Drew Barker Splitting the National and Local Recruitniks
Where will Drew Barker go? It is the question that rages through the Bluegrass for what may be one of the most anticipated recruiting announcements since Micah Johnson. Barker has generally kept people guessing but a firm divide is growing between national writers (who think South Carolina) and Ky writers (who think Kentucky). Now you might dismiss this divide by simply saying “the homer Kentucky writers are picking Kentucky because it is the home school.” And usually you might be correct. But in this case, Barker is from the state of the home school and many of the writers are well connected to people in his area. In fact, I can’t find anyone in the state of Kentucky, including my contacts in the Northern Kentucky area, who doesn’t think that Barker will pick the Big Blue. Yet most of the national writers (including all five of 24/7 Sports “Crystal Ball” prognosticators) think South Carolina is the pick. Bill King of the Rivals.com network says it is done and the Gamecocks will be the selection, and the confidence is there for everyone who calls recruiting a job.
So who will be right? It is hard for me to see Barker inviting the general public to the ceremony and picking South Carolina. If he were going to go against the hometown team, why not just invite friends, family or even his student body…but the whole school? That seems like an odd choice. So I will go with Kentucky as well…but if we are right, it will be with a decidedly local flavor…Kentucky media versus the world at the Barker Pigskin Summit. The winner will be crowned Friday at 3:30 pm.
35 Comments for Drew Barker Splitting the National and Local Recruitniks
Wasn’t towles the 9th rated pro- style qb? Barker is so overrated. If he is the next couch, does that mean we go 7-9 his sr. year?
4 star in ky= 2 star in every football state.
But in this case, Barker is from the state of the home school
# 3 are you serious
Kids have press conferences all the time and announce to out of state schools. Don’t have to look far, look at some of the basketball recruits. Heck a kid had a press conference and committed to a school that didnt offer him. I have the feeling he will pick the cats (most of the national recruiting analysts have barely started a relationship with Drew). Heck he has until the first Wednesday in February to flip. What I am basically saying is that it is a toss up to who he picks (congrats if you guess right), but even if you do guess right, he still has a long time to reconsider. The timing of the decision is the main reason I believe he will select UK.
I have to agree with you Matt, why invite the general public and pick USC. It wouldn’t make sense. Is that a troll prowling around in a farmer’s moustache? Is moustache spelt rite?
#1 If UK goes 7-9 this year then I will be the first one to buy a new NFL UK jersey. If UK even plays 16 games I will wear Orange to the Tennessee game next year.
Why you got to talk trash! you jealous of him because you didn’t get past pee wee football! Drew Barker has got a lot more talent than you give him credit for! So you go back up the holler you came from and chase you some critters! The one who usually talk trash has a lot of short coming in there life!
my last comment was for Farmers moustache
I think he is going to South Carolina and the UK staff already knows. My reasoning is UK just offered another 4* quarterback last week. Just a guess
Eddie Murphy will play Charles Ramsey in the upcoming movie Deadgiveaway.
Those that say he would be a 2 star in a football state obviously do not understand the position. Scouts look at the numbers as much as they look at his natural talent (instincts, mechanics, etc.). He is a very good QB, that could become something special in UK’s new system.
The only reason i think he chooses UK is because he is inviting the general public to the press conference….Who does that unless they are probably choosing the home team?..Yet, Uk did just offer another QB last week……….
He would have to be out of his mind to not choose ky. In die hard county like his. It’s a done deal time to go after the big boy in the middle.
If Joker was still UK’s coach I could see doing a F.U. press conference. Which is what this would be if he does not pick UK, with UK fans there. But, since he has stated his family is UK fans, and he like UK’s new coaches, I do not see why he would want it to be like that.
#14. Yes. Agreed.
I continually read on this site about the “he won’t pick South Carolina after he invited all those people” comments and I’m wondering if this is the reason Kentucky rankings so bad nationally in education? Short term memory loss…an unreported surge in dementia? There have been a litany of players from this state to hold public press conferences and go to another. Ever heard of Lamar Dawson.
Yes, I have heard of him, but not much since he went to the other USC.
@16 – Dawson was never going to stay in state, I talked to people from his high school and they knew he wasn’t going to stay, and with USC being there, he was good as gone. And those mentioning offers, UK hasn’t officially offered another QB, but has been reported that they lead for 2 other 4 star QBs that are ready to pick UK if Barker picks USCjr. Drew is the top target on the big board, even with 2 top 150 Rbs having UK in their final cut for their list. Some of the people here need to follow Josh Edwards and Rowland on twitter to get accurate information on recruiting from offers to lists, visits, and up to date information on what’s going on in the world of recruiting.
Drama. I like the kids that just come out and say where they are going. If they flop, everybody remembers the drama and how they were rated # such and such at their position.
If we get him, great. If not, oh well. Towles has just as much – if not more – potential to be a successful starting QB.
i live in northern ky and have watched both he and towles play several times. i think towles is twice the QB barker is
21. Honest question, not trying to be a smart-ass. Are you connected to high school football? Do you coach or evaluate talent on a level other than just being a fan in the stands? I watch a ton of football but I honestly couldn’t tell you whether Towles or Barker is better. Towles looked accurate in his few snaps last year, but looked like he was throwing an ugly ball. I know Towles HS team was much better than Connor.
Why would ANYONE think SC is such a great place to go? Before Holtz and Visor boy, they were NOTHING in football. I remember as pathetic as we were in football beating them on a regular basis. Our athletic revenue is more than theirs. Their fan base is some of the worst I have ever been around. The only difference was that their AD got his head out of his butt a lot sooner than ours did and went out and hired some big name coaches to set them in the right direction. Now UK has done the same thing only our coach is young and SC’s coach is getting ready for the retirement home. We have FINALLY made a full commitment to football at UK by hiring great cutting edge coaches AND investing in facilities. The fans of this state have ALWAYS supported the program but there now is REAL hope and change taking place–not just lip service. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be on the ground floor of helping YOUR state school rise from the ashes of mediocrity into something very special. In my opinion, any home state kid who walks away from what is now going on at UK is a complete fool. I don’t know Drew Barker, but he doesn’t strike me as a fool. We shall see on Friday.
22. im by no means an expert. but i did play QB and have coached football for over 30 years. in fairness to barker he is just now entering his senior year. but i thought pat looked much better as a junior, but then again, pat was on a much better team
Matt, what is the difference in inviting his student body or the whole school? Isn’t the student body all the students that attend the school? I thought the presser was open to the public. I think this deflates your argument. I still have hope though.
23, for your information South Carolina hold a 16-7-1 record against UK in football that is a 67% winning percentage over UK. Now your football history before you talk trash about owning someone like we own you! Our stadium is bigger yours is about to get smaller. We are adding a indoor building to go with outstanding outdoors practice fields, Barker may choose UK but it would not surprise me if he chose South Carolina in the end.
2012/09/29 South Carolina 38 – Kentucky 17 W
2011/10/08 South Carolina 54 – Kentucky 3 W
2010/10/16 South Carolina 28 – Kentucky 31 L
2009/10/10 South Carolina 28 – Kentucky 26 W
2008/10/11 South Carolina 24 – Kentucky 17 W
2007/10/04 South Carolina 38 – Kentucky 23 W
2006/10/07 South Carolina 24 – Kentucky 17 W
2005/10/08 South Carolina 44 – Kentucky 16 W
2004/10/16 South Carolina 12 – Kentucky 7 W
2003/10/09 South Carolina 27 – Kentucky 21 W
2002/10/12 South Carolina 16 – Kentucky 12 W
2001/10/06 South Carolina 42 – Kentucky 6 W
2000/10/07 South Carolina 20 – Kentucky 17 W
1999/10/09 South Carolina 10 – Kentucky 30 L
1998/10/10 South Carolina 28 – Kentucky 33 L
1997/10/11 South Carolina 38 – Kentucky 24 W
1996/10/12 South Carolina 25 – Kentucky 14 W
1995/09/23 South Carolina 30 – Kentucky 35 L
1994/09/24 South Carolina 23 – Kentucky 9 W
1993/09/23 South Carolina 17 – Kentucky 21 L
1992/09/26 South Carolina 9 – Kentucky 13 L
1981/10/10 South Carolina 28 – Kentucky 14 W
1978/09/16 South Carolina 14 – Kentucky 14 T
1937/11/06 South Carolina 7 – Kentucky 27 L
#26, We are about to add Barker and your winning % is about to go down.
4 Star in Kentucky and 2 Star in every other state?????? Thats a pretty dumb statement being every body wants him, I know he could be a bust but good grief! Give him a chance!!!
@26 Know your football history before you talk trash. 23 was talking about the undefeated record UK had vs SC for 44 years obviously.
#26GM…Even JOKER beat you…I wouldn’t talk if I were you…DB will be a cat…
@29 Faycts, I like that one, that was funny consider we played only three times before 1992 but on the real since we have joined the SEC we hold a 15 to 6 advantage and that is a 71.43% winning percentage over UK. Now that is domination. Who knows maybe things will turn in the future.
@30, Joker beat UT too which was a first for UK in 27 years. Look at my original post I said he may choose UK but don’t count SC out.
@#26… Listening to UK football fans is like watching Groundhog Day. Every time there is a regime change, the tide is always turning lol.
Garnett Man- How many times have I been to ANY SCjr site to see what your “fans” have to say? The correct answer would be ZERO. Thanks for helping to prove my point about being THE most obnoxious fans in the world. Yes, you have “owned” us over the last 10 years when you finally hired a couple good coaches. Before that, it was pretty much even–hence my statement about beating you clowns on a regular basis. You and the rest of the SEC is about to see what having a real coach is going to do for UK. Also, please stop trolling our sites.
Bigbluetrue- Just like UK fans when it comes to Basketball right? All I stated were fact that we currently hold a significant advantage over UK in football. However if you read all of my post completely; I also said maybe turns will turn in the future see post number 31. I made a point this kid could come to Columbia however he may go anywhere between now and signing day in February 2014. Trust me I know what it is like to pull for a team that breaks your heart. I have nothing but love for you (UK) against everybody but us (SC).