Eli Brown, four star linebacker from Bowling Green, KY, made his commitment to the University of Kentucky public this evening via his Twitter account. Eli Brown is rated a four star by the Rivals service, and a four star by 247 as well. Brown makes the fifth commitment for the 2015 signing class. Brown was previously committed to Vanderbilt prior to his junior year of high school, but halfway through last season he decommitted. He reportedly chose Kentucky over Ohio State and Ole Miss.
Perspective: Boom Williams was UK's top-ranked Rivals football signee for 2014 at No. 118. Eli Brown is ranked No. 110. Huge.
— Ben Roberts (@NextCats) April 22, 2014
The 2015 signing class will probably look to add another 2-3 more linebackers in addition to Brown. Any linebacker signee in the 2014 class and the 2015 class have good chances for early playing time. If not their first season then certainly by their second season given the current and projected lack of depth. According to Justin Rowland at Rivals, Brown will try and help recruit other prospects. He won't be at the spring game this weekend, but instead will be in Columbus, OH for the Rivals Camp.
Brown's commitment continues the impressive streak by Mark Stoops and his staff at signing the Commonwealth's best prep talent. In less than three recruiting cycles they seemed to have only missed out on Hunter Bivin to Notre Dame, and James Quick to UofL. At the same time, they came on to both of those guys with less than two months until NSD, and Quick was a UofL legacy from the start. At this time UK is dominating in-state recruiting. That's important momentum for closing five star running back Damien Harris in this class, and a promising 2016 in-state class on the horizon. Important to note Neal Brown is the primary recruiter for the Commonwealth.
Another angle: UK has now beat out Ohio State for two recruits (previous was AJ Stamps) in the last five months. Damien Harris will be the next big recruiting battle between the two programs.