5 STARS

by 58Fan on Nov 19, 2007 7:52 PM EST Comment 5 comments

This may be an old discussion but I see criticism of UK because they can't get the 5-star recruits in football. How much does it matter? Shouldn't college footbal players be judged when they're seniors, not while they're in high school? I don't know how many of these players were 5-star coming out of high school, but they should have been.
1)Woodson
2)Woodyard
3)Tamme
4)Burton
5)Johnson,Steve
6)Little
and IMO Jarmon and Lindley as well as others could be added to the list in time.
Aren't the 5-star kids out of high school the early bloomers, kids that are ready made. Even some of these don't pan out.
Let's face it, UK isn't going to get many of these players, at least not soon. What they've been able to do is find some late bloomers, those who haven't grown into their bodies, who maybe have little experience, or maybe were injured their senior year in high school. UK has "picked through the scraps" and found some gems. I'm impressed with Coach Brooks and the staff and their ability to do this.

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So true.

These guys have been great. You know, I had to beat on Woodson a little because I know he isn't playing to his potential. He still played pretty well, but the little things are killing him right now.

Little is the same way. There is just something a bit off in his game. Same with Burton.

These guys, with the exception of Woodson, have been banged up and dinged up all season. It takes a toll, and I think we are seeing a bit of it.

But they sure have been great players, and God knows I have loved watching them. I hope they find some of that old magic before the end of the season.

by Truzenzuzex on Nov 19, 2007 10:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brooks and Phillips

Coach Brooks and Joker Phillips deserve a huge amount of credit for finding, and persuading these young men to attend UK.

All the players 58Fan mentions have become the cornerstone of the best back-to-back years in Lexington since the mid '70's.

And they accomplished this feat shackled with the constraints of probation. Nothing short of miraculous.

The key to the success we now enjoy was getting Woodson, Burton, Woodyard, Little, Dixon, Lindley, etc..

Developing talent seems to be strong suit of Brooks and Co.. Of the players mentioned above, only a few were more than two star players. Lindley was a three, I believe. And Woodson may have been a three. He was pretty highly sought after out of high school.

But no, no 5 Stars in that group. A testament to the young men who worked so hard, and the coaches who lead them.

Regardless of the last few weeks, an excellent foundation for future success has been layed, or is it laid? I don't know.

Anyway, this staff needs to be congratulated for the oustanding recruiting job, as well "coaching up" the team well enough for them to perform at a very high level.

by Ken Howlett on Nov 19, 2007 11:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Woodson

Andre' may not have been five stars, but I know he was one of those kids who attended elite QB camps (10-15 players, tops) and was definitely a "get" recruit.

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by JL Blue on Nov 20, 2007 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs