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In-state recruiting has long been a focus of the Kentucky coaching staff, and the Wildcats appear to have landed five of the top 10 players ranked by 247Sports, including four of the top five. Those top three players, the only four-stars in the state in this class, are all pledged to play in Lexington.
It’s the reason a Rivals recruiting analyst said Kentucky could jump to a higher level in the SEC.
“This is an important group,” Mike Farrell told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “We’re going to see this group in a few years either take Kentucky to the next level or not, and by next level, I mean possibly pushing for nine wins.”
Kentucky’s recruiting success starts on the offensive line.
A pair of four-stars, tackle Landon Young and projected center Drake Jackson are among the highest-rated players Kentucky’s ever recruited, and are among the highest-rated nationally at their positions.
Ohio also continues to be a primary recruiting destination for the Wildcats as more than half of their commits are Ohio natives.
They first key this year is keeping the class intact after last year’s departure of about a quarter of the class. Even six weeks ago, coach Mark Stoops was excited about the prospects, including those close to home, he told the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“We’re fortunate to have some impact players in-state and some very close,” Stoops said. “That’s very nice to have that.”
Of course, an 11th-hour move could make Kentucky’s class this much better. Stoops is reportedly close to hiring wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas from archrival Louisville.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reported that Thomas sat next to four-star CB Trayvon Mullen at the Virginia-Louisville basketball game on Saturday. Mullen is the cousin of Louisville QB Lamar Jackson. Thomas was Jackson’s primary recruiter.
KENTUCKY 2016 RECRUITING CLASS
National rank: 32
SEC rank: 11
No. of commitments: 25
No. of commitments by rating: Three four-stars, 22 three-stars.
Top incoming offensive players: Four-star OT Landon Young, four-star OL Drake Jackson, three-star WR Zy’Aire Hughes
Top incoming defensive players: Four-star LB Kash Daniel, three-star CB Davonte Robinson
Primary remaining targets: OG Saige Young
Best-case scenario: Despite a disappointing end to the season, Kentucky has held on to key elements of the class even as bigger and more traditional powers came calling. The Wildcats don’t appear to have any last-minute drama, so locking up the players they already have pledges from remains the top priority.
VERBAL COMMITS
Landon Young, OT, four-star
Jordan Griffin, CB, three-star
Jordan Bonner, LB, three-star
Tobias Gilliam, CB, three-star
Zy’Aire Hughes, ATH, three-star
Jaylin Bannerman, DE, three-star
Ben Snell, RB, three-star
Roland Walder, LB, three-star
Kordell Looney, DT, three-star
Davonte Robinson, CB, three-star
Kayaune Ross, WR, three-star
T.J. Carter, DE, three-star
A.J. Rose, ATH, three-star
JaQuize Cross, DT, three-star
Luke Fortner, OT, three-star
Justin Rigg, TE, three-star
Grant McKinniss, P, three-star
Jamar Watson, LB, three-star
CURRENT CLASS
Drake Jackson, OL, four-star (early enrollee)
Kash Daniel, LB, four-star (early enrollee)
Tate Leavitt, OT, three-star (early enrollee)
Dakota Holtzclaw, TE, three-star (early enrollee)
Gunner Hoak, QB, three-star (early enrollee)
Stephen Johnson II, QB, three-star (early enrollee)
Naquez Pringle, DT, three-star (early enrollee)
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
