Shawnkel Knight-Goff picks Cats over Cards

Shawnkel Knight-Goff, a weak-side defensive end from Doss High School in Louisville, announced his commitment to Mark Stoops’ program tonight. He chose the Kentucky Wildcats over his hometown Louisville Cardinals.

The three-star prospect actually committed to the Wildcats last spring, but then re-opened his recruitment less than a month later and included the rival Cardinals in his potential landing spots. Thankfully for the Big Blue Nation, his indecision did not cost the Cats.

Given that the Kentucky and Louisville football programs are heading in complete opposite directions and the prospects of Bobby Petrino losing his job are firmly on the table, it wasn’t a complete surprise to see Knight-Goff chose the Cats over the floundering Cardinals. Crystal Ball projected Knight-Goff to picks the Cats heading into the decision.

Knight-Goff is a rated as a three-star weakside defensive end by both Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. He’s the ninth-overall recruit in the state of Kentucky and the 42nd overall for a player at his position.

Knight-Goff will doubt have to add some weight before finding the field at Kentucky. He’s only 6’4”, 210-pounds.

As usual, Kentucky’s recruiting coordinator, Vince Marrow, was very much involved in Knight-Goff’s recruitment to UK. Marrow is usually known to go after recruits from his home state of Ohio, but he was able to pluck Knight-Goff from just down I-64. Knight-Goff joins wide receiver Demontae Crumes, another recruit from Louisville, in Kentucky’s 2019 recruiting class.

Knight-Goff takes UK’s total recruits in the Class of 2019 up to 19, and Stoops is still looking for more. With the departure of seniors like Josh Allen and Mike Edwards, the Cats need to reload on the defensive side of the ball, and Knight-Goff will aid in those efforts.

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