Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
On December 10th I wrote a post for KSRCollege.com titled “Dear Mark Stoops, I Hope This Helps”, providing my overview of what Coach Stoops could expect out of UK and the Big Blue Nation. One section of that article was focused on recruiting, and more specifically, making it more interesting for UK fans to follow. Well, I don’t think there will be any argument against the fact that in that regard, Stoops has definitely knocked it out of the park so far. Talented players that may or may not have had any interest in coming to Lexington are now looking at UK as a viable option to play football, and Stoops and Co. are hitting the trail hard. One of the biggest shifts in philosophy is that Coach Stoops is now going after high profile JUCO players to fill immediate gaps in the depth chart, most likely to avoid a youth crisis like Joker Phillips faced last season. All in all, you have to be pleased with Coach Stoops’ first month in office.
Tyler gave you all a Part 1 of this post yesterday, profiling the recruits who are set to visit in the next week. This group of promising young football players will be on campus January 18th and the 25th, so mark your calendars and get ready to swoon some teenagers (appropriately, of course).
Ryan Timmons – Wide Receiver/All-Purpose Back, 5’11 186lbs; Frankfort, KY
Rivals: 3-Star, #59 WR
ESPN Grade: 82 (#28 WR, #252 Overall)
More than likely Neal Brown’s #1 target on the offensive side of the ball for this recruiting class. Timmons is rated by ESPN as the 4th best player in the state of Kentucky, and that’s not without merit. Ryan’s statistics at Franklin Co. High School are ridiculous playing in the 5A division in Kentucky. He rushed for 1,260 yards, caught 29 balls for 970 yards, and scored 45 TD’s his Senior year of high school. According to ElevenWarriors.com, this is the 2nd year in a row that Timmons has led the nation in yards per touch (23.8 yards) and he also scored a TD every 2.3 times he touched the ball this season. Ryan will be visiting Kentucky on the 18th and from where I’m sitting, the Wildcats look to be in the driver seat with this in-state prospect. Timmons also has offers from Arkansas, Illinois, and Purdue, and will also be taking an official visit to Ohio State next weekend, although he has yet to receive an offer from them. However, Ryan has said himself that Neal Brown runs almost an identical offense to his high school’s and that was very appealing to him. Combined with his interest in the ‘Cats, I think if the visit goes as expected, Timmons should be a Wildcat next year.
Stafon McCray – Running Back, 5’11 196lbs; Kissimmee, FL
Rivals: 3-Star
ESPN Grade: 77
The Senior Running Back from Kissimmee, FL ran for 1,760 yards and posted 25 TD’s in his senior season at Osceala High School, leading his team to an 8-1 record. McCray has said the Wildcats are his leader at this point, ahead of Marshall and Utah State. He also holds offers from Boise State, Cincinnati, NC State, and Arizona.
Javess Blue – Wide Receiver, 6’1 195lbs; El Dorado, KS
Rivals: 3-Star, #10 WR, #78 Overall (JUCO)
ESPN Grade: 83
The former Texas Tech commit from Butler Co. Community College decided to take a look at the ‘Cats after Neal Brown left to come to Lexington. Blue improved greatly over his 2 years at Butler Co. , catching 65 passes this season for 1,064 yards and hauled in 12 TD’s as Butler raced to a 13-1 record in the NJCAA. Javess also has offers from West Virginia, Texas A&M, Arizona State, and Southern Miss, but with a name like Javess BLUE, it has to be UK right?
Jeff Badet – Wide Receiver, 6’0 162lbs.; Orlando, FL
Rivals: 3-Star
ESPN Grade: 77 (#100 WR)
Badet was formerly committed to South Florida, and along with Asiantii Woulard has decided to take a look at Kentucky the 2nd time around. He chose the Bulls over Boston College and Louisville originally but has narrowed his new list to Kentucky, Nebraska, NC State, and Wake Forest. Badet is a playmaker that is comfortable in the spread offense, posting 110 catches for 1,621 yards and 28 TD’s over his final 2 years of high school at Freedom High in Orlando. Hopefully a commitment from Woulard next weekend could help persuade Badet to rock the blue and white as well.
Marquez Valdes – Wide Receiver, 6’3 184lbs; St. Petersburg, FL
Rivals: 3-Star
ESPN Grade: 72 (#172 WR)
Valdes is another WR used to the Spread attack, and that is reflected in his college list. Valdes was previously committed to Louisville but since has opened up his recruitment and has gained offers from Houston, Cincinnati, NC State, and Toledo. Marquez also recently picked up an offer from his hometown school, South Florida earlier on this week. ESPN says that Valdes has great body coordination and natural instinct, but that most of his work in college will be about improving game quickness and gaining bulk.
Nate Willis – Defensive Back, 6’0 180lbs; Yuma, Arizona
Rivals: 3-Star, #10 DB, #54 Overall (JUCO)
ESPN Grade: 78
Willis is a coveted player, consensus Top 40-50 player in the JUCO ranks with 21 offers from FBS schools, including Mississippi State, Kansas State, West Virginia, and Baylor. The speedy corner back from Arizona Western C.C. will be visiting Lexington on January 25th, a short week and a half before Signing Day, and the ‘Cats look to be in a good position. Willis formerly was committed to South Florida, but his final 4 schools will be Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois, and Kansas State. Did I mention Willis runs a 4.4 40-yard dash? Willis was a basketball player in high school until he began playing football his senior year as a WR at Pahokee HS in Florida, but began picking up major D-1 offers last season after switching to defensive back and showing major potential. The Kentucky camp has even been pitching to Willis a shot for immediate playing time and possibly an early exit to the NFL Draft. This would be a huge pick-up for Kentucky, not to mention he already seems proficient in throwing up the 3 goggles, we’re just going to have to work on the hand placement.
Jarran Reed – Defensive Tackle, 6’4 305lbs; Chatham, VA
Rivals: 4-Star, #4 DT, #17 Overall (JUCO)
ESPN Grade: 76
Reed will be visiting Kentucky next weekend, another recruiting win for new Defensive Line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh since joining Mark Stoops’ staff. Jarran, along with current UK commit Za’Darius Smith, plays at East Mississippi C.C. where Brumbaugh was formerly the DL coach. Reed committed to Ole Miss on December 10th, but don’t be alarmed Cat fans, before that, he was also committed and then decommitted from North Carolina. Reed received little interest from any major BCS schools out of Hargrave Military Academy, but after a great Freshman season at East Mississippi he has picked up offers from Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi State, and received major interest from Alabama, Miami, and Michigan State. Reed appears to be the most coveted of UK’s visiting recruits, which isn’t surprising considering he weighs 305 lbs. and runs a sub 5-second 40-yard dash. UK may be a longshot to land him, but with his D-Line coach now on staff at UK, you never know.
–@WillTottenKSR
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January 5th, 2013 at 4:25 pm
Quick observation of list of recruits (and those visiting the 11th) : LOTS of WR’s the staff is targeting, presumably to play the uptempo offense and get the guys that fit the best.
January 5th, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Great time to be a UK Fan. Both football and Hoops!
January 5th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
1 – And lots of JUCO, but that’s to be expected considering Stoops and Brown are changing the offense from a Pro Style to the Air Raid, and the defense transitioning from a 3-4 to a 4-3. He needs pieces he can plug in right away.
January 5th, 2013 at 4:50 pm
After watching what has going on it’s hard to even get excited about this 2nd hand passed over B.S.
January 5th, 2013 at 4:51 pm
After watching what U.L. has going on it’s hard to even get excited about this 2nd hand passed over B.S.
January 5th, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Of UofL’s 13 commitments next year, 3 of them are 4-star players, 9 are 3-star players, and one 2-star. It’s not like UofL turned into “The U” overnight, in fact, UK’s recruiting class has a chance to be just as good if not better then the Cards when signing day comes around. Either you’re a Louisville fan or just an enormous Debbie Downer
January 5th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Great post Will. Keep up the good work. I love how much info we’re getting on these recruits. In the past we all knew pretty much who our basketball team was recruiting and it kept interest and provided anticipation. I am hoping you all are setting a new trend with these type posts. It keeps us involved.
January 5th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Just a Realist that’s all…..you can spin it all you want but in the end we are a long way from UL football on the field now & in the near future. You don’t just hire a new coach & all of a sudden realevent. Especially in the SEC & against a team moving WAY up in the right direction. AKA U.L. Do you still believe in the tooth fairy? Get real & stop lying to yourself, it’s easier in the long run without having to face reality all @ once..
January 5th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Kentucky’s not going to come out and dominate right off the bat and I don’t think anyone is saying that at all, but to say that UK isn’t at least moving in the right direction now is asinine. UofL was 7-6 the last 2 years and broke out and had a great year this season, but from Day 1 that Charlie Strong was hired, you could tell the attitude around UofL’s program had changed, and that’s what I believe has happened since Stoops was hired at UK.
January 5th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
8, Dont speak on recruiting if you don’t understand it. These are not 2nd hand recruits, these are players that have championship schools wanting them. This isn’t basketball where all we want is 5* players, football is not ranked the same. Btw, I’m pretty sure Charlie Strong turned it around pretty quickly and just defeated an SEC powerhouse in a BCS bowl game. Why don’t you go find another team to support, cuz you obviously don’t support this one.
January 5th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Also, Stoops has only been in KY for a month and he already has these types of players visiting campus when before they would scough at the idea and coming here to even visit. With a full year, it will be amazing what he can accomplish. Something no other coaches have even attempted here before.
January 5th, 2013 at 5:55 pm
8 – Right now, with Quick ULs recruiting class is ranked #54 by Rivals with an average player rating of 5.63. UK is ranked #60 with an average ranking of 5.57. Not a huge difference there.
Should the Cats get Woulard, Timmons, Reed, Mack Alexander, Bradley, Hychtche, and UL gets Hatcher Kentucky would still likely leap from them in recruiting rankings? Would that be real enough for you to be a little more positive about the future? You act like there is a 23 yr streak against the Cards. Louisville played great against UF, Teddy Bridgewater is a stud. But Muschamp has been frowned upon since day 1, the Gators were flat and outnumbered in the stands, and the pick gave UL all of the momentum 15 seconds in (something Pitino know all about). Give them credit because UL strength was UF weakness and they exploited it. But let’s keep that real too.
January 5th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
The only way we have a chance at Timmons is if Ohio State doesn’t offer him a scholarship. Now that Quick, who had an OSU offer, is going to stay in Louisville it seems highly likely Timmons will get that Ohio State offer. He said himself he will go to Ohio State if they offer.
January 5th, 2013 at 6:27 pm
13. Towards the end of December, when asked about his top schools, Timmons said “Once Ohio State offers, it’ll probably be Kentucky and Ohio State”. That’s an exact quote.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:41 pm
No OL in this group. Only one in TT’s post yesterday. I think OL has been a weakness and I’m not sure what the staff’s strategy tells us. Are they happy with the OL players who were already committed to the old staff?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
14. Do you really think we can compete with an elite program like Ohio State? Their stadium alone is twice the size of ours. Their facilities have to be light years ahead of ours, since ours has been neglected for so long. They get to play every single game on national TV, even their tune up games, are on the BigTen Network across the country. They are going to be in the mix for a National Championship next year. What have we got? Stay at home…that’s what we have. Get beat up in the SEC…that’s what we have.
January 6th, 2013 at 12:58 am
Mr. Coach Stoops can Logan Cart get a scholarship pretty please
January 6th, 2013 at 10:42 am
For all of the Tee Martin love KSR gave, Stoops is already on better players then UK has ever been able to get.