Consistently at the bottom of the SEC  historically in recruiting rankings, Kentucky has suffered several misses. A classic example of a program that needs to find diamonds in the three-star rough, Kentucky has picked up its recruiting since Mark Stoops took over.

With recruiting classes ranked 50th, 37th and 47th nationally in during Joker Phillips’ final three recruiting campaigns, Kentucky has improved to 38th, 22nd and 34th under Stoops, according to 247Sports.

Phillips’ final recruiting class was dealt a final blow recently when QB Patrick Towles, the only four-star recruit in that 2012 class, announced plans to transfer. It was less than a year after the previous quarterback commit for Phillips, Max Smith, a three-star, announced plans to transfer after Smith couldn’t build off of the big 2012 season.

When the Wildcats land players that pan out, like DE Za’Darius Smith, a fourth-round NFL draft pick, and S Marcus McWilson, an expected key cog in 2016, they fall short on depth. Smith, McWilson and DE Jason Hatcher were the only four-star players in the 2013 class. And the Wildcats have failed to sign a five-star recruit in this six-year window.

A four-star receiver in 2014, Thaddeus Snodgrass last fall announced plans to transfer. His class, though, appears to be the best since 2010 with key contributors including RB Boom Williams and QB Drew Barker. Defensive tackle Matt Elam, a four-star according to 247Sports, but a five-star elsewhere, has struggled. the 6-foot-7, 360-pound Elam, who had offers from Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame, has been a work in progress.