" stuff. Kentucky is, indeed, a "lesser" program in the SEC. Two and a half of the last three years were hard to stomach even for UK's most fanatical football aficionados. Texas Tech is in the Big 12. Big whoop! That makes them an upper level program and they are unhappy with their 7-5 regular season records over there? My goodness, cowpokes, you should be dang glad you didn't get invited to the SEC. Kentucky had the 8th toughest schedule in the nation, according to the NCAA. Our opposition won 60.1% of their games. Meanwhile, over on the oil fields of Lubbuck, the Red Raiders commanded the 69th toughest schedule. The Tech opposition only won 49.6% of their games. Lesser scheduling means more wins.
If you want to know more about Brown's offense, KSR's writers have some of very good articles that break down the Brown version of the Air Raid. Read these articles to see what the future holds:
1. Neal Brown is the Fastest Play-Caller
2. Neal Brown runs one of the best red zone offenses.
3. Neal Brown: Shotgun & Pistol Enthusiast
Texas Tech ranked 53rd in time of possession under Brown last year. Kentucky ranked 108th. Texas Tech was tied with several schools at 77th in turnovers lost. They turned the ball over 24 times. The Red Raiders were tied for 28th in fumbles lost with a total of 8 and they were tied at 100th in interceptions thrown with 16.
Kentucky was tied for 22nd, losing the ball only 16 times. Kentucky was tied at 6th in fumbles lost with 6 and tied at 43rd with 10 interceptions thrown. This makes Kentucky look like the better team on offense. Right? This is misleading. Our eyes told us Kentucky wasn't very good and the 2-10 record proved it. So, how could Texas Tech be so much better? The answers are easy.
Texas Tech ranked 10th in 3rd down conversions. They had 175 attempts and were successful on 86 for a rate of 49.14%. Kentucky, on the other hand, ranked 61st. UK had 178 attempts and was successful 71 times for a rate of 39.89%. The Red Raiders were 10 of 16 (62.5%) on 4th down conversions compared to the Wildcats 3 of 22 (13.64%) which was last in the NCAA (120th). Kentucky punted 61 times and averaged 39.46 yards net punting (18th). Texas Tech only punted 42 times and averaged 35.36 yards net punting (93rd).
Is it any wonder that Kentucky over-celebrates first downs? For me, hearing that "FIRST DOWN, KENTUCKEEEEEEEE (pause to take a breath) EEE!!!!!!!!" cheer is embarrassing. Are not first downs something that should be almost taken for granted? Maybe not for a "lesser" program. For me, that celebratory cheer is as bad as the band playing Symphony in E flat for Tubas at halftime and Gimme some Lovin' thirty times a game. For the last three years, the band should've been playing, This is Why We suck, This is Why, This is Why, This is Why We Suck. Sorry, I digress. Actually, no, I'm not sorry.
Texas Tech was tied (26th) with Texas A&M in the red zone, scoring either a field goal or a touchdown 87% of the time. In contrast, The Wildcats ranked 118th, scoring either a field goal or a touchdown 68% of the time. The Red Raiders ran 68 plays in the red zone and scored 59 times while UK made it to the red zone 34 times, scoring 23 times.
Here's some more obscure, but telling data from a poster, "AdolphRollingOver", on the Cat's Illustrated football forum:
Methodical Drives, the percentage of each offense's drives that run 10 or more plays
Team/ % /Rank
TT..... 14.6% (46)
UofL.. 23.4% (7)
UK.....16.5% (34)
Explosive Drives, the percentage of each offense's drives that average at least 10 yards per play.
TT......19.2 (16)
UofL...16.4 (33)
UK.....5.2 (120)
Value Drives, the percentage of each offense's drives beginning on its own side of the field that reach at least the opponent's 30-yard line
TT........51.3 (9)
UofL.....46.8 (30)
UK.......30.7 (101)
Offensive Efficiency, the raw unadjusted efficiency of the given team's offense, a measure of its actual drive success against expected drive success based on field position
TT.........36.6 (20)
Uof L.... 31.5 (27)
UK........negative 44% (110)
First Down rate, the percentage of offensive drives that result in at least one first down or touchdown
TT.......75.4 (19)
UofL....73.4 (30)
UK......57.4 (116)
These numbers only add fuel to the fire on the effectiveness of the Texas Tech offense under Neal Brown and how anemic Kentucky's offense was last year.
So, that was Brown's offense at Texas Tech. There is evidence and history to show, particularly at Auburn, that Tuberville could not allow (he's a control freak) his offensive coordinator to run the offense without his interference. Now, imagine the coming numbers if Stoops lets Brown do his "thang."
Expect to see more pistol formations at Kentucky. Why else would UK recruit so many running backs? The Pistol does not affect the passing game and might actually enhance the Air Raid passing game because the opponent's defense will have to play pass first without knowing if the play will actually be a pass play or a run play. Better opportunities to exploit defensive weaknesses.
We may very well have been a "lesser" program, based on the past, but that won't last much longer. Imagine breaking the huddle, lining up and running the play. No more breaking the huddle, walking up to the line of scrimmage, looking over to the sideline to see if the play has been changed and maybe getting a delay of game penalty. Ya just gotta be happy with that, if nothing else.
Think in terms of the Air Raid with a defense. Git-R-Done! The Stoops/Eliot defense will be discussed in a few weeks.
Thanks for reading.
Kentucky Wildcats: Sunday Morning Open Thread, Oxbow Edition
Oxbow won the Preakness yesterday, bumming me out. I really wanted a Triple Crown this year. Some links of interest:
Alford settles dispute with New Mexico Former Wildcats in the NBA Playoffs A historical look at Kentucky's basketball 2013 recruiting class McLemore talking to NCAA? Could be trouble for Kansas Oxbow denies Orb Triple Crown shot
Alvin Dupree Will Make Smooth Transition for Kentucky Wildcats in 2013 – Rant Sports
Rant SportsAlvin Dupree Will Make Smooth Transition for Kentucky Wildcats in 2013
Rant Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats are a team in the midst of transition. They have a new head coach with Mark Stoops looking to move the Cats up the standings of highly competitive SEC. There is more transition happening, however, than just at the top as players ...
Alvin Dupree Will Make Smooth Transition for Kentucky Wildcats in 2013 – Rant Sports
Rant SportsAlvin Dupree Will Make Smooth Transition for Kentucky Wildcats in 2013
Rant Sports
The Kentucky Wildcats are a team in the midst of transition. They have a new head coach with Mark Stoops looking to move the Cats up the standings of highly competitive SEC. There is more transition happening, however, than just at the top as players ...
Kentucky Wildcats Football: Weekend Recruiting Notes – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
Nov 24, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Raymond Sanders (4) is tackled by Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Jaron Toney (35) during the game at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won by a score of 37 to 17. Mandatory Credit: ...
and more
Kentucky Wildcats Football: Weekend Recruiting Notes – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
Nov 24, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats running back Raymond Sanders (4) is tackled by Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Jaron Toney (35) during the game at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won by a score of 37 to 17. Mandatory Credit: ...
and more
Kentucky Sports Weekend: Softball, Baseball Both Win Big Games
Today, the Kentucky softball team defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies and move on to the Lexington Regional Final versus either the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Virginia Tech, Or Marshall, depending on the results from the rest of today's action.
Kentucky has now won 40 games, tying the school record for wins, and has a chance to advance to only its second ever Super-Regional. Kelsey Nunley and Crystal Smith were the heroines today:
Nunley was fantastic in the circle for the second straight game, throwing a complete-game one-hitter, allowing two runs - both unearned - with five strikeouts. For the season, Nunley is now 26-8 with a 2.00 ERA, striking out 185 in 245.1 innings pitched. So far this weekend, Nunley is an impressive 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA, striking out 10 batters in 15 innings pitched while opponents are hitting just .140 against her.
Offensively, Kentucky was paced by Smith and fellow junior first baseman Lauren Cumbess. Smith went 2-for-3 in the game with her third home run of the season and two RBI, while Cumbess blasted her team-best 12th home run of the season to finish 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman outfielder Sylver Samuel was 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored, while sophomore catcher Griffin Joiner was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Congratulations to the softball Wildcats for this great victory, and let's all hope they can take the regional on their home field to move on.
This is very heady stuff for softball, and even though the baseball team has been somewhat of a disappointment this season, they still made it to the SEC Tournament, and with their win over Mizzouri today, they manage the 11 seed, according to our own JLeverenz.
Hat tip: Wild Weasel
Kentucky Wildcats: Afternoon Quickies – Preakness Edition
The Preakness Stakes is today, and I'm hoping for an Orb win. It would be so nice to get this Triple Crown monkey off horse racing's back.
Also, a couple of administrative notes:
SB Nation has fixed the hardware problems responsible for all the errors we have been experiencing over most of the last week. Performance should return to normal very quickly.I will be on a golf holiday from Sunday until Wednesday, so the quickies are probably on hiatus until midweek. I'll try to post a morning open thread for the news, at minimum, but no promises.
Tweet of the Morning:
twitpic.com/crhk3u - Umm. RT @cardsallday26: If John Calipari told bbn that french fries had vitamin C they would believe it
— A Sea of Blue (@ASeaOfBlue) May 18, 2013
I've never featured one of mine, because I do them so rarely. Today was one of those rare days, and a chance to victimize a Louisville fan.
Your Quickies: Kentucky footballDid you know that if Max Smith isn't the quarterback, Mark Stoops might lose his job as head coach? Neither did I, but that's what this guy thinks:
While many believe that Towles is the quarterback of the future, Smith has more experience, better numbers and a brighter future. Smith can run better than Towles, which is a huge factor given the instability of Kentucky’s offensive line. Smith also has started games in 2011 and 2012 even though he remains a redshirt sophomore with three seasons of eligibility. Experience and upside are on Smith’s side as the quarterback battle rages on, and not naming Smith the starter could lead to Stoops’ early exit.
This is one of the most clueless things I have ever read, truly worthy of the Bleacher Report. Psycho.
This is funny:
It's been a busy offseason for the Stoops Brothers. Brother Mike, Oklahoma's defensive coordinator, implied Heisman winner Johnny Manziel will be in jail someday. Brother Mark is hard at work making Kentucky into a football school. And Brother Bob ... oh, Brother Bob.
You need to read this. It's a quarter-cup of coffee, but it's worth the investment of your time.
Can Neal Brown's version of the Air Raid do what Hal Mumme's did back in 1997? Here's a sobering reminder:
Stoops and Brown in 2013 are not inheriting five returning offensive line starters nor a Tim Couch. They will have three starting offensive linemen back and should get quality QB play.
That and the very tough schedule Kentucky is facing make it hard to see a repeat, but you never know till the pigskin is put in play.
Larry Vaught talks Jimmy Brumbaugh. (Hank)
Mark Stoops thinks he gets high school coaches, and that gives him an edge.
Kentucky basketballMike Rutherford at Card Chronicle takes a shot at Calipari, but I liked this point, and think it's right:
As much as I dislike just about everything that's happening in Lexington right now, I couldn't love it more for the state of the rivalry. But the thing is, it can't stay this hot forever. You get the feeling that one day we're going to be looking back and pulling the "you just can't understand it if you weren't around" card when talking about the intensity of these past few years. And there's a very large chance that it all comes to a head next season.
I could have written that same paragraph, and it actually falls under the rubric of, "All good things must come to an end," or, "This too, shall pass" if you find the instant state of the rivalry too caliente for your preference.
I don't quite agree, though, that the heat of the rivalry right now makes fans go into "Wait until March" mode after a loss in the rivalry game. That does happen, of course, but the December game matters no less, and maybe even more, in my view. Your mileage may vary on that, though.
John Calipari on Archie Goodwin:
"We gave him the information, what was out there, what we were told," Calipari said. "We sat down and talked to him and he came back and said he wanted to put his name in the draft, and we said, ‘Great, let’s go for it.’"
I think that's all you can do. Calipari is not going to try to convince a player to stay unless it is overwhelmingly obvious that it isn't in his best interests. Some may say that about Goodwin, but not me. I think he will be fine in the NBA, eventually. We'll see.
Nerlens Noel a bit underweightt at the NBA Draft Combine. Hat tip: Aaron's blog.
Other UK sportsNikki Sagerman drives in the winning run for a walk-off RBI single vs Marshall, 'Cats advance in the Lexington regional. Living the dream.
Missouri takes series off Bat Cats, struggles with hitting continue.
Links postsKSR's Saturday Morning Links
Saturday Wildcat Links [The Leach Report]
College footballThis is just WRONG in so many ways. "Turrible" grammar to boot. I hate Twitter (Hank).
Georgia Tech's commits - Good for a Rivals Ranking of # 66! Yeah, buddy! (Hank)
Why would Oklahoma St. bar one of their players from transferring to SEC schools? This practice has to stop. I can see intraconference bans, but this makes no sense.
College basketballAndy Glockner is worried that theater tickets might cost him some good basketball games:
The offer came to me via email a few weeks ago after it was announced that the highly acclaimed musical The Book of Mormon was having a return engagement in Denver. A select few tickets were available through a local theater group. My wife enjoys theater, and that show is supposed to be incredibly funny, so I was game for a nice surprise for my better half. The date: Nov. 12. Gulp. [...] That’s the night of the Champions Classic in Chicago, when Kansas (with Andrew Wiggins) will face Duke (with Jabari Parker) and Kentucky (with everyone else in the freshman class) will square off with loaded, experienced Michigan State. That day also includes Florida at Wisconsin, assumedly along with the rest of the annual ESPN 24-hour marathon. Needless to say, that’s not the evening you want to have theater tickets.
I hear that. The other night, my wife bought season tickets to the Kentucky Center for the Arts, and Book of Mormon is among the plays to be there. I hope I'm not in the same boat.
Update on the Ben McLemore scandal. He's doing the Sergent Schultz ... "I know nothing!" Can't blame him, really, and maybe he doesn't.
Mike Krzyzewski broke the bank in 2011. Can we get off Calipari now, he's a piker compared to this.
Tennessee hemorrhaging players.
Western Kentucky gets a former Memphis big guard.
Other sports newsEarly Preakness odds via John Clay. Orb is getting any money I put on the race, but maybe not all of it.
SB Nation's GGolden State of Mind looks at Nerlens Noel.
Don't try to catch a foul ball with a full beer. Just don't.
Speaking of things that you just don't want to do, never photograph the CIA headquarters, even if you're a professional sports star. Paranoia, much? Uh huh.
Bwahahaha!
Other newsWanna see an asteroid hit the moon? Just remember, one day WE could be the target.
I don't know what to make of this, but it made me laugh:
Stripped of the bras that decorated the tavern's ceiling for nearly half a century, the Holler House looked mighty naked.
But on Thursday, justice was restored to the universe. A ridiculous city order to ban the bras as a fire hazard was rescinded.
Hat tip: Althouse
Kentucky Football: Then and Now – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
Dec 2, 2012; Lexington , KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops waves to fans before being introduced a the new football coach at the University of Kentucky in the Nutter Field House. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports. This time ...
College Basketball: Time For Court-Storming To End
Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News had a piece the other addressing a few questions about college basketball, including Andrew Wiggins, Dick Vitale's recommendation to appoint a college basketball "czar," and this:
3. Speaking of czars, let’s say Mark Emmert gave you free rein to ban fans from storming the court. Would you favor it?
DeCourcy: The New York Islanders won a huge playoff game at home Tuesday over the Pittsburgh Penguins. See any fans storm the ice? Only in college sports do fans feel entitled to invade the playing surface at the conclusion of the contest. It doesn’t matter that we’ve had multiple instances in which fans were on the field before the games were decided. It doesn’t matter that we’ve had instances in which fans or competitors were injured. [My emphasis] [...]
There’s absolutely no point to this. It’s astounding that colleges—or their insurance companies—have not recognized this as a massive potential liability. But it’s not going to stop until something awful happens.
I have argued against court and field-storming for years now, and DeCourcy's commentary is precisely why. The biggest argument for allowing court-storming is that it has become a kind of tradition with big upsets, or when a #1 team loses a game, particularly in a non-blueblood away setting—unless, of course, you are Indiana University.
Part of me is sympathetic to this argument. I'm quite certain that, were I to somehow displace time and confront myself as a 25 year-old on this point, my younger version would surely embrace it. Tradition is important in college sports. In fact, one could argue that traditions are one of the things that makes college athletics so great, and at the very least is a major enhancement. Who can imagine a Kentucky game without the singing of "My Old Kentucky Home?"
With that said, I don't think tradition is a good enough reason to jeopardize people's safety, or the safety of the players and coaches. In my view, court-storming, if it is allowed at all, should only be allowed after all those wishing to leave the floor and the arena have left the area, and that it should be conducted in an orderly manner down to the floor. If there must be a mosh pit after that, fine.
That way, at least, those who want to celebrate in a jumble of humanity may do so at their own risk, without potentially jeopardizing the well-being of their fellow patrons who want nothing more than to go home in peace. Most people pay for a ticket to come see the game, cheer, enjoy the atmosphere and pageantry, and leave in an orderly, timely manner without the prospect of being knocked down by a fan anxious to throw himself into the chaos of a court-storm.
Would that take the spontaneity, and some of the fun out of it? Undoubtedly. But it would make it safe enough for the innocent bystander, and those willing to risk injury in a mini-riot would do so at their own risk.
Court-storming and field-storming have to stop, and they will. Unfortunately, it will take a tragedy, as it too often does, for people to finally understand that this is no longer an acceptable form of celebration as currently practiced. It endangers others, and if we can't mitigate those risks by making the process more orderly and less instant, then we should probably do away with it altogether.
Kentucky Football: Kobie Walker’s Commitment is a Bigger Deal than You Think
Kobie Walker's "only" a 3 star recruit. This comment has been both written and said. The fact is, for Kentucky, his commitment is a big deal; a very big deal. Here's four reasons why.
Walker's commitment placed UK 7th in the SEC in recruiting and 15th nationally. Nine SEC teams are ranked in the top 20. Our average star rating is 3.43 which ranks 9th in the conference. Another 4 star will put us back to an average of 3.50. If Louisville were in the SEC, they would rank 13th with their 3.08 average star rating.
Louisville's national team rank of 8th is based on the number of commitments (13) and not the quality. As other teams, such as Alabama, Florida St., Ohio St, Georgia, Clemson and others catch up to their numbers, the Cards lofty ranking will begin to slide.
Summary or blurb about the related article
Reason #1 is that his commitment vaulted the Cats into 7th place in the SEC and 15th nationally in the Rivals Team Rankings. That is a lofty spot which is new territory where we've never been before. Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music.
Reason #2. Didn't his commitment take Kentucky from a 3.50 star average rating down to 3.43? Yesbut (a new term I just made up) his commitment didn't do anything to our average player evaluation ratings. It remains at an average 5.7 which means that Walker and Hendrix could boost UK's player ratings by having a very good to great senior year into a 4 star rating with both having a 5.8 or 5.9 player evaluation rating by the end of their respective seasons. So, that's reason number two why this is a big deal.
Reason #3 is, perhaps, the most important reason. Walker comes from a national level high school football program. Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Maryland, is an elite football program which is something similar to basketball at Maryland's DeMatha Catholic. You can bet Walker has been well coached.
Our Lady of Good Counsel is much like Louisville's Trinity, Las Vegas, NV's Bishop Gorman, Ft. Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas, Nashville's Montgomery Bell, Ramsey, NJ's Don Bosco, Hoover from Alabama and De La Salle out in Concord California, among others. These are schools who play football powerhouses from other states and some of these games are televised on ESPN. The players on these teams are not afraid of a big stage as a result.
While signing any player from Trinity is a big deal for UK, UL and WKU, Trinity is a Kentucky school and is the Commonwealth's best football program year in and year out. Last year, James Quick, a Rivals (6.0) 4 star signed with Louisville while Kentucky was able to flip another Rivals (5.8) 4 star, Jason Hatcher, away from Southern Cal. While this is a big deal, Walker comes from the same type of program from Maryland. One could expect a recruit from Trinity to sign with one of the three Kentucky programs, unless they just want to go out of state, as several have. Getting a commitment from the same type of kid from another state has meaning.
Getting a commitment from a recruit from a national level program means that Kentucky is legitimately recruiting right along side of the "big dawgs" and also means we're making room for ourselves on the porch.. Last season, Trinity and Our Lady of Good Counsel finished 18th and 19th respectively in the nation, according to MaxPreps. Both also won won state championships.
Our Lady of Good Counsel finished at 11-1, losing to (Las Vegas) Bishop Gorman in their first game (27-22) in Las Vegas. They played (Montvale, NJ) St. Joseph Regional HS at Navy Stadium in Annapolis. They also played several District of Columbia schools.
Reason #4 is that his commitment put Kentucky's foot in the door at Good Counsel and the new relationship could bring more good news next year. Maybe a commitment from Roger Richardson. Read about him here.
Players like Kobie Walker do nothing but help your program in the long run. He is from an elite school. Football people notice these things.
Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies – 2013 NBA Draft Combine Edition
The NBA Draft Combine is now in full swing, from Wednesday the 15th until Monday the 19th. You can watch it on the Worldwide Leader, of course.
Tweet of the Morning:
Breaking News: Shabazz Muhammad measures under 6-5 (w/o shoes) at Draft Combine. Ben Howland's offense blamed for Muhammad's lack of height.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) May 17, 2013
Jay Bilas never fails to amuse.
Your Quickies: Kentucky footballRaise your hand if you thought Joker Phillips should have tried Morgan Newton at tight end. My Internet vision says most of you.
Well, the New York Giants have signed Newton at the tight end position over Michael Palmer. Congratulations, Morgan. Hat tip: Greg Edwards
If you don't think Florida is important, this article says otherwise (Hank).
Interview with UK's newest offer (Hank).
And don't be thinking this kid can't play - under the radar player (Hank).
Check out Drew Barker's throwing motion in this video. Via Hank
Want running backs? We've got running backs. If you don't have a case of Happy Feet, well ... (Hank)
The UK staff has been busy in Floridaa looking around (Hank).
Drew Barker and the other class of 2014 Wildcats started a joint Twitter account yesterday. Follow them at @UK2014Class.
Kentucky basketballCalipari boldly goes in the face of the NCAA. Well, he's never been shy about this particular issue. This was particularly blunt:
"Look, they've embarrassed me. I've done nothing, so they're not going to come and show retribution to me and do stuff. I don't really care."
Now tell 'em what you really think, Cal. Hat tip: Greg Edwards
Rob Dauster doesn't think that UK will go undefeated next year, and I agree with him that it is unlikely. But I did like this:
The doubters will cite the disappointing performance that last year’s Kentucky team had, dropping to the NIT and losing to Robert Morris in the first round. But it’s important to remember that: a) Kentucky didn’t have a point guard that was good enough to lead them; b) the Wildcats lost their best player to an ACL injury in the middle of SEC play; and c) Kentucky didn’t have a leader last year.
All quite right.
Mike Rutherford weighs in on Calipari's comments over at the Mothership. I think a lot of people, including Mike, miss Calipari's point about the NCAA. Cal wants the NCAA to provide things like insurance, a stipend, and a few other rule changes to make it easier for players to stay more than one year. He perfectly well understands that the NBA is responsible for the age limit (one and done) rule.
The Prediction Machine does simulations between the 2012 Kentucky national champs and the 2013 Louisville Cardinals national champs. Guess who wins? Odds are, if you're reading this, you got it right, but the margins are surprising.
I don't think there is really much doubt that Archie Goodwin will be a developmental project next season.
Nerlens Noel thinks he'll be better than ever after rehab:
Speaking to reporters at the NBA Combine in Chicago, Noel said of his rehab, "It’s been good from week one. I’m 100 percent confident, not just getting back to what I was, but stronger. Going through this time not playing basketball, I’ll just be working on things I need to polish. It will improve me in the long run."
I know he's going to do well. His attitude is perfect.
Other UK sportsMen's tennis takes on Duke in the Sweet Sixteen. Go, 'Cats!
Bat Cats lose their opener against Mizzou. That's a big downer after that win over Indiana a couple of days ago.
Links postsThursday Wildcat Links -- The Leach Report
John Clay's Morning Links
College football Nick Saban has had enough of people referring to him in Satanic terms. On behalf of John Calipari and the Big Blue Nation, we feel you, dawg. College basketballWake Forest fans want to ffire everybody. Didn't something like this happen at UK near the end of Tubby Smith's tenure?
Which teams are the best value picks to win in 2014? Kentucky obviously isn't one as a 5-1 favorite.
Memphis and Tennessee will continue their basketball series after all the Sturm und Drang about it last year.
You know, I totally agree where Kansas comes in on this poll. I would have put them 9 or 10, and that's where they are. I think the North Carolina Tar Heels are a little low, and Florida Gators a little high.
Other sports news The Preakness is this Saturday. Don't forget. You may be watching the ending of a very long Triple Crown drought in process. Follow the Preakness news on AAnd Down The Stretch They Come. Other news Wanna do better at math? Shock your brain—literally.Kentucky Wildcats Football: Future UK/Louisville battles should feature … – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
With the commitment of Drew Barker to UK, the Kentucky Wildcats football team will now have two of the top homegrown QB prospects on their roster starting in the 2014 season. And after this season, Teddy Bridgewater will be eligible to depart the ...
Kentucky Wildcats Football: Morgan Newton signs with the New York Giants – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
Following graduation, he was named to the Hampshire Honor Society by the College Football Foundation in recognition of his football and academic success. He was also very active in community service and was named to the SEC Community Service Team ...
and more
Kentucky Football: 2014 Recruiting Wish List
We currently have seven commitments which means, if all were to sign, we have eighteen open spots to reach our 25 SEC Limit for the 2014 class. Time to be day dream believer. Who would you like to see on our commitment list? Here’s my Top 30 by position.
Thirty? Why not? We only signed 22 for 2013 and we don't know how many of those will actually enroll. We don't know if JUCO Melvin Lewis signed or not. We do know that Braylon Heard is enrolling, and we could very well have some attrition in the roster. Obviously, we are not going to get commitments from all of these players, but if we get 8 (26.6%) of these players listed below, we could very well have a Top 10 recruiting class come signing day. Stoops & Company could become recruiting demi-gods.
Seven are currently Kentucky leans. There are lower rated players we will likely sign, but hey, we are daydreaming here. You have to suspend reality in order to dream.
Defense
Defensive Backs
4* (5.9) Wesley Green - Lithonia, GA - Martin Luther King HS - Clemson Lean
4* (5.9) D.J. Smith - Marietta, GA - Walton HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (5.9) Deion Singleton - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Kentucky Lean
Safeties
4* (6.0) Jamal Adams - Lewisville, TX - Hebron HS
4* (5.9) Ronnie Clark - Calera, AL - Calera HS - Alabama Lean
4* (5.8) Nick Glass - Atlanta, GA - St. Pius Catholic HS - Georgia Commit (Soft)
4* (5.8) Darius West - Lima, OH - Lima Central Catholic HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) Mike Edwards - Cincinnati, OH - Winton Woods HS - Kentucky Lean
Linebackers
4* (6.0) Clifton Garrett - Plainfield, IL - Plainfield HS - LSU Lean
4* (6.0) Korie Rogers - Buford, GA - Buford HS - Georgia Lean
4* (5.9) Delvin Purifoy - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Catholic HS - FSU Commit - Priority
Defensive Ends
5* (6.1) Lorenzo Carter - Norcross, GA - Norcross HS - Alabama Lean
4* (5.9) Keyon Brown - Wauchula, FL - Hardee HS - Miami Lean
Defensive Linemen
4* (6.0) Elisha Shaw - Atlanta, GA - Tucker HS - Alabama Lean
4* (5.8) Dontavius Russell - Carrollton, GA - Carrollton HS - Georgia Commit
3* (5.7) Matt Elam - Elizabethtown, KY - Elizabethtown HS - Priority Recruit - Kentucky Lean
Offense
Quarterbacks
No more, please. We're choking on them.
Running Backs
4* (5.9) Stanley Williams - Monroe, GA - George Walton Academy - Priority Recruit -Georgia Decommit - Kentucky Lean
Wide Receivers
4*(6.0) DeMarre Kitt - Tyrone, GA - Sandy Creek HS
4* (6.0) Marshon Lattimore - Cleveland, OH - Glenville HS - Ohio St. Lean
4* (6.0) Montae Nicholson - Monroeville, PA - Gateway HS
4* (5.8) Braxton Berrios - Raleigh, NC - Leesville Road HS - Priority Recruit
4* (5.8) Derek Kief - Cincinnati, OH - LaSalle HS - Priority Recruit
4* (5.8) Terry Googer - Atlanta, GA - Woodward Academy - South Carolina Lean
4* (5.8) Corey Holmes - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - St. Thomas Aquinas
Tight Ends
4*(5.8) Bryce Dixon - Ventura, CA - St. Bonaventure HS - UCLA Lean
Offensive Linemen
4* (5.8) Nick Richardson - Westerville, OH - Westerville Central HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (5.8) Corey Martinez - Tampa, FL - Tampa Catholic HS - Florda St. Lean
3* (5.7) Jarrett LaRubbio - Liberty Township, OH - Lakota East HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) Alex Bookser - Mount Lebanon, PA - Mount Lebanon HS
Athletes
4* (5.8) E.J. Moss - Ashville, AL - Ashville HS - Mississippi St. Lean
Kentucky Wildcats vs Duke in Tennis Sweet 16. Darius West Decision Soon – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
The Kentucky Wildcats football program has been on a historic tear as of late, as they've secured commitment after commitment from some of the nation's best recruits with the help of Marks Stoops and his All-Star cast of recruiters. But they may be on ...
and more
2013 Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting Big Board: In Review
The Kentucky Wildcats' 2013 recruiting class is in the books. It's a class ranked #1 by all the major recruiting services (Rivals, Scout, ESPN & 247), based mostly on quality, but also quantity. There are a lot of new faces, as eight high school seniors will be added to next year's roster.
Six of those players (as evidenced by the lead photo) were McDonald's All-Americans. According to the 247 Composite, an aggregate ranker based on multiple recruiting service rankings, Kentucky will bring in five National Top 10 players. That's simply incredible.
The class, prior to on-the-court performance, is already regarded as one of the best of all-time. But for them to keep that stature, they'll need to produce a great 2013-14 season. I, for one, won't be betting against them.
Kentucky Commitments & Signees Name Pos School (Hometown) 247 Composite Ranking Status [Offer / Commit / Sign] Other Finalists Dakari Johnson C Montverde (FL) Academy(New York, NY) 5*, 10th [O] 11/12
[C] 01/06/13
[S] 04/18/13 Syracuse
Georgetown Marcus Lee C/PF Deer Valley
(Antioch, CA) 5*, 17th [O] 09/16/12
[C] 10/17/12
[S] 11/14/12 California
Louisville Julius Randle PF Prestonwood Christian
(Plano, TX) 5*, 2nd [O] 2012
[C] 03/20/13
[S] 04/18/13 Texas
Kansas
Florida Derek Willis PF Bullitt East
(Mt. Washington, KY) 4*, 130th [O] 2011
[C] 01/20/12
[S] 11/14/12 Indiana
Louisville
Purdue James Young SF/SG Rochester
(Troy, MI) 5*, 9th [O] 06/12
[C] 10/11/12
[S] 11/14/12 Syracuse
Kansas
Michigan St
Aaron Harrison SG/PG Travis
(Fort Bend, TX) 5*, 6th [O] 2011
[C] 10/04/12
[S] 11/14/12 Maryland
SMU
Andrew Harrison PG Travis
(Fort Bend, TX) 5*, 4th [O] 2011
[C] 10/04/12
[S] 11/14/12 Maryland
SMU Dominique Hawkins
PG Madison Central
(Richmond, KY) 2*, 253rd [O] 03/28/13
[C] 04/10/13
[S] 04/17/13 Purdue
S Carolina
Offered But Committed Elsewhere
Name Pos School (Hometown) 247 Composite Ranking Status Other Finalists Kennedy Meeks
C West Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC) 4*, 55th Signed with North Carolina
Georgetown
Indiana
NC State
Aaron Gordon PF/SF Archbishop Mitty
(San Jose, CA) 5*, 5th Signed with Arizona
Washington
Oregon Johnathan Williams III
PF Southwind
(Memphis, TN) 4*, 46th Signed with Missouri
Michigan St
Tennessee
Georgetown Andrew Wiggins SF Huntington (WV) Prep
(Toronto, ONT) 5*, 1st Signed with Kansas
Florida St
UNC
Jabari Parker
SF Simeon Vacational
(Chicago, IL) 5*, 3rd Signed with Duke
Michigan St
Florida
BYU Tyler Roberson
SF/PF Roselle Catholic
(Union, NJ) 5*, 41st Signed with Syracuse
Villanova
Kansas
SMU Troy Williams
SF Oak Hill Academy
(Hampton, VA) 4*, 53rd Signed with Indiana
Ohio St
UNC
Louisville Wayne Selden
SG/SF
The Tilton School
(Boston, MA) 5*, 13th Signed with Kansas
Florida
Syracuse
Missouri Kasey Hill
PG
Montverde Academy
(Eustis, FL) 5*, 8th Signed with Florida
Florida St
Kansas
Louisville
Scholarship Situation
In addition to the eight signed players in the class of 2013, Kentucky returns five players on scholarship for the 2013-14 season (rising class indicated): Jon Hood (RS senior), Jarrod Polson (senior), Kyle Wiltjer (junior), Willie Cauley-Stein (sophomore), and Alex Poythress (sophomore). That gives the Wildcats a full complement of 13 scholarships next season.
Departing from last year's team are Julius Mays (graduation), Ryan Harrow (transfer), Nerlens Noel (declared for NBA Draft), and Archie Goodwin (declared for NBA Draft).
Key MissesThe 2012 recruiting class saw some key misses down the stretch. Most notably, Shabazz Muhammad, a strong contender for the #1 prospect overall alongside Nerlens Noel, picked UCLA over Kentucky. On a team that often struggled to score the ball, the Wildcats could have really used Muhammad and his "I just get buckets" game. In May, Kentucky lost out on forward Anthony Bennett, who vastly outplayed Alex Poythress en route to freshmen All-American honors. Finally, forward Amile Jefferson, who could have provided quality depth, chose Duke in mid-May.
Time will tell if John Calipari picked his recruits correctly, but ultimately, Kentucky lost only one recruit it really wanted. That would be uber-prospect Andrew Wiggins, ranked as the consensus #1 prospect in the nation. Wiggins would have been the ultimate cherry on top of an already stout recruiting class. Fortunately, Kentucky has depth at the 3, with Poythress joined by incoming recruit, James Young.
The 2013 recruiting class is considered "Top 6"-deep, with any of the six top-ranked recruits a viable candidate for #1 overall (well, in a non-Wiggins year, anyway). Besides Wiggins, Kentucky also lost out on Chicago prep legend Jabari Parker, a race that Calipari bowed out of last fall. Meanwhile, the Wildcats stuck around for Californian Aaron Gordon, though the commitment of Randle seemingly shut the door on that recruitment as well.
Other extended offers either came earlier in a prospect's career (like Troy Williams) or were hedge offers against other preferred prospects (like Kennedy Meeks). As much as we would like to see it, Kentucky can't take 'em all.
Class OverviewThere's not much more to say about this group that hasn't already been spilled on ink. On paper, this is a legendary recruiting class.
The three Texans, Julius Randle and the Harrison twins, are expected to start immediately. James Young and Dakari Johnson should provide significant backup minutes, while Marcus Lee's explosive defensive ability may be too exciting to keep him chained to the bench. The Texans should be considered one-and-done prospects, and Calipari should consider himself fortunate if he's able to squeeze any more years out of the latter three All-Americans.
No one really doubts Coach Cal's ability to turn precocious high school All-Americans into NBA Draft picks. However, he has also done a sneaky good job in developing less heralded players. After a trying 2012-13 season that featured little upperclassmen depth, Calipari has tweaked his recruiting approach to compensate. Don't sleep on the two local Kentucky stars, Derek Willis and Dominique Hawkins. Getting any production out of these two next year is a luxury. However, both players will be given ample time to develop, and will hopefully become key contributors to successful Kentucky teams down the road.
Get your hype meter up for the 2013-14 season. Some serious talent is inbound.
Older Recruiting Big Boards2013: 3/27/13 | 10/11/12 | 7/5/12 | 12/6/11 | 5/25/11
2014: 10/24/12 | 7/11/12 | 5/25/11
Louisville turning football success into recruiting prowess
Kentucky Basketball: Reviewing John Calipari’s Media Availability Of Tuesday
With the final recruit signed and no further additions likely for next year, John Calipari opened the 2013-14 campaign yesterday by laying out his vision for the team.
The theme for the coming season would seem to be, "chasing perfection," two words he used in his press conference yesterday. Naturally, the media consumed and dissected every word, and we will do so as well. Here's the full video, in case you were like me, and to buried with other work to watch:
Calipari says that he has moved on from last season, and insists he did the same thing after the championship year, although I have called that into question recently. One thing I think he was trying to say, and said rather clumsily, was that players can get better during a season and have it not show up in the results. He also implied, and I think this is very true, that when you make changes mid-season, they very often are too late to have a substantial impact, particularly with freshmen.
I find it interesting that Calipari misremembered his first year as his second, saying "What were we that first year, 9-7?" Maybe he's talking about Memphis, but it seemed like he could have been talking about Kentucky. Even this year, Kentucky wasn't 9-7 or 11-6, so that must have been memory fail there. I think he said Kentucky could have been 9-7 in 2009-10 but for some fortunate bounces, but I can't be sure.
He pointed out that this team, the one next year, is going to "need [the coaching staff] in different ways." He talked about the fact that the "alpha males" that we didn't have last year are present in this team.
I'm going to now categorize Calipari's main points and comment on them. As you might expect, the conference wandered from place to place, and grouping related points together help make more sense of it all
Regarding last year's team:Calipari said 2011-12 did not have one bad practice. Last year, they had about 5 good practices the whole year.
The players last season "weren't as skilled" as they needed to be, despite solid numbers offensively and defensively.
This may sound strange, but last year's team numbers were not that bad in many areas. Perimeter shooting and defense were substantially worse than any previous season, though.
Calipari said that the guys coming back should have come back. He pointedly did not say the guys leaving should have left, although I think he does believe that about Noel, but perhaps not as definitively as we all assume.
Cal said that he must have more than 8 scholarship players. He said he was "trying to protect" players last year, and what I assume he means by that is trying to protect their playing time and reputations. He basically suggested that he wouldn't be doing it that way again, but that he will always put players first.
In continuing that thought, Calipari said that he doesn't have many regrets about giving a guy multiple chances, even when it winds up hurting the team. "Guys got the full season" to prove themselves. He said he will err on the side of the player, and asked, "If it were your son, what would you want me to do?"
This is essentially a defense of his decision to play players that weren't performing well, and he didn't apologize for putting the welfare of certain players above the welfare of the team. But I think, at the same time, he's not going to be willing to do that again.
Regarding individuals next year:Willie Cauley-Stein has chance to be one of the better players he ever coached. WCS knew he could have been a first round pick if he entered the draft.
He later said that Willie told him flat out that he "didn't like school" when he came, but at the end of the year, that changed. The whole dynamic, the social scene, the academic work behind the scenes including some by Calipari himself helped change his mind, which had a lot to do with his willingness to return.
Kyle Wiltjer has to change his body and take his defense to another level. Calipari wants him to make the Canadian national team to give him a further opportunity to improve.
He said Alex Poythress learned a lot last season, and further said he would have been a first round draft pick; but Poythress knew he wasn't ready.
Jon Hood had breakthrough at the end of the year.
Jarrod Polson wound up as one of UK's better guards. What he left unsaid was that we needed more than Polson could give.
Aaron Harrison will be required to be a lock-down defender. He said with this team, UK can play a "big zone" and press a lot more.
Cal wants Andrew Harrison to wind up like Brandon Knight, Marquis Teague, and Derrick Rose. Said Andrew's skillset would allow them to play a lot more Dribble Drive Motion.
Calipari described Dominique Hawkins as "tough,", and that he wanted one more tough point guard after "what we just went through." No doubt who he was talking about there.
Calipari said Dakari Johnson has had a steep curve of improvement, and has become a very skilled big man.
Said that Marcus Lee averaged a triple double, and wanted to be here and take on challenge of playing with all these great players.
Cal said that Julius Randle can play inside and out, is an "Alpha beast," and has some of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in him.
Said that Derek Willis is long and skilled, and wanted the challenge of going against players "this good."
Cal describe James Young as a 6'6" or 6'7" wing that "can flat shoot the ball."
Team commentsCalipari told all his incoming class that they would have to share the sacrifice to come here. No getting 30 shots a game, etc.
He said that "We" have no choice but to be patient with this team, and that it "may be ugly early."
Cal said that when you don't have the alpha male, you have to lead as a coach and your team will never be as successful as when you have one.
I think this is right, but we did have alpha males last year. The problem is, we didn't have enough of them.
Calipari reiterated his wish that kids would have to stay at least "two or three" years, and said he is still lobbying for the rule change to make that happen.
He said Jodie Meeks is coming back to finish up school. That's great to hear.
Said 12 players out of 13 had a B average or better last semester.
He also said that Kentucky is "not working on a 25 year old model." Made fun of those calling UK a basketball factory, and referred to the academic success his players have enjoyed.
Regarding the 40-0 thing, Calipari said that Kentucky would be "chasing perfection, chasing greatness, chasing things that have never been done." He said that pressure is good, and that he's had that pressure his whole career.
He further stated unambiguously that the kids would face pressure their whole time at Kentucky. It's just the way it is here. He says that helps them have the mentality that they can win every game.
Calipari likes the fact that this year's squad will face competition with each other for playing time. He said that nobody has been promised anything, and that some players will play a lot and some won't play much.
Cal then suggested an eight or nine man rotation, which is a few more than what we've really seen here, but not near enough to get everybody time. That dynamic will be really interesting.
Calipari scoffed at the idea that the officials were going to call more fouls, and said that Kentucky will be fouling a lot more next year, because they have the players to play that way.
He went on to say that it would be good if the officials would call more fouls, call the block/charge the right way (as the NCAA has suggested it would) but doubted it would actually happen. He was clear that is the right thing to do, but in my view was openly and unambiguously skeptical the change would actually occur. His message was that UK is going to play as physical as they can until the officials make him stop by calling fouls.
Players will have to "earn [their] way" into single rooms, and into the locker room. Not quite sure what he meant by that latter.
Calipari Wished Andrew Wiggins well, and is just as confident in his team with or without him.
Overall impressionI came away with the impression that this was the most unambiguous and matter-of-fact that I can remember Calipari being in a long time. He was pretty clear that, despite development last year, the way he went about it would not be repeated. He didn't apologize for it, or say that he totally regretted it, but it was clear that he thought the success of it was too far below his standards to suffer through a repetition.
He is also clearly very proud of the team's high academic performance, and revealing that he personally worked with WCS on the academic side was poignant in a way, and struck me as an emotional episode for Calipari when WCS changed his view of school.
I was also struck by his skepticism of the NCAA officiating emphasis, which I happen to share. He's really taking the position that it will not happen, and even though he did not expound on why he thought that, it's pretty clear that he believes it is mostly talk.
The thing about pressure, the way he talked about it was refreshing, and he's done that before. This was the most matter-of-fact that I've seen him with respect to the pressure that the players themselves will be subjected to.
He also went with the rote, almost boilerplate stuff, such as "delusional" and "Kentucky is everybody's Super Bowl" and all the sales talk we've heard from Calipari over the years, but to a somewhat lesser degree, which made this media availability one of the more pithy I can recall.
I suggest you watch it for yourself when you have the time, and add your thoughts below.
Kentucky Football: Tales from the Dark Side – Part 1: The Bryant Years
Kentucky football has been known since the 1950s as an SEC bottom dweller often fighting Vanderbilt for last place. It wasn't always so. "Bear" Bryant established a winning tradition at Kentucky in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Under his leadership, Kentucky became a national power. The Tuscaloosa News dubbed Bryant's time at Kentucky as The Golden Age at Kentucky.
In 1950, I was Mrs. Duck's kindergarten class at Maxwell Elementary School on the corner of Maxwell Street and Woodland Avenue. At the time, my family lived on Grosvenor Avenue near the Kappa Alpha fraternity house which was located across Rose St. It was still in use when I graduated from UK in 1971. It could've have been mistaken for Animal House.
My father was the accounting manager for the clothing store, Graves, Cox & Co. , which was located on Main Street. It became a tradition for Bryant to bring his squad to the store to be outfitted with sports coats, shirts, pants and ties. This was not an NCAA violation at the time. The same was done for the basketball team. I don't remember my father ever saying who paid for the clothes. It could've been a Graves, Cox donation to the UKAA. The NCAA was just beginning to have teeth and Kentucky was a prime mover as you will discover later, as John Scott explains on his website.
Bryant came to Kentucky from Maryland in 1946. The previous year, Kentucky was 12th in the SEC. Bryant took the Cats immediately to 7-3 which was the first winning season since 1940, but his 2-3 SEC record was only good enough for 8th place. The SEC was tough back then as it is now. Bryant didn't have a winning SEC record until 1949 when his team went 9-3 with a 4-1 SEC record.
That 4-1 record was good enough to put the Cats in second place in the SEC. That season was also Bryant's first bowl game at Kentucky: The Great Lakes Bowl. His lone SEC loss was to General Neyland's Tennessee Volunteers. His first quarterback was George Blanda, who accomplished plenty in the AFL and NFL. To show you just how different college football was from today, this blurb from a Tuscaloosa News article will show you.
We had about 25 returning players and that included guys like George Blanda and Wah-Wah Jones (the basketball All-America),' said Frank Sadler, who came with Bryant from Maryland and served as the team's equipment manager. 'Then we had a tryout in June, mostly veterans coming back from (World War II) and we had about 500 men at the tryout. So in the end, we had 99 candidates.
Blanda was the key to Bryant's early success. Bryant said, "If I had gone to the T-formation that year, and had been more experienced, Blanda might have made All-America." This quote comes from Bryant's autobiography, Bear: The Hard Life and Good Times of Alabama's Coach Bryant.
In Bryant's eight year stay at Kentucky, he never lost more than three games in a season except for his next to last (1952) when he went 5-4-2 and only won one SEC game. When he left Kentucky at the end of the 1953 season, he had compiled 60-23-5 record, had taken the Cats to the Great Lakes Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the Cotton Bowl.
The Bear Bryant legend arguably began with that Sugar Bowl game on January 1st, 1950 when Kentucky beat top ranked and undefeated Oklahoma 13-7 and broke the Sooners 31 game win streak. Jeff Sagarin claims that Kentucky should've been declared the National Champion for that year.
Bryant would leave Kentucky at the end of the 1954 season.
As a kid growing up in Lexington, I've heard all the stories as to why Bryant left. I remember my mom and dad talking about a possible affair with a former Governor's daughter. I heard it was because the UKAA wanted to take control of Bryant's recruiting slush fund which had been "donated" by area businesses and the wealthy; another was that Bryant and Rupp couldn't get along. Many sportswriters, including Billy Reed, have that as the reason. The one that stuck, however, was the great cigarette lighter/Cadillac prank. Bryant and Rupp both were responsible for the prank and they duped many with it, including Sports Illustrated.
The Origin of the Cigarette Lighter story.The beginnings of this myth came during Bryant's speech before the Oklahoma City Quarterback Club on December 8th before the January 1st Sugar Bowl Game against Oklahoma. You can read John Scott's description of the story here as well as his rebuttal. Scott's rebuttal provides a hint as to the real reason Bryant left for Texas A&M. You can also read the Tuscaloosa News view on this subject.
I remember my mom and dad talking about Bryant's speech at the Oklahoma City Quarterback Club and distinctly remember them laughing about Bryant's comment and sense of humor. I think Bryant and Rupp both were a shocked that the A/P reported Bryant's joke as fact. Both men must have had a laugh at the media gullibility over an obvious joke. I think they decided to perpetuate the joke until someone actually did some fact checking. It seems that only a very few in the media, have done so to this day. Can you imagine Sports Illustrated admitting that they were hoodwinked? There are some who still insist he left because of the cigarette lighter and cite the Sports Illustrated interview with Bryant and this video as proof:
There are several things in this video that are just plain wrong. Bryant told his little joke about the Cadillac and the cigarette lighter in 1950. In the video, Bryant claims that the lighter he's holding in his hand is the actual lighter that he was given by UK. Look at it. It is a plastic lighter. BIC introduced their plastic lighter in 1973, which you could buy at any gas station or grocery from 1969-1970 on. Bryant is clearly holding one of the cheapo versions that hardly lasts a week before the flint goes bad.
At any rate, the cigarette lighter myth has become fact because the national media has made it fact, just like the "Rupp was racist" myth that is now "fact."
Kentucky Wildcats: Afternoon Quickies – Still #1 Edition
Day 1 post Wiggins, and the reviews are in -- it's hype Kansas mode for a while, and I can live with that. It won't last very long.
Sorry for the lack of activity today, but the network has been failing all day long, and I just now found a window. They are working hard on it at SB Nation. Hopefully it will get better soon.
Tweet of the Day:
ICYMI By picking Kansas, attention-averse Andrew Wiggins guarantees the spotlight aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketbal…
— Michael DeCourcy (@tsnmike) May 15, 2013
Ah, irony.
Your Quickies: Kentucky footballWe do a Q&A with Pride of Detroit about Larry Warford. Hank and I collaborated on this, but that's not clear from the story. Hank wrote the first part of the answers, and the second part, if it exists, was done by me.
Larry Vaught writes about UK recruit Damien Harris. He would be a huge, huge get if we could land him, but there are a lot of big-time schools on his list
Kentucky basketballEammon Brennan gets this one wrong:
Kentucky 2011-12 wasn't the best team in the country because it comprised only talented freshmen. The freshmen UK did have were special, but just as important were Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller. None was a freshmen. Jones would have been a lottery pick had he left during the lockout uncertainty. Miller was a fourth-year senior who came off the bench.
This is the same tired argument we heard in 2012 even with Miller, Lamb and Jones, it's just tweaked a little to treat sophomores like upperclassmen. We had the same mix of experience in 2012-13 with Julius May, Kyle Wiltjer and Ryan Harrow.
The reality is that Kentucky lacked a dependable point guard and dependable perimeter shooting, but what it lacked most was sufficient depth to use the bench as a motivator. Calipari caught lighting in a bottle in 2011-12 when he brought in players who were mostly self-motivating. Last year, the team lacked that, and along with the other issues and Nerlens Noel's injury, it was just too much to overcome.
The rest of the article is reasonable, but the premise upon which he bases it, in my view, is fatally flawed.
Eight is enough, says Ben Roberts.
2014 point guard Emmanuel Mudiay about to narrow his schools to five from ten. Hat Tip: KSR
Wildcats have a 3.4 GPA for the spring semester. Outstanding. That included two perfect 4.0's More here at CoachCal.com.
Other UK sportsBat Cats get a huge, needed win over #15 Indiana yesterday. More here at the Kentucky Kernel. Here are some video highlights:
Links postsJohn Clay's Big Blue Links
Wednesday Wildcat Links The Leach Report
College footballWant to be good at college football? Don't turn the ball over. So says Mr. SEC, and he brings the numbers to prove it (Via Hank).
Miami coach Al Golden ready for conclusion to NCAA investigation. Heh. I'll bet.
College basketballAndy Katz and his thoughts about Wiggins, and what it means to the Big 12 and college basketball. Consider this:
Kentucky would have had a potential playing-time issue had Wiggins chosen the Wildcats -- for others, not Wiggins. No other coach could handle that better than Kentucky's John Calipari, but he doesn't need to massage any more egos with this team. He'll have his hands full keeping so many talented players pleased.
Don't you believe it. Calipari isn't worried about pleasing anybody. That was one of the lessons he learned last year.
More Kansas/Wiggins hype, if you can stand any more. It was a very big get for them, no doubt, and I totally understand all the hype. They deserve to celebrate this one, you just don't beat UK out of a player like Wiggins every day.
Andy Glockner writes for SI.com that Wiggins makes Kansas a "serious Final Four contender," and I think that's probably right. Kentucky, though, is a serious contender for the NCAA Tournament championship, and I don't think Wiggins gets Kansas to that bar. There are a number of Final Four contenders, but only 3 or four championship contenders.
Did Self really out-recruit John Calipari:
Hardly. What Wiggins decided on — and what Self accomplished in out-recruiting the best recruiter in college basketball — is good for Wiggins, great for Kansas and absolutely fantastic for college basketball.
Because, really: Who wants college basketball to have its equivalent of Alabama in college football?
or was the UK roster just too stacked for Wiggins' liking? I prefer to think the latter, but Kansas fans could be forgiven for preferring the former.
Besides, I still think UK is the equivalent of an Alabama next year. Wiggins would have been nice, but he wasn't a need for UK, and I think that mattered to him.
Bill Self apparently knows less about Wiggins than most Kentucky fans:
"He brings athleticism, length, scoring ability and he's also an assassin, an alpha dog and we definitely need that when you have a whole bunch of young kids," Self said.
Seriously, Bill, an "alpha dog?" Wiggins is anything but, at least right now. Have you actually watched him play? Julius Randle is an alpha dog, as are both the Harrison twins. Wiggins is about as far from that as he can be, at the moment.
Andrew Wiggins should have gone straight to the D-league, says Dan Shanoff of USA Today. I think that's wrong. The D-league is a man's league, and Wiggins desperately needs to mature playing against boys, not seasoned veterans.
This is an excellent piece by Dana O'Neil, which you should read. Here is a taste:
Six minutes after Wiggins' announcement, there was a "go to hell," a #worstmistake hashtag and a lovely "I hope you tear an acl you idiot" post.
Because, naturally, it makes perfect sense to despise a kid who had the gall to choose where he wanted to go to college.
How dare he.
Indeed. But it's not just a scolding of the Twitter idiots, but a clear-eyed examination of the recruiting process. Very much worth your time.
The SB Nation Florida blog Alligator Army is just glad Wiggins didn't go to rival Florida St.
Shane Ryan at Grantland goes all hyperbolic on the NCAA rule changes, or rather, the fact they didn't change the shot clock.
As I've always said, the NCAA is an inherently conservative organization and change is slow. But it does come, and the shot clock will be shortened, but it will take some time.
As an additional observation, I have been saying for too many years to count that college basketball, and NBA basketball for that matter, allows too much contact. It doesn't have to be that way, and Rick Pitino, of all people, explains it in a quote in Shane's article.
Other sports newsSex scandal at Tennessee could get very ugly.
Tennessee will unveil a statue of Pat Summit soon.
Kentucky Wildcats Football:Should UK Consider Dropping Louisville? – Wildcat Blue Nation
Wildcat Blue Nation
It's no secret that if Kentucky is going to be good at football they will need to build from the ground up. There simply isn't much usable material from the past. Programs are built by winning games and going to bowls. Recruiting can only take you so ...
Kentucky Football: 2014 Big Board Update Through 05/13/13
All Offers are verbal as are the Commitments. No consideration is given regarding committable or non-committable offers. All Ratings are from Rivals and all profiles are from 247 Sports. Leans are estimated by 247 Sports.
If a player is not linked, he is considered a lost cause by the author.
Commitments:
3* (5.7) OLB Dorian Hendrix - Huber Heights, OH - Wayne HS
4* (5.8) WR Thaddeus Snodgrass - Springfield, OH - Springfield HS
4* (5.8) RB Mikel Horton - West Chester, OH - Lakota West HS
3* (5.8) TE Darryl Long - Westerville, OH - Westerville South HS
3* (5.5) DT Tymere Dubose - Youngstown, OH - Youngstown Christian School
4* (5.8) QB Drew Barker - Hebron, KY - Connor HS - Kentucky's # 1 Priority
3* (5.7) Kobie Walker - Olney, MD - Our Lady of Good Counsel HS
Quarterbacks:
3*(5.6) Reggie Bonnafon - Louisville, Ky - Trinity HS - Louisville Commit
4* (5.8) D.J. Gillins - Jacksonville, FL - Eagles View Academy
3* (5.6) Tyler Harris - Blackshear, GA - Pierce County HS - Offer Withdrawn
4* (5.8) Deshone Kizer - Toledo, OH - Central Catholic HS
4*(5.9) Rafe Peavey - Bolivar, MO - Bolivar HS - Arkansas Commit
Running Backs:
4* (5.9) Adam Choice - Thomasville, GA - Thomas County Central HS - Auburn Lean
3* (5.6) Jonathon Haden - Washington, DC - Friendship Collegiate Academy - Ohio St. Lean
4* (5.8) C.J. Hilliard - Cincinnati, OH - St. Xavier HS - Iowa Lean
4* (5.8) Justin Jackson - Carol Stream, IL - Glenbard HS - Northwestern Lean
4* (5.8) Tony James - Gainesville, FL - Gainesville HS
4* (5.8) Jeff Jones - Minneapolis, MN - Washburn HS - Minnesota Commit
3* (5.7) Trevon Paulk - Alpharetta, GA - Milton HS - Tennessee Commit
3* (5.7) Kamryn Pettwayy - Prattville, AL - Prattville HS - Auburn Commit
3* (5.6) JJarvis Stewart - Largo, FL - Largo HS - USF Commit
4* (5.9) Stanley Williams - Monroe, GA - George Walton Academy - Priority Recruit -Georgia Decommit - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) T. J. Harrell - Tampa, FL - Tampa Catholic - Florida St. Lean
3* (5.7) Jonathon Vickers - Tallahassee, FL - North Florida Christian HS
Tight Ends:
4*(5.8) Bryce Dixon - Ventura, CA - St. Bonaventure HS - UCLA Lean
3* (5.7) Jakell Mitchell - Opelika, AL - Opelika HS
3*(5.6) Marcus Mosely - Tampa, FL - Alonso HS
3* (5.7) Ethan Wolf - Minster, OH - Minster HS -Tennessee Commit
Wide Receivers:
4* (5.9) Mark Andrews - Scottsdale, AZ - Desert Mountain HS
3* (5.7) Troy Apke - Mount Lebanon, PA - Mount Lebanon HS - Penn St. Commit
NR Emanuel Beal - Powder Springs, GA - Hillgrove HS
4* (5.8) Braxton Berrios - Raleigh, NC - Leesville Road HS - Priority Recruit - highlight film
4* (5.8) Blake Bone - Woodruff, SC - Woodruff HS - South Carolina Lean
4* (5.8) Dominque Booth - Indianapolis, IN - Pike HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (5.9) Johnnie Dixon - West Palm Beach, FL - Dwyer HS
3*(5.7) Isaiah Ford - Jacksonville, FL - Trinity Christian HS - Louisville Commit
4* (6.0) Drake Harris (247 Sports Profile) - Grand Rapids, MI -Christian HS - Michigan Commit
3*(5.5) Kendrick Holland - Winter Haven, FL - Winter Haven HS
4* (5.8) Corey Holmes - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - St. Thomas Aquinas HS
3* (5.6) Garrett Johnson - Winter Garden, FL - West Orange HS
4* (5.8) Derek Kief - Cincinnati, OH - LaSalle HS - Priority Recruit
4*(6.0) DeMarre Kitt - Tyrone, GA - Sandy Creek HS
NR JUCO Nick Kurtz - El Cajon, CA - Grossmont C.C. - Texas Tech Lean
4* (6.0) Marshon Lattimore - Cleveland, OH - Glenville HS - Ohio St. Lean
4* (5.8) Johnathon Lloyd - Graham, NC - Southern Alamance HS
4* (5.9) Josh Malone - Gallatin, TN - Station Camp HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (6.0) Montae Nicholson - Monroeville, PA - Gateway HS
4* (5.8) Austin Roberts - Carmel, IN - Carmel HS - Ohio St. Lean
4* (5.9) Artavis Scott - Tarpon Springs, FL - East Lake HS - Michigan Lean
3* (5.6) Ryan Sousa - Orlando, FL - Lake Nona HS
4* (5.8) Moral Stephens (247 Sports Profile) - Perry, FL - Taylor County HS
3* (5.5) T.V. Williams - McKinney, TX - McKinney HS
2* (5.4) Shakenneth Williams - Macon, GA - Rutland HS - Vanderbilt Lean
2* (5.4) Tevin Madisonn - Fayette, AL - Fayette County HS - Texas Tech Commit
4* (5.8) Dareian Watkins - Galion, OH - Galion HS - Northwestern Commit
NR Torrodd Carter - Westerville, OH - Westerville South HS
4* (5.8) Terry Googer - Atlanta, GA - Woodward Academy - South Carolina Lean
3* (5.6) Lamar Parker - Miami, FL -Booker T.Washington HS
Offensive Linemen:
3* (5.6) Ty Barrett - Dallas, TX - Skyline HS - Oklahoma Lean
3* (5.7) Alex Bookser - Mount Lebanon, PA - Mount Lebanon HS
3* (5.6) Ja'merez Bowen - Cleveland, OH - Shaker Heights HS
3* (5.7) Orlando Brown - Suwanee, GA - Peachtree Ridge HS - Tennessee Commit
NR Alex Dalton - Troy, OH - Troy HS
NR JUCO Avery Gennesy - Scooba, MS - East Mississippi C.C.
4* (5.8) Nick Richardson - Westerville, OH - Westerville Central HS - Kentucky Lean
NR Brady Taylor - Columbus, OH - Bishop Ready HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.6) Marcelys Jones - Cleveland, OH - Glenville HS - Ohio State Commit
3* (5.7) Nolan Kelleher - Mount Pleasant, SC - Wando HS
3* (5.7) Jarrett LaRubbio - Liberty Township, OH - Lakota East HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.5) Eric Shute - Glen Ellyn, IL - Glenbard West HS
3* (5.7) Isaiah Wynn - St. Petersburg, FL - Lakewood HS - Vanderbilt Lean
3* (5.5) Gary Brown - Tampa, FL - Alonso HS
4* (5.8) Reilly Gibbons - St. Petersburg, FL - St. Petersburg Catholic HS - Miami Commit
4* (5.8) Corey Martinez - Tampa, FL - Tampa Catholic HS - Florda St. Lean
3* (5.6) Ray Raulerson - Tampa, FL - Plant HS
4* (6.0) Alex Bars - Nashville, TN - Montgomery Bell HS - Michigan Lean - Brother plays for Michigan
NR Jon Bezney - Cincinnati, OH - Mariemont HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) Brian Allen - Hindsdale, IL - Hindsdale Central HS - Michigan St. Commit
3* (5.6) Montel McBride - Plant City, FL - Plant City HS
3* (5.7) Josh Allen - Jacksonville, FL - University Christian HS
NR JUCO Adam Duckett - Milledgeville, GA - Georgia Military College
3* (5.6) Kavaris Harkless - Jacksonville, FL - Trinity Christian HS - Louisville Commit
2* (5.4) Lukayus McNeil - Indianapolis, IN - Decatur Central HS - Indiana Lean
NR Marcus Applefield - Weeki Wachee, FL - Weeki Wachee HS
3* (5.5) Christian Harris - Suwanee, GA - Collins Hill HS
Defensive Linemen including Defensive Ends:
3* (5.7) Thomas Holley - Brooklyn, NY - Abraham Lincoln HS - Alabama Lean
3* (5.6) Taylor Stallworth - Mobile, AL - Murphy HS
NR Jack Cleary - West Chester, OH - Lakota West HS
2* (5.4) Raul Diaz - Miami, FL - Miami Central HS
3* (5.7) Matt Elam - Elizabethtown, KY - Elizabethtown HS - Priority Recruit - Kentucky Lean
NR Adrian Middleton - Bowling Green, KY - South Warren County HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (5.8) Anthony Moten - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - St. Thomas Aquinas HS - Florida Commit
3* (5.5) Chris Nelson - Lakeland, FL - Victory Christian HS - Virginia De-commit - Virginia Lean
3* (5.6) Jamiyus Pittman - Moultrie, GA - Colquitt County HS
4* (5.8) Dontavius Russell - Carrollton, GA - Carrollton HS - Georgia Commit
3* (5.6) Caleb Samuel - Macon, GA - Stratford Academy - North Carolina Commit
4* (6.0) Elisha Shaw - Atlanta, GA - Tucker HS - Alabama Lean
NR Armon Watts - St. Louis, MO - Christian Brothers College HS
3* (5.7) Chris Williams - Tyrone, GA - Sandy Creek HS - Ole Miss Lean
4* (5.8) Bryson Allen-Williams - Ellenwood, GA - Cedar Grove HS - South Carolina Commit
4* (5.8) Jimmy Bayes - Immokalee, FL - Immokalee HS - USF Commit
4* (5.9) Keyon Brown - Wauchula, FL - Hardee HS - Miami Lean
5* (6.1) Lorenzo Carter - Norcross, GA - Norcross HS - Alabama Lean
3* (5.6) Keshun Freeman - Hogansville, GA - Calloway County HS
3* (5.7) Trent Harris - Winter Park, FL - Winter Park HS - Florida Lean
3* (5.7) Joe Henderson - Cleveland, OH - Shaker Heights HS
NR Terry Ramsey - Clayton, OH - Northmont HS - Kentucky Lean
2* (5.4) Cory Thomas - McCalla, AL - McAdory HS - Mississippi St. Lean
4* (5.9) Justin Thornton - Pritchard, AL - Vigor HS - Auburn Commit
4* (5.8) Denzel Ware - Opp, AL - Opp HS - Kentucky De-commit - Florida Lean
4* (5.9) Andrew Williams - McDonough, GA - Eagle's Landing Christian School
NR Lloyd Tubman - Louisville, KY - Seneca HS - Vanderbilt Commit
3* (5.6) Montel McBride - Plant City, FL - Plant City HS
NR Jack Cleary - West Chester, OH - Lakota West HS
3* (5.6) Michael Sawyers - Nashville, TN - Ensworth HS
4* (5.8) Dante Sawyer - Suwanee, GA - North Gwinnett HS
3* (5.7) Daniel Cage - Cincinnati, OH - Winton Woods HS - Louisville Lean
NR Adam Torres - Lake Mary, FL - Lake Mary HS
NR JUCO Keland McElrath - Clarkdale, MS - Coahoma C.C.
Linebackers:
3* (5.6) Deshaun Davis - Mobile, AL - Vigor HS - Auburn Commit
4* (5.8) Kevin Mouhon - Norcross, GA - Norcross HS - Tennessee Lean
3* (5.6) T.J. Posey - Gadsden, AL - Gadsden City HS
3* (5.7) Andrew Beck - Tampa, FL - Plant HS - Texas Commit
3* (5.6) Gavin Bryant - Jackson, AL - Jackson HS - Alabama Lean
NR Deshon Cooper - Decatur, GA - Columbia HS
2* (5.4) Jaylon Graham - Eustis, FL - Eustis HS
4* (5.8) Shaun Hamilton - Montgomery, AL - Carver HS - Alabama Commit
2* (5.4) Terrell Lewis - Ocoee, FL - Ocoee HS
4* (5.8) Chris Register - Greensboro, NC - Dudley HS - Clemson Lean
4* (5.9) Dwight Williams - Gardena, CA - Junipero Serra HS - Florida Lean
3* (5.7) Richard Yeargin III - Ft. Lauderdale - University School (of Nova Scotia)
4* (6.0) Tre' Williams - Mobile, AL - St. Paul's Episcopal School - Auburn Commit
2* (5.4) Juwaun Brown - Tampa, FL - Jefferson HS
3* (5.6) Nico Firios - Longwood, FL - Lyman HS
4* (6.0) Clifton Garrett - Plainfield, IL - Plainfield HS - LSU Lean
4* (5.9) DeMarques Gatess - Lovejoy, GA - Lovejoy HS - Ole Miss Commit
3* (5.5) Francisco Hernandez - Largo, FL - Largo HS - USF Commit
3* (5.7) Brandon Lee - Indianapolis, IN - Lawrence Central HS - Louisville Lean
4* (5.8) Jacob Pugh - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Florida St. Lean
4* (5.9) Delvin Purifoy - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Catholic HS - FSU Commit - Priority Recruit
4* (5.8) Tyrell Tomlin - Marietta, GA - Marietta HS
3* (5.6) Verondtae Wilkinson - Dayton, OH - Trotwood-Madison HS
3* (5.6) Deshaun Davis - Mobile, AL - Vigor HS - Auburn Commit
NR Josh Krok - Niles, OH - McKinley HS
4* (6.0) Tre' Williams - Mobile, AL - St. Paul's Episcopal HS - Auburn Commit
4* (5.8) Rashaan Evans - Auburn, AL - Auburn HS - Auburn Lean
NR JUCO Ryan Flannigan - Brenham, TX - Blinn College
3* (5.6) Chris Frey - Upper Arlington, OH - Upper Arlington HS - Michigan St. Commit
4* (6.0) Korie Rogers - Buford, GA - Buford HS - Georgia Lean
Defensive Backs and Safeties:
4* (5.8) Kalvarez Besset - Kingsland, GA - Camden County HS - Alabama Commit
3* (5.7) De'Eric Culverr - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Louisville Commit
4* (5.8) Stepheny Durham - Jacksonville, FL - Atlantic Coast HS
3* (5.6) Tony Fields - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS
4* (5.9) Wesley Green - Lithonia, GA - Martin Luther King HS - Clemson Lean
4* (5.8) Dravon Henry - Aliquippa, PA - Aliquippa Senior HS
3* (5.6) Isaiah McKenzie - Plantation, FL - American Heritage HS
3* (5.7) Malkom Parrish - Quitman, GA - Brooks County HS - Georgia Lean
3* (5.7) Stephen Roberts - Opelika, AL - Opelika HS - Alabama Commit
3* (5.7) Jermaine Roberts - New Orleans, LA - St. Augustine HS - Texas Commit
3* (5.7) Nicholas Ruffin - Atlanta, GA - St. Pius Catholic HS - Alabama Lean
4* (5.9) D.J. Smith - Marietta, GA - Walton HS - Tennessee Lean
NR Kendarius Webster - Stockbridge, GA - Stockbridge HS
4* (5.8) Nigel Patten - Miami, FL - Booker T. Washington HS - Miami or Florida St.
4* (5.9) Deion Singleton - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (6.0) Jamal Adams - Lewisville, TX - Hebron HS
3* (5.6) Allen Artis - Marietta, GA - Wheeler HS - Vanderbilt Lean
3* (5.7) John Battle - Hallandale, FL - Hallandale HS
3* (5.7) John Bonney - Houston, TX - Lamar HS - Texas Lean
4* (5.9) Ronnie Clark - Calera, AL - Calera HS - Alabama Lean
3* (5.7) Mike Edwards - Cincinnati, OH - Winton Woods HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) Daejuan Funderburk - Washington, DC - Friendship Collegiate
3* (5.7) Kendall Gant - Lakeland, FL - Lake Gibson HS
4* (5.8) Nick Glass - Atlanta, GA - St. Pius Catholic HS - Georgia Commit
2* (5.4) Khalia Hackett - Douglasville, GA - South Paulding HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (5.8) Cortez McDowell - Locust Grove, GA - Locust Grove HS - Tennessee Lean
3* (5.6) Darrion Owens - Jacksonville, FL - Orange Park HS
4* (5.8) Darius West - Lima, OH - Lima Central Catholic HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.6) Andre Godfrey - Miramar, FL - Miramar HS - Louisville Lean
3* (5.6) Jared Tucker - Stone Mountain, GA - Stephenson HS
3* (5.6) Isaiah McKenzie - Plantation, FL - American Heritage HS
4* (5.8) Kendall Randolph - Tallahassee, FL - Lincoln HS
NR JUCO Shattle Fenteng - Hutchinson, KS - Hutchinson C.C.
3* (5.7) Chris Lammons - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Plantation HS - Miami Lean
3* (5.5) JaJuan Perkins - Havanna, FL - East Gadsden HS
3* (5.7) Rashaan Gaulden - Thompsons Station, TN - Independence HS - Tennessee Lean
NR JUCO Derrick Moncrief - Perkinston, MS - Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. - Auburn Commit
ATHLETE:
4* (5.8) Javon Harrison - Lakeland, FL - Kathleen HS - Virginia Tech Commit
3* (5.7) Lonnie Johnson - Gary, IN - West Side HS - Ohio St. Commit
3* (5.7) Brandon Powell - Deerfield Beach, FL - Deerfield Beach HS
3* (5.7) Stanton Truitt - Monroe, GA - Monroe HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (5.8) E.J. Moss - Ashville, AL - Ashville HS - Mississippi St. Lean
NR DeJuan McQuarters - Memphis, TN - Mitchell HS
NR J.J. Pinckney - Sylvania, OH - Southview HS
NR JUCO Shyquawn Pullium - Brenham TX -Blinn College
3* (5.5) Ladarian Smiley - Perry, FL - Taylor County HS - Western Michigan Commit
2* (5.4) Marvin Zanders - Jacksonville, FL - Raines HS - Duke Lean
3* (5.5) Cameron Seward - Atlanta, GA - Westminster HS - Boston College Lean
Kentucky Football: 2014 Big Board Update Through 05/13/13
All Offers are verbal as are the Commitments. No consideration is given regarding committable or non-committable offers. All Ratings are from Rivals and all profiles are from 247 Sports. Leans are estimated by 247 Sports.
If a player is not linked, he is considered a lost cause by the author.
Commitments:
3* (5.7) OLB Dorian Hendrix - Huber Heights, OH - Wayne HS
4* (5.8) WR Thaddeus Snodgrass - Springfield, OH - Springfield HS
4* (5.8) RB Mikel Horton - West Chester, OH - Lakota West HS
3* (5.8) TE Darryl Long - Westerville, OH - Westerville South HS
3* (5.5) DT Tymere Dubose - Youngstown, OH - Youngstown Christian School
4* (5.8) QB Drew Barker - Hebron, KY - Connor HS - Kentucky's # 1 Priority
3* (5.7) Kobie Walker - Olney, MD - Our Lady of Good Counsel HS
Quarterbacks:
3*(5.6) Reggie Bonnafon - Louisville, Ky - Trinity HS - Louisville Commit
4* (5.8) D.J. Gillins - Jacksonville, FL - Eagles View Academy
3* (5.6) Tyler Harris - Blackshear, GA - Pierce County HS - Offer Withdrawn
4* (5.8) Deshone Kizer - Toledo, OH - Central Catholic HS
4*(5.9) Rafe Peavey - Bolivar, MO - Bolivar HS - Arkansas Commit
Running Backs:
4* (5.9) Adam Choice - Thomasville, GA - Thomas County Central HS - Auburn Lean
3* (5.6) Jonathon Haden - Washington, DC - Friendship Collegiate Academy - Ohio St. Lean
4* (5.8) C.J. Hilliard - Cincinnati, OH - St. Xavier HS - Iowa Lean
4* (5.8) Justin Jackson - Carol Stream, IL - Glenbard HS - Northwestern Lean
4* (5.8) Tony James - Gainesville, FL - Gainesville HS
4* (5.8) Jeff Jones - Minneapolis, MN - Washburn HS - Minnesota Commit
3* (5.7) Trevon Paulk - Alpharetta, GA - Milton HS - Tennessee Commit
3* (5.7) Kamryn Pettwayy - Prattville, AL - Prattville HS - Auburn Commit
3* (5.6) JJarvis Stewart - Largo, FL - Largo HS - USF Commit
4* (5.9) Stanley Williams - Monroe, GA - George Walton Academy - Priority Recruit -Georgia Decommit - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) T. J. Harrell - Tampa, FL - Tampa Catholic - Florida St. Lean
3* (5.7) Jonathon Vickers - Tallahassee, FL - North Florida Christian HS
Tight Ends:
4*(5.8) Bryce Dixon - Ventura, CA - St. Bonaventure HS - UCLA Lean
3* (5.7) Jakell Mitchell - Opelika, AL - Opelika HS
3*(5.6) Marcus Mosely - Tampa, FL - Alonso HS
3* (5.7) Ethan Wolf - Minster, OH - Minster HS -Tennessee Commit
Wide Receivers:
4* (5.9) Mark Andrews - Scottsdale, AZ - Desert Mountain HS
3* (5.7) Troy Apke - Mount Lebanon, PA - Mount Lebanon HS - Penn St. Commit
NR Emanuel Beal - Powder Springs, GA - Hillgrove HS
4* (5.8) Braxton Berrios - Raleigh, NC - Leesville Road HS - Priority Recruit - highlight film
4* (5.8) Blake Bone - Woodruff, SC - Woodruff HS - South Carolina Lean
4* (5.8) Dominque Booth - Indianapolis, IN - Pike HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (5.9) Johnnie Dixon - West Palm Beach, FL - Dwyer HS
3*(5.7) Isaiah Ford - Jacksonville, FL - Trinity Christian HS - Louisville Commit
4* (6.0) Drake Harris (247 Sports Profile) - Grand Rapids, MI -Christian HS - Michigan Commit
3*(5.5) Kendrick Holland - Winter Haven, FL - Winter Haven HS
4* (5.8) Corey Holmes - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - St. Thomas Aquinas HS
3* (5.6) Garrett Johnson - Winter Garden, FL - West Orange HS
4* (5.8) Derek Kief - Cincinnati, OH - LaSalle HS - Priority Recruit
4*(6.0) DeMarre Kitt - Tyrone, GA - Sandy Creek HS
NR JUCO Nick Kurtz - El Cajon, CA - Grossmont C.C. - Texas Tech Lean
4* (6.0) Marshon Lattimore - Cleveland, OH - Glenville HS - Ohio St. Lean
4* (5.8) Johnathon Lloyd - Graham, NC - Southern Alamance HS
4* (5.9) Josh Malone - Gallatin, TN - Station Camp HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (6.0) Montae Nicholson - Monroeville, PA - Gateway HS
4* (5.8) Austin Roberts - Carmel, IN - Carmel HS - Ohio St. Lean
4* (5.9) Artavis Scott - Tarpon Springs, FL - East Lake HS - Michigan Lean
3* (5.6) Ryan Sousa - Orlando, FL - Lake Nona HS
4* (5.8) Moral Stephens (247 Sports Profile) - Perry, FL - Taylor County HS
3* (5.5) T.V. Williams - McKinney, TX - McKinney HS
2* (5.4) Shakenneth Williams - Macon, GA - Rutland HS - Vanderbilt Lean
2* (5.4) Tevin Madisonn - Fayette, AL - Fayette County HS - Texas Tech Commit
4* (5.8) Dareian Watkins - Galion, OH - Galion HS - Northwestern Commit
NR Torrodd Carter - Westerville, OH - Westerville South HS
4* (5.8) Terry Googer - Atlanta, GA - Woodward Academy - South Carolina Lean
3* (5.6) Lamar Parker - Miami, FL -Booker T.Washington HS
Offensive Linemen:
3* (5.6) Ty Barrett - Dallas, TX - Skyline HS - Oklahoma Lean
3* (5.7) Alex Bookser - Mount Lebanon, PA - Mount Lebanon HS
3* (5.6) Ja'merez Bowen - Cleveland, OH - Shaker Heights HS
3* (5.7) Orlando Brown - Suwanee, GA - Peachtree Ridge HS - Tennessee Commit
NR Alex Dalton - Troy, OH - Troy HS
NR JUCO Avery Gennesy - Scooba, MS - East Mississippi C.C.
4* (5.8) Nick Richardson - Westerville, OH - Westerville Central HS - Kentucky Lean
NR Brady Taylor - Columbus, OH - Bishop Ready HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.6) Marcelys Jones - Cleveland, OH - Glenville HS - Ohio State Commit
3* (5.7) Nolan Kelleher - Mount Pleasant, SC - Wando HS
3* (5.7) Jarrett LaRubbio - Liberty Township, OH - Lakota East HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.5) Eric Shute - Glen Ellyn, IL - Glenbard West HS
3* (5.7) Isaiah Wynn - St. Petersburg, FL - Lakewood HS - Vanderbilt Lean
3* (5.5) Gary Brown - Tampa, FL - Alonso HS
4* (5.8) Reilly Gibbons - St. Petersburg, FL - St. Petersburg Catholic HS - Miami Commit
4* (5.8) Corey Martinez - Tampa, FL - Tampa Catholic HS - Florda St. Lean
3* (5.6) Ray Raulerson - Tampa, FL - Plant HS
4* (6.0) Alex Bars - Nashville, TN - Montgomery Bell HS - Michigan Lean - Brother plays for Michigan
NR Jon Bezney - Cincinnati, OH - Mariemont HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) Brian Allen - Hindsdale, IL - Hindsdale Central HS - Michigan St. Commit
3* (5.6) Montel McBride - Plant City, FL - Plant City HS
3* (5.7) Josh Allen - Jacksonville, FL - University Christian HS
NR JUCO Adam Duckett - Milledgeville, GA - Georgia Military College
3* (5.6) Kavaris Harkless - Jacksonville, FL - Trinity Christian HS - Louisville Commit
2* (5.4) Lukayus McNeil - Indianapolis, IN - Decatur Central HS - Indiana Lean
NR Marcus Applefield - Weeki Wachee, FL - Weeki Wachee HS
3* (5.5) Christian Harris - Suwanee, GA - Collins Hill HS
Defensive Linemen including Defensive Ends:
3* (5.7) Thomas Holley - Brooklyn, NY - Abraham Lincoln HS - Alabama Lean
3* (5.6) Taylor Stallworth - Mobile, AL - Murphy HS
NR Jack Cleary - West Chester, OH - Lakota West HS
2* (5.4) Raul Diaz - Miami, FL - Miami Central HS
3* (5.7) Matt Elam - Elizabethtown, KY - Elizabethtown HS - Priority Recruit - Kentucky Lean
NR Adrian Middleton - Bowling Green, KY - South Warren County HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (5.8) Anthony Moten - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - St. Thomas Aquinas HS - Florida Commit
3* (5.5) Chris Nelson - Lakeland, FL - Victory Christian HS - Virginia De-commit - Virginia Lean
3* (5.6) Jamiyus Pittman - Moultrie, GA - Colquitt County HS
4* (5.8) Dontavius Russell - Carrollton, GA - Carrollton HS - Georgia Commit
3* (5.6) Caleb Samuel - Macon, GA - Stratford Academy - North Carolina Commit
4* (6.0) Elisha Shaw - Atlanta, GA - Tucker HS - Alabama Lean
NR Armon Watts - St. Louis, MO - Christian Brothers College HS
3* (5.7) Chris Williams - Tyrone, GA - Sandy Creek HS - Ole Miss Lean
4* (5.8) Bryson Allen-Williams - Ellenwood, GA - Cedar Grove HS - South Carolina Commit
4* (5.8) Jimmy Bayes - Immokalee, FL - Immokalee HS - USF Commit
4* (5.9) Keyon Brown - Wauchula, FL - Hardee HS - Miami Lean
5* (6.1) Lorenzo Carter - Norcross, GA - Norcross HS - Alabama Lean
3* (5.6) Keshun Freeman - Hogansville, GA - Calloway County HS
3* (5.7) Trent Harris - Winter Park, FL - Winter Park HS - Florida Lean
3* (5.7) Joe Henderson - Cleveland, OH - Shaker Heights HS
NR Terry Ramsey - Clayton, OH - Northmont HS - Kentucky Lean
2* (5.4) Cory Thomas - McCalla, AL - McAdory HS - Mississippi St. Lean
4* (5.9) Justin Thornton - Pritchard, AL - Vigor HS - Auburn Commit
4* (5.8) Denzel Ware - Opp, AL - Opp HS - Kentucky De-commit - Florida Lean
4* (5.9) Andrew Williams - McDonough, GA - Eagle's Landing Christian School
NR Lloyd Tubman - Louisville, KY - Seneca HS - Vanderbilt Commit
3* (5.6) Montel McBride - Plant City, FL - Plant City HS
NR Jack Cleary - West Chester, OH - Lakota West HS
3* (5.6) Michael Sawyers - Nashville, TN - Ensworth HS
4* (5.8) Dante Sawyer - Suwanee, GA - North Gwinnett HS
3* (5.7) Daniel Cage - Cincinnati, OH - Winton Woods HS - Louisville Lean
NR Adam Torres - Lake Mary, FL - Lake Mary HS
NR JUCO Keland McElrath - Clarkdale, MS - Coahoma C.C.
Linebackers:
3* (5.6) Deshaun Davis - Mobile, AL - Vigor HS - Auburn Commit
4* (5.8) Kevin Mouhon - Norcross, GA - Norcross HS - Tennessee Lean
3* (5.6) T.J. Posey - Gadsden, AL - Gadsden City HS
3* (5.7) Andrew Beck - Tampa, FL - Plant HS - Texas Commit
3* (5.6) Gavin Bryant - Jackson, AL - Jackson HS - Alabama Lean
NR Deshon Cooper - Decatur, GA - Columbia HS
2* (5.4) Jaylon Graham - Eustis, FL - Eustis HS
4* (5.8) Shaun Hamilton - Montgomery, AL - Carver HS - Alabama Commit
2* (5.4) Terrell Lewis - Ocoee, FL - Ocoee HS
4* (5.8) Chris Register - Greensboro, NC - Dudley HS - Clemson Lean
4* (5.9) Dwight Williams - Gardena, CA - Junipero Serra HS - Florida Lean
3* (5.7) Richard Yeargin III - Ft. Lauderdale - University School (of Nova Scotia)
4* (6.0) Tre' Williams - Mobile, AL - St. Paul's Episcopal School - Auburn Commit
2* (5.4) Juwaun Brown - Tampa, FL - Jefferson HS
3* (5.6) Nico Firios - Longwood, FL - Lyman HS
4* (6.0) Clifton Garrett - Plainfield, IL - Plainfield HS - LSU Lean
4* (5.9) DeMarques Gatess - Lovejoy, GA - Lovejoy HS - Ole Miss Commit
3* (5.5) Francisco Hernandez - Largo, FL - Largo HS - USF Commit
3* (5.7) Brandon Lee - Indianapolis, IN - Lawrence Central HS - Louisville Lean
4* (5.8) Jacob Pugh - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Florida St. Lean
4* (5.9) Delvin Purifoy - Pensacola, FL - Pensacola Catholic HS - FSU Commit - Priority Recruit
4* (5.8) Tyrell Tomlin - Marietta, GA - Marietta HS
3* (5.6) Verondtae Wilkinson - Dayton, OH - Trotwood-Madison HS
3* (5.6) Deshaun Davis - Mobile, AL - Vigor HS - Auburn Commit
NR Josh Krok - Niles, OH - McKinley HS
4* (6.0) Tre' Williams - Mobile, AL - St. Paul's Episcopal HS - Auburn Commit
4* (5.8) Rashaan Evans - Auburn, AL - Auburn HS - Auburn Lean
NR JUCO Ryan Flannigan - Brenham, TX - Blinn College
3* (5.6) Chris Frey - Upper Arlington, OH - Upper Arlington HS - UK/Michigan St.
4* (6.0) Korie Rogers - Buford, GA - Buford HS - Georgia Lean
Defensive Backs and Safeties:
4* (5.8) Kalvarez Besset - Kingsland, GA - Camden County HS - Alabama Commit
3* (5.7) De'Eric Culverr - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Louisville Commit
4* (5.8) Stepheny Durham - Jacksonville, FL - Atlantic Coast HS
3* (5.6) Tony Fields - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS
4* (5.9) Wesley Green - Lithonia, GA - Martin Luther King HS - Clemson Lean
4* (5.8) Dravon Henry - Aliquippa, PA - Aliquippa Senior HS
3* (5.6) Isaiah McKenzie - Plantation, FL - American Heritage HS
3* (5.7) Malkom Parrish - Quitman, GA - Brooks County HS - Georgia Lean
3* (5.7) Stephen Roberts - Opelika, AL - Opelika HS - Alabama Commit
3* (5.7) Jermaine Roberts - New Orleans, LA - St. Augustine HS - Texas Commit
3* (5.7) Nicholas Ruffin - Atlanta, GA - St. Pius Catholic HS - Alabama Lean
4* (5.9) D.J. Smith - Marietta, GA - Walton HS - Tennessee Lean
NR Kendarius Webster - Stockbridge, GA - Stockbridge HS
4* (5.8) Nigel Patten - Miami, FL - Booker T. Washington HS - Miami or Florida St.
4* (5.9) Deion Singleton - Tallahassee, FL - Godby HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (6.0) Jamal Adams - Lewisville, TX - Hebron HS
3* (5.6) Allen Artis - Marietta, GA - Wheeler HS - Vanderbilt Lean
3* (5.7) John Battle - Hallandale, FL - Hallandale HS
3* (5.7) John Bonney - Houston, TX - Lamar HS - Texas Lean
4* (5.9) Ronnie Clark - Calera, AL - Calera HS - Alabama Lean
3* (5.7) Mike Edwards - Cincinnati, OH - Winton Woods HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.7) Daejuan Funderburk - Washington, DC - Friendship Collegiate
3* (5.7) Kendall Gant - Lakeland, FL - Lake Gibson HS
4* (5.8) Nick Glass - Atlanta, GA - St. Pius Catholic HS - Georgia Commit
2* (5.4) Khalia Hackett - Douglasville, GA - South Paulding HS - Kentucky Lean
4* (5.8) Cortez McDowell - Locust Grove, GA - Locust Grove HS - Tennessee Lean
3* (5.6) Darrion Owens - Jacksonville, FL - Orange Park HS
4* (5.8) Darius West - Lima, OH - Lima Central Catholic HS - Kentucky Lean
3* (5.6) Andre Godfrey - Miramar, FL - Miramar HS - Louisville Lean
3* (5.6) Jared Tucker - Stone Mountain, GA - Stephenson HS
3* (5.6) Isaiah McKenzie - Plantation, FL - American Heritage HS
4* (5.8) Kendall Randolph - Tallahassee, FL - Lincoln HS
NR JUCO Shattle Fenteng - Hutchinson, KS - Hutchinson C.C.
3* (5.7) Chris Lammons - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Plantation HS - Miami Lean
3* (5.5) JaJuan Perkins - Havanna, FL - East Gadsden HS
3* (5.7) Rashaan Gaulden - Thompsons Station, TN - Independence HS - Tennessee Lean
NR JUCO Derrick Moncrief - Perkinston, MS - Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. - Auburn Commit
ATHLETE:
4* (5.8) Javon Harrison - Lakeland, FL - Kathleen HS - Virginia Tech Commit
3* (5.7) Lonnie Johnson - Gary, IN - West Side HS - Ohio St. Commit
3* (5.7) Brandon Powell - Deerfield Beach, FL - Deerfield Beach HS
3* (5.7) Stanton Truitt - Monroe, GA - Monroe HS - Tennessee Lean
4* (5.8) E.J. Moss - Ashville, AL - Ashville HS - Mississippi St. Lean
NR DeJuan McQuarters - Memphis, TN - Mitchell HS
NR J.J. Pinckney - Sylvania, OH - Southview HS
NR JUCO Shyquawn Pullium - Brenham TX -Blinn College
3* (5.5) Ladarian Smiley - Perry, FL - Taylor County HS - Western Michigan Commit
2* (5.4) Marvin Zanders - Jacksonville, FL - Raines HS - Duke Lean
3* (5.5) Cameron Seward - Atlanta, GA - Westminster HS - Boston College Lean
Kentucky Football: 2014 Wildcats Recruiting Update – Part 11
All offers listed have been confirmed by more than a single source. No consideration is given to committable vs. non-committable. All offers are verbal and can be withdrawn at any time by the University of Kentucky.
Rivals, 247 Sports, Scout and ESPN Recruiting Nation are used for confirmation, as well as some sports news articles from a player's local news media outlets if available. There can be differences between the recruiting services as to whether a player has been offered. That can occur because of the timing of each services updates or it can be due to one having more information than another at a particular given time. NR means Not Rated. NIDB means Not In Data Base. As a matter of stated policy, the Kentucky football staff continues to recruit players who have committed to another school.
Here's your list of the latest identified and confirmed offers as of yesterday, 5/13/13.
Adam Duckett - OL - Milledgeville, GA - Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports NR. UK Recruiter: Ansley & Paveto. Other Offers: None
Korie Rogers - LB - Buford, GA - Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN 4 star, Scout 4 star, Rivals (6.0) 4 star, 247 Sports 4 Star. UK Recruiter: Bradley Dale Paveto. Other Offers: Georgia and, Clemson
Rashaan Evans - LB - Auburn, AL - Offer Date: 04/10/13. ESPN 4 star, Scout 4 star, Rivals (5.8) 4 star, 247 Sports 4 star. UK Recruiter: Derrick Ansley. Other Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida St., LSU among others
Daniel Cage - DL - Cincinnati, OH - Offer Date: Not provided. ESPN 4 star, Scout 4 Star, Rivals (5.7) 3 star, 247 Sports 4 Star. UK Recruiter: Vince Marrow. Other Offers: Louisville, Cincinnati, Illinois, and Indiana
Chris Lammons - CB - Ft. Lauderdale, FL -- Offer Date: 05/01/13. ESPN 4 star, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.8) 4 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Miami, Alabama, Florida, Florida St. among others.
Kavaris Harkless - OL - Jacksonville, FL -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NR, Scout 3 star, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Ansley & Mainard. Other Offers: USF, UCF, West Virginia, Vandeerbilt - Louisville Commit
Shattle Fenteng - CB - Hutchinson, KS -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NIDB, Scout NR, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports 4 star. UK Recruiter: Not provided. Other Offers: Kansas St., Ole Miss, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Terry Googer - WR - Atlanta, GA -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN 4 star, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.8) 4 star, 247 Sports 4 star. UK Recruiter: Not provided. Other Offers: South Carolina, Louisville, North Carolina, Notre Dame and others.
Johnathon Vickers - RB - Tallahassee, FL - Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN 4 star , Scout 3 Star, Rivals (5.7) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not provided. Other Offers: Alabama, Mississippi St., Louisville, and Clemson among others.
Josh Allen - OL - Jacksonville, FL - Offer Date: 03/28/13. ESPN 4 star, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.7) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not provided. Other Offers: North Carolina, Florida St., Georgia, Oregon among others.
Rashaan Gaulden - S - Thompsons Station, TN - Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN 3 star, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.7) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not provided. Other Offers: Tennessee, Nebraska, South Carolina, Florida St. among others.
Adam Torres - DL - Lake Mary, FL - Offer Date: 04/18/13. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals (5.6) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Chad Scott. Other Offers: FIU, Florida St., Georgia Tech, Louisville among others.
Ryan Flannigan - LB - Brenham, TX -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NIDB, Scout 3 star, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Chad Scott. Other Offers: Arizona St. and Texas Tech.
JaJuan Perkins - CB - Havannah, FL -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NR, Scout NIDB, Rivals (5.5) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Derrick Ansley. Other Offers: Ole Miss, Alcorn St., Middle Tennessee and Old Dominion.
Marvin Zanders - ATH - Jacksonville, FL -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NIDB, Scout NR, Rivals (5.4) 2 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Unknown. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals (5.4) 2 Star, 247 Sports NR. Other Offers: Duke, Georgia Tech, Iowa St., Ohio among others.
Lukayus McNeil - OL - Indianapolis, IN -- Offer Date: 05/08/13. ESPN 3 star , Scout 3 Star. Rivals (5.4) 2 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Louisville, WKU, Cincinnati and Indiana.
Ladarian Smiley - ATH - Perry, FL -- Offer Date: 04/09/13. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals (5.5) 3 star, 247 Sports 2 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Western Michigan, FAMU, Middle Tennessee and Idaho. - Western Michigan Commit.
Quintavius Knight - CB - Milledgeville, GA - Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports NR. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Cincinnati, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, West Virginia among others.
Tarrodd Carter - WR - Westerville, OH -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NIDB, Scout NR, Rivals NR, 247 Sports NR. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: None
J.J. Pinckney - ATH - Sylvania, OH - Offer Date: 04/19/13. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals NR, 247 Sports NR. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Boston College and Toledo.
Shyquawn Pullium - ATH - Brenham, TX -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NIDB, NIDB Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports NR. UK Recruiter: Chad Scott. Other Offers: None
DeJuan McQuarters - ATH - Memphis, TN -- Offer Date: 05/09/13. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals NR, 247 Sports 2 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Memphis, UAB, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee St. among others.
Keland McElrath - DT - Clarksville, MS - Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NIDB, Scout NIDB, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports NR. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: West Virginia.
Derrick Moncrief - S - Perkinston, MS -- Offer Date: Not Provided. ESPN NR, Scout NR, Rivals NR JUCO, 247 Sports 4 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Auburn, Oklahoma St., East Carolina
Chris Frey - LB - Upper Arlington, OH - Offer Date: 5/13/13. ESPN NR, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.6) 3star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Vince Marrow. Other Offers: Michigan St., Syracuse, Boston College, Purdue among others.
Cameron Seward - ATH - Atlanta, GA -- Offer Date: 5/13/13. ESPN NR, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.5) 3 star, 247 Sports 2 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Boston College, Cal, Mississippi St and Cincinnati among others.
Marcus Applefield - OT - Weeki Wachee, FL -- Offer Date: 5/13/13. ESPN NR, Scout NIDBr, Rivals (NR, 247 SportsNR. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Virginia, Vanderbilt, USF, and Rutgers among others.
Christian Harris - OT - Suwanee, GA -- Offer Date: 5/13/13. ESPN NR, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.5) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers:Mississippi St., North Carolina, Georgia, NC State, among others.
Lamar Parker - WR - Miami, FL -- Offer Date: 5/13/13. ESPN 4 star, Scout 3 star, Rivals (5.5) 3 star, 247 Sports 3 star. UK Recruiter: Not Provided. Other Offers: Miami, West Virginia, Florida St., Texas A&M among others.
Twitter Cowards Spew Hate At Andrew Wiggins
Just as always seems to happen, the hate-tweeters on Twitter have found their way to the computer or their cell phones, searched the tiny, calcified piece of baboon scat that resides where their brain ought to be, and pecked forth their venom in the direction of Andrew Wiggins.
You can read about it here and here, and if you are so inclined, feel free to direct a tart reply to any or all of them, particularly those who style themselves Kentucky fans. On behalf of all Kentucky fans of good will, I officially revoke their their membership in the Big Blue Nation.
I further wish them the experience of having a syphilitic rhinoceros pizzle dragged through their beverages from now until they either ask forgiveness for the sin of polluting our world with their presence, or mercifully for the rest of us, pass from it to their just deserts.
The madness inspires people to write such dreck completely escapes me, at least those who are not just writing because they hope to implicate an opposing fan base. Partisans of every sport may dislike other teams, but to spew putrid foulness like this at an 18-year old is about the lowest thing a person can do. This is why I say that Twitter is the Devil – it gives such Internet hooligans a platform to vent their infected spleens at the innocent.
These folks all deserve the collective designation, "Worst people in the world." I hope Wiggins ignores them, locks up his Twitter account, and immerses himself in finishing high school and enjoying his time at Kansas. He only gets to be a kid for about another year, and then he has to become a full-fledged adult doing man's work in a man's league.
Kentucky Basketball: Andrew Wiggins Selects Kansas, Basketball Universe Shocked
So the word has been given, and Andrew Wiggins has chosen the Kansas Jayhawks as his school for (most likely) the next year. Here is the tweets from Grant Traylor:
Andrew Wiggins will be attending Kansas
— Grant Traylor (@GrantTraylor) May 14, 2013
Announcement at 12:09 pm that he will be going to Kansas with Bill Self and Kurtis Townsend.
— Grant Traylor (@GrantTraylor) May 14, 2013
Because of the lack of hype around Kansas' relationship with Wiggins, this falls under the rubric of a major upset, and a major shock to most watchers of the recruitment. Kudos to Jeff Goodman for getting it right.
This one falls under the rubric of, "You can't win them all." John Calipari very nearly ran the table on this recruiting class, and had he done so, it would be even more memorable than it already is.
Even with the loss of Wiggins, this Kentucky class is still arguably the best ever, although that is not quite as cut-and-dry as it would have been had Wiggins chosen the Wildcats. Now, the results of the season will weigh more heavily against the historical argument than it might have had Wiggins decided to come to the Bluegrass.
So congratulations to the Kansas Jayhawks on the matriculation of Wiggins, and all the best to Andrew in Lawrence next year. This means that the Jayhawks just got a lot better, although probably not good enough to be a favorite. My guess is that this puts them in the top ten somewhere (some may say top five), and should provide a lot of fodder for basketball writing for some time.
Kentucky Wildcats: Morning Quickies – Andrew Wiggins Day Edition
Today is Andrew Wiggins Day, proclaimed a federal holiday last night by a secret act of Congress and signed in the dead of night by President Obama during a meeting with Hillary Clinton and the IRS Commissioner.
I understand Dave Telep, Paul Biancrdi, and Evan Daniels were all there singing O, Canada.
So if you work for the federal government, this is actually a day off for you. You just have to remember the secret passphrase so you can whisper it to your boss tomorrow. Just in case you haven’t got the email, the passphrase is, "Wigg-pocalypse."
Tweet of the Morning:
Operation Wildcat Storm going again – coaches back out on the road – keep the momentum going! #BBN #WeAreUK
— Mark Stoops (@UKCoachStoops) May 13, 2013
Umm… Coach Stoops? Did anyone happen to mention to you how this whole "Operation [fill in the blank] stuff worked out for your predecessor?
Your Quickies: Kentucky footballKobie Walker is Kentucky’s 7th commitment. I love his size (6’4", 200#) for a safety. Some think he will wind up as a linebacker, but it’s nice to have that combination of speed and size anywhere. He also played for a very good high school team.
Here’s Walker’s stats from last year (via Hank).
Chris Fey gets an offer from Kentucky (via Hank).
Stooooooops! Dude’s making noise on the other side of The River (Hank).
This is exactly the kind of article Kentucky needs to see more of, and it will (via Hank). I love this:
Kentucky very well may struggle to contend on the gridiron this fall, but it is no longer to be taken lightly when it comes to recruiting.
That sounds right to me, and that is a fair assessment of our situation right now.
Damien Harris "pretty close" to UK coach Mark Stoops and OC Neal Brown. Still, with this guy’s offer list, Kentucky has their work cut out for them. He’s likely to prove whether or not Stoops can really close the Kentucky borders.
This was so true:
Whether it was lack of interest or aptitude — perhaps an alternation or combination of both — the border between Kentucky and Ohio might as well have been the Great Wall of China in recent years when it came to the University of Kentucky’s football recruiting efforts in the Buckeye State.
But not anymore.
John Clay is opposed to dropping the UK-Louisville football series, and I think he gets the reasons right.
Kentucky basketballWigg-pocalypse is here. According to Andrew Sharp writing for Grantland, this is what will happen if Wiggins signs with Kentucky:
Apocalyptic Impact: Basketball Armageddon, Kentucky secedes from the United States and elects John Calipari king, Kentucky wins the gold medal at every Olympics from here on out.
Sounds about right to me.
Grant Taylor of the Huntington W.V. Prep beat will be breaking the Andrew Wiggins choice. You have to love a guy who describes himself as "nobody." Via Ben Roberts.
Memories of Ralph Sampson. Will Leonard Hamilton get his heart broken again, or will he finally get that guy?
The long buildup to Andrew Wiggins’ college choice. You did know it was going to be all Wiggins, all the time today, right? If not, you must be a UK football fan. :-)
Even Karl Towns is in on the Wiggins hype:everyone in school is calling it AW Day
— Karl Towns (@KATis32) May 14, 2013More analysiss on Wiggins choices.
I agree with John Clay on this one. Wiggins could have chosen a national media figure, but picked his local beat reporter to break the news.
Another Andrew Wiggins highlight reel:
Kentucky Basketball: Handicapping Andrew Wiggins’ Selection
This was linked yesterday, I think by Wild Weasel (corrections welcome), and it deserves a comment. Jeff Borzello, Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander all believe Andrew Wiggins wind up at Florida St., while Jeff Goodman predicts Kansas.
All I can say is, all these guys predicting Florida St. are going to look kind of stupid if it’s one of the bluebloods. Look, I get the parental connection, but we’ve seen that not work before with the Harrison twins. Wiggins’ parents surely see that FSU is not an ideal destination for their when compared with the other three in any meaningful respect.
I’m not cheering against FSU except insofar as I am inherently cheering against anybody but UK, but of all the schools on his list, FSU offers the least positives and most negatives. Would his parents really rather see him there just for alma mater reasons than at one of the genuine contenders for deep NCAA runs?
Keep in mind that I am offering logic here, and logic is likely to take a back seat to emotion, in the end. Young men are almost universally creatures of heart and not head, so Wiggins is likely going to make a heart choice. That would tend to argue for FSU from the perception of the son wanting to follow in their parent’s footsteps, and it would be a compelling argument.
I’m not just arguing for Kentucky here (although I sincerely and passionately want Wiggins as a Wildcat), because in my view, there is very little to separate North Carolina, Kentucky, and Kansas from each other. All three are great programs, all three offer Wiggins a level of exposure and development that Florida St., even in today’s ubiquitous media age, will not. That cannot possibly be lost on his parents.
Some would point to Kevin Durant’s time at Texas, but keep in mind that Texas is a media giant of a school that can draw all the attention it wants with the snap of its metaphorical fingers. Any excuse to cover Texas would be snapped up by the sports media, not to mention that Texas had players besides Durant: Dexter Pittman, D.J. Augustin and Damion James, all three of whom are playing in the NBA right now.
Florida St. is manifestly not Texas, nor is it in any way a blueblood basketball program. Even with Wiggins, it is unlikely FSU will seriously contend for the ACC championship, let alone the NCAA title. Florida St., even with the excellent Michael Snaer and a bunch of upperclassmen could do no better than 18-16 last year.
Teams would just try to take Wiggins away From the Seminoles and force the rest of the team to beat them, and that looks unlikely with leading scorer Snaer graduating and third leading scorer Terrance Shannon transferring. From where I’m sitting, the Seminoles would have to be no better than even money to win 20 games next year with Wiggins.
Is a good season with a possible NIT ending really what Wiggins’ parents want for him? I doubt it, and I’m sure that they have a clue. Just as in the case of the Harrison twins, I expect Wiggins to make up his own mind, and I expect that comfort with the coach will be the deciding influence.
So I’m going out on a limb and handicapping the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes, thus:
School Odds Kentucky 8-5 UNC 2-1 Kansas 9-2 FSU 5-1 Field 30-1Right or wrong, it doesn’t matter to Kentucky’s chances UNLESS Wiggins choses North Carolina. Kansas will be good, but they aren’t likely to be top 5 good even with Wiggins. North Carolina becomes an instant top 3 team with Wiggins on board.
Jeff Goodman could be right about Kansas, but when it comes down to comfort with the coach, as it so often does, my money is on Coach Cal.
