WBN Nightcap: Expect More Receivers
Oct 20, 2012; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver DeMarcus Sweat (83) runs a kick off back during the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Commonwealth Stadium. Georgia defeated Kentucky 29-24. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
With today’s commitment of JUCO wide receiver Javess Blue, Kentucky’s signing class improved and the pool of scholarships to offer shrank a little more.
Blue is certainly worth taking as one of the top 100 JUCO players in the nation and a big bodied receiver who can step right into the starting lineup . He will be a junior, automatically making him one of the more seasoned receivers on the team. But with only six scholarship players at the position, it is likely that we will see the coaches take one or two more players.
The obvious top target at this point is Oklahoma State commit Ra’Shaad Samples. Samples is a 4* All-American who took an official visit this weekend, the Cats are in good with Samples but next weekend’s official visit to Stillwater will decide where he ends up. The next guy on the list is likely Shelton Gibson, another 4* who visited in December. Gibson is rumored to have some academic work to do in order to qualify and if he does get the scores he is a heavy Ohio State lean. Should Gibson fail to qualify for the Buckeyes but become eligible, Kentucky is in good position. The other 4* on the list is Kentucky’s own Ryan Timmons. Timmons has also been waiting for Ohio State to offer, but he recently canceled his official visit to OSU and showed up during recruitapolooza in Rupp this weekend. Very good signs for Kentucky.
They second tier of prospects UK is after consists of mostly 3* players with a mix of inside and outside receivers. Christian Cumberlander is a big bodied outside target who projects as a possession receiver and is already a great blocker. Marquez Valdes is an athletic big receiver who likes to go up and get the ball. Alex Montgomery is another outside prospect who recently made the Sportcenter Top 10 with a couple of acrobatic one-handed catches in the state championship game.
Kentucky already has several inside or slot receivers on campus but look for them to take at least one more. Floridian Jeff Badet is supposed to visit Lexington next weekend and is reportedly high on the Cats. He is also a good friend of UK recruits Blake McClain, Asiantii Woulard, and JoJo Kemp. Badet is a shifty player. Speaking of shifty, in the last month Kentucky has gotten involved with Florida athlete Janarion Grant who is also being pursued by Oklahoma State. Grant would be a fine consolation prize if Samples chooses the Cowboys. Former Houston commit Donald Gage is a name that has been heating up on the recruiting scene recently and he has a Kentucky offer. At this time Gage hasn’t set up a visit but that could change is the coaches miss out on some other players. Tiny Seattle WR Tatum Taylor is a guy who was recruited by the previous staff whom Stoops has kept in touch with. Taylor would probably redshirt but could contribute in the return game right away.
So there you have it, it’s unlikely that the Cats are done recruiting pass-catchers at this point. The coaches must feel that they are in a strong position with several players since Joker Phillips verbal Jevontey Smith was told to look around for other options. It would seem logical that the Cats would sign one inside prospect and one outside guy, though if Samples, Gibson and Timmons all want to commit, you almost have to take them all.