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By Will Marshall and Hank Rippetoe
Ryan Flanagan LB
Blinn College (JUCO)
Missouri City, TX
- Rivals (5.6) 3 Star
- Scout 2 Star
- 247 Sports 3 star
- ESPN 3 star
- Video (High School)
As a JUCO, Flannigan will be expected to contribute immediately. ESPN says he # 6 at his position, so he should be able to contribute. He is 6’1" and 220 lbs. He was recruited by Chad Scott and Neal Brown. The (Missouri City, TX) Marshall High School player originally signed with Texas Tech on February 1st 2012, but didn’t qualify academically and went the JUCO route. He was familiar with Brown and Scott, so a commitment to Kentucky isn’t surprising. He was a Rivals (5.6) 3 star coming out of high school as a member of the 2012 recruiting class. Reportedly, the Universities of Oregon and Texas A&M had interest in Flanagan late in the recruiting cycle.
Flanagan will have large shoes to fill at the middle linebacker position as he is replacing arguably UK’s best player last year in Avery Williamson. The interior of the defense will have to be better this year if UK has any chance at a better season, and Flanagan will play an integral role at his position. The depth at middle linebacker is shallow, and it’s important for Flanagan to play well and stay (serious) injury-free.