Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
DE Jason Hatcher scooped and scored for a Touchdown last year against St. X.
I could yap about the basketball team’s piss poor second half last night, but it’s early and I’m going to be a glass half-full kind of guy today. Yesterday’s big football news was the announcement that Jason Hatcher officially decommitted from USC. The 4-star defensive end is now basically the rope in a tug-o-war battle between Charlie Strong and Mark Stoops.
The brightside for UK fans? There are more individual positives at UK than Louisville: He could work his way into the rotation at DE THIS YEAR with Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith; Stoops has a track record for producing great defensive lineman; when Hatcher announced he was going to USC, a big factor was that he wanted to get out of Louisville (I know the feeling). He could go for the currently established hometown program, but until then let’s see what he could do for the Cayts.
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Speed on the outside. Most pass rush specialist have this trait, but Hatcher’s style is different than most. A key principle when playing DE, is keeping your outside shoulder free in order to contain the QB from getting outside of the pocket. In his highlight film, the majority of his sacks happen when he gets the OT on his heels, then cuts inside for the quickest route to the QB. Even when he gets mixed up in the wash on the inside, he finds a way to pop out and put pressure on the QB. I would’ve gotten ripped a new one in film if I did this, because I couldn’t make up for it with athletic ability.
A GREAT open-field tackler. You rarely talk about a lineman with great open-field tackling ability because let’s be honest, most of the time it happens in the trenches where not too much form is required to be successful. However Hatcher’s mobility causes him to play outside a lot, leaving him vulnerable to miss the other player and give himself a bearhug. Hatcher is different: he tackles RBs and WRs in the open field often, even if it means just getting a hand on a shoe. Even when it isn’t an open-field “do or die” situation, all of his tackles look like they’d hurt. You can watch the highlight tapes and see for yourself.
An overall physical specimen. I thought one of his highlights was funny because it began with him flexing for the camera. We can laugh, but I wouldn’t laugh at someone that GIGANTIC. When thinking about actually how good Hatcher is nationally: as a FR/SO/JR he consistently won national combine competitions. These competitions are essentially the same as the pre-NFL draft combine, including agility drills, running the 40 yard dash, bench press, etc. Multiple times he was the best overall performer, similar to QB recruit Asiantii Woulard winning MVP of the Elite 11 Camp. I don’t know about you, but I bet he”d look pretty good in blue.
@RoushKSR
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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January 23rd, 2013 at 5:03 pm
First! Congrats to me
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:08 pm
another Mika johnson? We saw how his career turned out..
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Down the Hatch! Looking forward to him building a legacy at UK.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:15 pm
individual positives for UK: leave Louisville, playing time
individual positives for UofL: winning program, Coach with stronger track record(2 championships as SEC D-cordinator, BCS bowl victory over teams UK lost to 26 straight, many more NFL defensive players drafted while D-cord @ Florida than stoops has had)
Please dont say stoops has a stronger D-lineman track record. At UF Strong had Dunlap(2nd round), Derrick Harvey(1st round), Jarvis Moss(1st round), Ray McDonald (3rd round), Marcus Thomas(4th round), Joe Cohen(4th round) and 4 others in lower rounds.
Paint it however you want but the only reason he is going to UK is A)get away, B)playing time, C)Ego (being “a savior” and the key piece of the class)
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:24 pm
In 4 years, K”iffin” an St.Rong will be gone. St.oops will be alive and well in LEX.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:26 pm
I realize no one knows for sure….but on a scale of 1-10 how good are UK’s chances of actually landing this kid? Go Cats.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:35 pm
It is well documented that KSR has been trying to make it appear that UK is in the running for many “big name players” these days.
To date, not much has really changed.
Furthermore, when Hatcher mentioned wanted to get out of Louisville during his college year, does anyone remotely believe he was thinking of Lexington or anything similar to Lexington?
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:38 pm
The Louisville Grad Assistants that I know seem to think he is fully on board at U of L and a commit has already happened. Who knows. I guarantee you, #4, that success for Hatcher at UK looks MUCH better to NFL GM’s than success at UofL. That is another “individual positive.” If Hatcher thinks he is good enough to be a stand out in the SEC then he look no further than Lextown.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:42 pm
#4 actually Stoops is much more nationally known for defensive line being his specialty. He has taken several 3 star players and made them pros. Strong is a good coach but all the defensive linemen he sent to the pros were 4 and 5 star players before he even got them. Hatcher would not go wrong with either coach- no advantage due to the coach. Its a shame you can not find someone to talk about UL foot ball with. I feel sorry for you having all that good stuff to talk about and no one who cares to share it with. Good to have you on a UK fan site.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:54 pm
A few of the Trinity players worked out at the same gym over the xmas break- All commented on how UK coaches were now swarming the place. Before, they rarely, if ever saw any coaches from UK. This is another curiousity for me as it seems Joker conceded Trinity to UL even when he had the upper hand. I think this kid goes to UL, they have so much momentum with football right now, it would be tough to snag a player of this caliber from their backyard. Just a tremendous amount of excitement with UL football- I think alot is based on simply being the best team from a shitty conference, but the Florida win sent them into a frenzy. The majority of people here believe that they belong in the national title discussion.
January 23rd, 2013 at 5:59 pm
I wouldn’t count out Ohio State! I hope he ends up at UK but if he doesnt at least he isn’t playing for Lame Kitten at USC.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:32 pm
#5 strong will be at uofl at least 4 more years. Did u see his contract buyout. $5 million I think. Plus uofl made him the 7th highest paid coach in all of college fb.
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:37 pm
If he goes to UL you guys will say you didnt want him just like the Lex Cath kid
January 23rd, 2013 at 6:46 pm
#13 I will never say that. As a Trinity parent and season ticket holder I believe he is a fantastic player. I hope UK can get him but like stated above, hard to snatch from UL’s back yard. But my son is a classmate of his and everytime i ask him if he will wear blue, he just smiles.
January 23rd, 2013 at 8:54 pm
14) you being a uk fan with an awesome uofl program in your own backyard makes you a complete disgrace.
January 23rd, 2013 at 10:07 pm
#15 it makes Strong a disgrace for allowing it to happen. Somewhere between 40%to 60% of Louisville residents are UK fans.
who knows the percentage. Just shows a city college is not going to dominate the state as far as fans. UK will surpass UL in football sometime. Not a question of if, but WILL. You might as well submit. You will eventually wether you know it or not. Got to question why you would be on a UK board. I love it!!
January 23rd, 2013 at 11:30 pm
Hes not going to Louisville I know for a FACT. Your boy will be in blue.
January 24th, 2013 at 12:19 am
He a Card
January 24th, 2013 at 12:45 am
MANIA–
A lot has changed.
In just a little over a month, Stoops has signed and gotten commits from at least 5 players rated higher than Jokers highest rated commitment for 2013. More to come. Our nat’l ranking was in the 70s before Stoops, got up to 37th (until very recent decommits from a few of previous staff’s prospects). Big jump upwards. It will continue.
He has brought in several highly rated (4Stars) for official visits–guys that wouldn’t have even given UK a sniff before the coaching change. That is a big difference. To say that it isn’t shows lack of knowledge of what is going on (or youre rooting against UK for whatever reason).
Stoops’ hire has helped in the push to secure $175 Million for Commonwealth renovations. UK will have facilities in the top tier of college football.
There is a renewed energy and positive attitude toward UK football all around.
You should educate yourself before popping off with negative remarks. Things are looking up for the Cats.
January 24th, 2013 at 8:51 am
If the writer can’t figure out that the UK mascot is the wildcats, not the cayts we don’t need him!!!!!
CATS NOT CAYTS