Kentucky Football 2015 Recruiting Odds And Ends

With the offers going out as fast at a speeding bullet, I don't think things are going to slow down until spring practice begins. I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to offer 3,445 players listed in the 247 Sports Data Base. If so, there's so many and so little time. For Louisville fans, I am joking about the 3,445 players. Here's a breakdown by state for our offers.

Some things for the reader to consider regarding UK football recruiting.So far, we've received two commitments, but there are players who are close to pulling the trigger for the Cats.  According to 247 Sports, Kentucky may put out as many as 317 offers of one sort or another. Remember, Stoops plans to sign 25 players for this class. It could be more if he experiences some attrition or it could be less if he picks up some high quality transfers like Heard and the Davis twins.

We've offered six 5-star (*) players listed in the 247 Sports Composite ratings. Those players are (in no particular order): Daron Payne, DL from Irondale, AL; CeCe Jefferson*, DL from Glen St. Mary, FL; Jeffrey Holland*, LB from Jacksonville, FL; Kevin Toliver II*, DB from Jacksonville, FL (LSU Commit); George Campbell, WR from Tarpon Springs, FL; Trenton Thompson, DL from Albany (pronounced Al-bennie), GA; Damien Harris*, RB from Berea, KY; Justin Hilliard*, LB from Cincinnati, OH; and Tim Settle*, DL from Manassas, VA. Just to set the record straight, Kentucky is not favored to land any of the above players by any of the services which, of course, doesn't mean anything.

What about Damien Harris? Kentuckians want to know. The Ohio folks project him to Ohio State because he likes Urban Meyer. Of course he does, what else would anyone expect him to say? Here's who's offered Harris: Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Southern Cal, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Florida, Fresno State, Illinois, Louisville, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Wake Forest. He could very well wind up going back to a Michigan commitment.

I don't think anyone around the Big Blue Nation expects Harris to sign with Kentucky, but he has warmed up to the Cats after attending Junior Day and he has talked (however jokingly) with George Campbell about them going to UK together. I suspect that he will sign with an SEC team. If you want to be the best, play against the best as the old saying goes. If he were to sign with Kentucky, it would shock the world. If any of the above 5-star players sign with Kentucky, it would shock the world.

I believe Kentucky has offered all the quarterbacks they're going to offer. As everyone should know Elijah Sindelar has committed to Purdue and Kentucky has, apparently, decided to move on with good reason. Look at the profiles and the videos of the four others we've offered and then tell me which one you'd rather see wearing Kentucky blue, white gray or black?

Jarrett Stidham* [Video] Stidham is a Kentucky native who moved to Texas. He's projected to sign with Texas Tech. He's a great passer and an excellent zone read QB.

Andre Brown [Video] Brown can play multiple positions. Brown has a strong arm and he's accurate. He may, however, be a better DB.

Lorenzo Nunez* [Video] Nunez is projected to commit to Ohio State. He's an athlete for sure. Big arm, fast runner.

Tucker Israel [Video] Israel is a Clemson commitment. There is some speculation that his commitment is soft and that he has some interest in Kentucky. Lake Nona's WR Deondre Farrier also has an offer from Kentucky and the Cats offered his top target for the 2013 season, Ryan Sousa. Kentucky and Florida are the only schools to offer both Ferrier and Israel and they could wind up going to the same school. Both will have an opportunity to see if Florida can generate some offense this season. Israel is another great passer and zone read QB.

My preference would be Stidham or Israel. For me, they just have that look of confidence. I expect both to be Elite 11 QBs. So, which one would you like to see play for Kentucky?

Some tweets I've seen from:

@ Patrick Loney

Eli Brown: "Only school that coaches really show me they want me is UK.."

Jeff Holland: "Was up Kentucky #BBN"

Jarmarkus Sims: "Committing to #UK don't sound bad ...."

CeCe Jefferson: "Ohhhh boy I got a new #UK Jacket!! Clean as hell!! #BBN! "

Derek Young @Scout: "LaGrange (OH) Keystone TE C.J. Conrad has two schools standing out among his offers #Kentucky #BBN #Indiana #Hoosiers"

Have a great day!