Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Mark Stoops has sent shock waves through Kentucky football. Without even playing a game, or even having a single practice, he has redefined what the program is and can be. His prowess on the recruiting trail cannot be ignored, and with just a few select players, Stoops has turned a program that was the laughing stock of the Southeastern Conference, into one that is making recruiting experts and fans across the league turn their heads.
Kentucky’s 2013 class currently remains small, but that is to be expected with a transition period between head coaches. However, several key targets remain on the board before National Signing Day next Wednesday.
A few notable players from a still long-list of targets include, JoJo Kemp and Aregeros Turner, both three-star running backs; Jeff Badet and Ryan Timmons, three-star wide receiver; Ra’Shaad Samples, a four-star wide receiver, Jason Hatcher, a four-star defensive end; James Hearns, a four-star linebacker; and Marquez White, a four-star cornerback.
Without these guys, Kentucky still has a respectable class, though short on volume. At this time, Kentucky has the 52nd-best recruiting class in the country, according to Rivals… But it is only 13th-best in the SEC, just ahead of Arkansas. Surprisingly, 52nd-best would be the second-best class for Kentucky since 2009. What’s more, the average rank of Kentucky classes over the last 11 years is 58th in the nation, so we’re still improving.
Because the class Stoops has assembled is far from complete, the thing to take note of is the average recruit quality. It currently sits at an average ranking of 3.00-stars with just a 17-man class. That average ranking is better than 23 teams ahead of Kentucky that are merely ranked higher because of a larger class. A few of those teams Kentucky beats are Wisconsin, Maryland, Baylor, Arizona State, Virginia, California, and Mississippi State. Adjusting the rankings based on quality; right now Kentucky has the 36th-best class in the country.
Furthermore, the current 3.00 average ranking is well ahead of any Kentucky class from the last 11 years, which averages to 2.52-stars. The previous high was in 2011, the class headlined by defensive back Glenn Faulkner, with an average ranking of 2.96-stars.
Projecting ahead, let’s say Stoops and Company land a few more of these recruits. Where does Kentucky’s class take off to? Add a three-star running back, a four-star wide receiver, a four-star defensive end, a four-star linebacker, and a few more three-stars here or there to round out the 2013 signing class.
All of the sudden that 3.00 ranking becomes a 3.13-star average. That bumps Kentucky’s class up ten spots in the current standings to 26th in the country, just behind the likes of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee. It would also be just behind James Franklin’s Vanderbilt team for 9th-best in the SEC, which is quite an improvement over the dead-last or next-to-last finishes the Cats have had over the last six years.
One might argue that stars mean nothing. And to some extent that is true. A prime example from right here at Kentucky is Randall Cobb who was practically ignored by most programs; came to Lexington and developed to be a star. But over the long haul, stars do matter. Just ask Kentucky’s basketball team.
More important than stars, however, is coaching. And Mark Stoops seems primed to do a lot of it. The message from all of this should be clear: Mark Stoops is performing a miracle before our eyes. He is making Kentucky football a destination for top-level talent, and kids are taking notice and buying in already. We know Coach Calipari says he doesn’t have a magic wand to fix his team’s issues. But I think I might know who does have one.
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February 1st, 2013 at 4:40 pm
What miracle is Stoops performing? He only has two 4-star players committed…official / unofficial visits mean nothing? Where are the commitments and signings??? Let’s hold off on the praise until Stoops has earned it. Sign some elite players first, geez…
February 1st, 2013 at 6:06 pm
He has a GREAT MENTOR in Cal.
February 1st, 2013 at 6:18 pm
It is great to have such excitement about football in the middle basketball season. Not trying to be a downer, but the four-letter network still has us at 14th in the SEC. I think that might change with a strong finish since other schools were further ahead of us on numbers.
February 1st, 2013 at 6:20 pm
With the title, I thought this thread was going to detail a big commitment or something along the lines. Just summarizing the situation?
February 1st, 2013 at 6:21 pm
The miracle is the fact UK fans are excited about football. The miracle is the fact we’ve hired a coach who is getting out there and talking to recruits, even if it means missing out he’s STILL going after the top talent he can. I’m enjoying the ride, personally – as would any REAL UK fan.
February 1st, 2013 at 6:25 pm
While this class definitely looks better than recent ones, you can not compare average star numbers across years. Starting about five years ago both Rivals and Scout significantly increased the number of three star players. Thus a player who was a two several years ago, may have been ranked a three under the criteria used recently. Grade inflation if you will.
Relative rankings are the only valid way of comparing classes across different years.
February 1st, 2013 at 6:25 pm
4- same here, thought it was gonna be some big news :/
February 1st, 2013 at 6:35 pm
This class would have a higher rating were it not for Rivals 2 star Regie Meant who will redshirt to develop and Steven Borden who Rivals hasn’t rated. Tonight, we get Kemp and Badet which are both Rivals 3 star players. Rivals first ratings and rankings began in 2002. This is the FIRST year that UK has rated an average 3 stars. That’s improvement.
February 1st, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Great post! Love the numbers game. The only ral number that count happen this Fall. They are called WINS and LOSES
Enjoyed reading the post.
3 & OUT
February 1st, 2013 at 6:50 pm
If he is doing this now wait till the upgrades to facilities come!!
February 1st, 2013 at 6:55 pm
Kemp is a 4 star on ESPN, so is Timmons. That would give us 5 four stars on ESPN if they commit. Don’t know if UK has ever had that many. Plus we could still get one or two more.
February 1st, 2013 at 7:13 pm
Cal always messes with Tipton in the press conferences, would be funny to start adding these clips to the site. Anyone else hear Tipton say he had white wine muscles, oh Jerry.
February 1st, 2013 at 7:33 pm
I thought that was a picture of Paul Heyman when I first saw it. THAT would be a great hire for UK.
February 1st, 2013 at 8:02 pm
Hoping this hype is for real – and not for naught.
Tired of the SSDD, SSDM, SSDY…SSDS.
The recurrent, obligatory, pre-season promulgatation of BBN BS by this site – to which we satisfy our BBN addiction – has become tiresome.
February 1st, 2013 at 8:44 pm
#1
I think its a miracle just getting this guys on campus and pitching our program. With the previous staff we didn’t even get a chance to pitch UK because they wouldn’t even step foot into lexington. Stoops has probably had more 4* players visit the campus than any coach at UK. That in itself will build for the future. If you can’t get the kids to visit you can’t sign the kids, but look for Recruiting to improve 100% next year when Stoops isn’t behind trying to recruit these kids since Joker obviously wasn’t doing enough.
February 1st, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I swear to god, some people think unless we’re recruiting against Alabama and Florida from the get-go that it’s not good enough. Face it, we’re straight off of a 2-10 season and Stoops has us bordering on a top 25 class. How is that NOT a miracle?
February 1st, 2013 at 9:04 pm
1} The guy has only been here a few weeks…never coached a game and has got more talent coming in than we have had in the past 10 years. Yes it is a big deal as these kids, most of them, had never even gave UK a thought till now. When/if Coach Stoops has success the bigger name players will be wanting to come here.
February 1st, 2013 at 9:14 pm
How in BLUE Blazes could Varnhart STOOPS so low as to hire such a GREAT COACH!, Sept 18th, BBN, 28, lil
bro, 24!. STOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPSSSSSS!
February 1st, 2013 at 10:32 pm
I cannot wait for NSD, then game 1 in the fall! Stoops!
February 1st, 2013 at 11:03 pm
What all this says to me is that UK finally has a REAL football coach that can recruit and motivate. Joker may have bled blue but he only propagated the mediocrity that was UK football. With Stoops we have HOPE!
February 1st, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Stooooooooooooooopppppsssssssss!
February 1st, 2013 at 11:28 pm
I understand it isn’t even signing day. Spring practice hasn’t started. The first snap of the season hasn’t been taken. This is optimistic, I know. BUT, Stoops at Kentucky is a perfect storm. Connections to Florida finally open up and we get a bite of that plethora of talent. Also is the connection all across Ohio, another big area of talent right up the road. If, IF, we start winning 7-8 games a season (not easy) I think we will see Kentucky taking away Ohio State recruits. Obviously not all because we will be competing against the school Ohio loves. However, the ability to play in te SEC could end up meaning a lot to Ohio recruits. Nothing sells a school to a recruit like wins. We have to start doing that on a regular basis. But the fans are excited. It’s 10 degrees outside and I can’t stop thinking about April 13th and then on to this fall. Stoops COULD be just the guy who finally makes history at UK. And that’s exciting enough for me. Good luck to everybody involved with UK Football. Go Cats!
February 2nd, 2013 at 1:27 am
Your enthusiasm is to be admired but don’t be so naive to believe UK is going to be the preferred choice of Ohio recruits. Ohio kids have as much pride about being Ohioans and Midwesterners as anyone from Ky feels about UK. Stoops won’t change that. Not to mention,as anyonewho lives in Northern KY can tell you, folks on the south side of the river are viewed as red headed step children by the folks on the other side. In fact you’ll here Ohians add “tucky” to town names as a jab.
This isn’t even touching the fact that Ohio State is one of the all time 10 best programs in history. It will take a generation or two to even get UK in that conversation.
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:53 am
23, Kind of like in basketball, where UK is the #1 program of all time and Oh State will NEVER be in that conversation. STFU and go back to wherever you came. I live in NKY and we don’t give a flying f#% what you think about us. Have you ever driven out route 32, been on the west side of Cincinnati, driven through downtown? And you’re making fun of KY?