Big Blue Nation is shifting its attention toward football as practice kicks off this week. As Media Day started off in Lexington, Mark Stoops got a commitment from 2018 running back Chris Rodriguez, Jr.
#BBN pic.twitter.com/3TWDMwwNRS
— Chris Rodriguez Jr (@kidd_chris123) July 30, 2017
He had offers from other SEC schools, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, as well as Colorado State, Marshall, and Troy.
He is 5-11 and weighs 200 pounds and is from McDonough Georgia. None of the major services have him ranked in their ratings. He is the sixteenth member of a strong 2018 class for the Kentucky Wildcats and is the first running back to commit. Stoops has other running backs in his sights including four star Cam’Ron Davis out of Miami, Florida, who is currently committed to the Hurricanes, and three star Andrew Cunningham out of Tampa, Florida among others.
Kentucky has the 17th-ranked class nationally and they are ranked fifth in the SEC according to 24/7 Sports. Mark Stoops is on the verge of having his best class since coming to UK.
Your Quickies
What we learned at 2017 Kentucky football media day | Lexington Herald Leader
Five things we learned as Coach Mark Stoops and the 2017 Kentucky Wildcats held football media day Sunday, July, 30, at Kroger Field
Vince Marrow, Benny Snell engage in rap battle - 247
Who said it best?
Elam speaks out about criticism from SEC Network anaylst | Lexington Herald Leader
After a scathing critique from SEC Network analyst, Kentucky senior defensive tackle Matt Elam has his turn to speak out.
Top-rated Kentucky signee Lynn Bowden still not on campus - 247
Top-rated Kentucky signee Lynn Bowden is still not on campus as fall camp got underway Sunday, Mark Stoops said at UK Football's Media Day.
UK football has no excuses in Stoops' fifth season | Lexington Herald Leader
Mark Stoops is starting his fifth season as Kentucky’s football coach. Coming off a bowl season, it should take another step forward.
Turnovers will NOT be a Problem for Stephen Johnson, or Stephen Johnson will not Play | Kentucky Sports Radio
“We put our defense in some really bad situations last year,” Gran said. “If we get half of those turnovers, and cut them in half, we’re going to be top of the league. I think we could have won a couple more games if don’t turn the ball over.”
Can a 9-year-old be an NCAA Division I college football prospect? - LCJ
Whether this kind of attention is healthy for impressionable and immature athletes — or for the coaches who court them — it is increasingly unavoidable. Those coaches who resist the pressure to forge relationships with grade-school athletes do so at the risk of losing them to rival schools.
Why old-school 'super-scout' GMs are an endangered species in the NFL
It's a tough time to be a general manager in the NFL. Doesn't matter what time of year it is or how close you might be to vacation, or even the start of training camp. GMs are suddenly imperiled around the league, with owners willing to fire them no matter how unusual or unconventional the timing and no matter how much recent success they might have enjoyed.
NFL to End Partnership with National Institutes of Health on Concussion Study
The National Institutes of Health will reportedly let its partnership with the NFL expire in August after the NFL previously pledged $30 million to help research the connection between brain disease and football, but the NIH decided not to renew its agreement with the NFL "following a bitter dispute in 2015 in which the NFL backed out of a major study that had been awarded to a researcher who had been critical of the league."
Signs of Brain Disease in 99 Percent of Ex-NFL Players Studied: Paper
The brains of 99 percent of former National Football League players studied showed signs of a disease linked to repeated hits to the head that can lead to aggression and dementia, according to research published in a medical journal on Tuesday.
Ben Roethlisberger to Factor CTE Concerns into Retirement Decision
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger admitted concerns about CTE could factor into how long he keeps playing in the NFL. In an interview with Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Roethlisberger discussed why he isn't committing to playing beyond the 2017 season
Andrew Luck not ready to commit to playing Week 1
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list, and he’s unsure how long it will be before he’s 100 percent healthy. Although his overall message was optimistic that he’ll be back and better than ever after shoulder surgery, the short-term prognosis is wait and see.
Rookie ratings for 'Madden NFL 18' released; Myles Garrett, O.J. Howard lead way
Ratings reveals for the upcoming "Madden NFL 18" release are highly anticipated, and on Wednesday, EA Sports began the rollout by providing the ratings for those who were selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jon Gruden on Potential Return to NFL: 'Every Day. I'm Preparing to Come Back.'
Although Jon Gruden hasn't been a head coach in the NFL since 2008, he has never ruled out a return to the sidelines. In an interview with Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report, the 53-year-old explained the interest he has received from around the league.
Matthew Stafford Says 'No Timetable' on Completing New Contract with Lions
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said Saturday there is "no timetable" for getting a new contract done with the team. According to Kyle Meinke of MLive Media Group, Stafford acknowledged that talks are ongoing, however. Per Spotrac, Stafford is entering the final year of his contract in 2017 and will make $22 million.
NFL's best, worst offensive arsenals, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends
The NFL is a quarterback's league, but a set of weapons can be the difference between a quarterback taking a leap forward or looking ordinary.
How to make a $7 cellphone sniffer - The Verge
Please don’t use it for anything creepy.