The Kentucky Wildcats have officially signed a pair of talented defensive tackles in Kordell Looney and JaQuize Cross.
With UK graduated several defensive lineman in the two-deep rotation this past season, getting some big bodies on defense was a must this offseason, and these were two guys UK targeted and landed early.
Cross committed to the Cats back in June while holding offers from Purdue and Minnesota among others. Looney committed in March and held offers from Louisville, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
Here are their UK Athletics profiles and high school highlights:
JaQuize Cross, Defensive Line, 6-3, 315, Fr.-HS, New Market, Ala. (Buckhorn) Talented defensive tackle is a three-star prospect by ESPN, Scout and 247sports Finished his three-year career with 84 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and eight sacks, adding 14 QB hurries and causing a fumble Three-star prospect by ESPN, tabbed as the 37th best prospect in Alabama and the 77th best defensive tackle Tabbed by Scout as a three-star prospect, the second-best defensive tackle in Alabama and the 79th best defensive tackle in the nation Rated by Rivals.com as a two-star prospect Tabbed by 247sports as a three-star prospect, the 75th best defensive tackle in the nation and the 40th best prospect in Alabama ... Coached by David OConner ... Had offers from several schools but chose Kentucky over Minnesota and Purdue.
Kordell Looney, Defensive Tackle, 6-3, 285, Fr.-HS, Springfield, Ohio (Springfield) A three-star recruit who was rated the No. 57 defensive tackle nationally and No. 42 player in Ohio by 247sports ... Rated No. 36 by Rivals ... Totaled 93 tackles and seven sacks in just two seasons of varsity football ... Didnt start playing varsity football until his junior year of high school ... Two-time first-team All-Greater Western Ohio Conference honoree ... Second-team AP Southwest All-District as a senior ... Blue-Grey All-American Bowl Watch List ... Two-sport athlete at Springfield as he also played basketball ... Coached by Maurice Douglass ... Chose UK over Louisville, Illinois and Pittsburgh.