On Eve of Kentucky Visit, WBN Interviews Georgia Safety Kirk Tucker
By Jason Marcum
After a string of commitments from Ohio and Texas, it appears as though the Kentucky coaching staff is dipping back into the state that previous staffs have recruited heavily over the past decade.
UK Secondary Coach Bradley Dale] Peveto recently made a phone call to Tucker High School (Ga.) safety Kirk Tucker, a 6-foot-2, 185 lb thumper who loves the idea of taking his physical style of football to the most bruising conference in college football.
Tucker, who’s currently holding offers from Stanford, UNC,Arkansas, NC State,Louisville, and several other BCS programs, is viewed by some services as an outside linebacker, but others have him pegged as a safety at the collegiate level.
Tucker was gracious enough to give us the scoop on his recruitment, as well as his plans for college.
WBN: Talk about your football life, and how you’ve gotten to this point.
"I like to compete in the classroom against other kids, and I like to compete on the football field physically against others. I’m always hungry. Just because I’ve been successful in high school doesn’t mean anything in college. You can be a 5-star recruit in high school, and then don’t be anything in college.My dad told me never take your eye off of anyone, because that will allow them to get one step ahead of you, so I’m always working hard, doing the extra work. I’m always on the computer watching film of last year against other teams who will go against this year.I don’t just want myself to be successful, but I want my team to be successful. If I’m doing what I’m supposed to do, then the team’s going to benefit from that. I’m one of the leaders on the team, and guys look up to me and listen to me.I feel like if they see me putting the same amount of work the coaches are putting in, then that will help get everyone going and be successful this season."
WBN: When did Mark Stoops first contact you about potentially playing atKentucky?
"The first contacted me when they came to my school about two weeks ago, but I had had torn my meniscus earlier and was still recovering from surgery.Coach Peveto said he loved my size and the way I looked, and after they read my transcripts and my film, they called me this past week and offered me a full scholarship. I was really excited. I’m excited about all of my offers. I take all of my offers very seriously.I’d love to play safety at college and that’s where they said they’d like to play me. I feel like anywhere I go, I’m going to make it because of my drive and my intelligence n the field."
WBN: What made Kentucky stand-out?
"They play in the SEC, which plays a big part in my recruitment. I want to play some hard football.My friend Jared Tucker is also committed there and he’s been talking to me about going there. Even though we’re from rival schools, e talk about it. I’ll be up there from June 7-9 visiting Louisville, and I told my coach ‘let’s stop by Kentucky and visit there’. I’m going out there and look at it for myself. I’ll probably be there on the 8th or the 9th."
WBN: What schools who’ve offered you a scholarship are recruiting you the hardest?
"Stanford,Arkansas definitely. NC State, UNC,Louisville,Ohio State and Syracuse. They’ve all shown a lot of interest."
WBN: How are you going to go about the rest of the recruiting process?
"I talk to my former quarterback who’s at Oregon, Jawan Williams, and he told me to take my time, and so have my parents, so I’m not planning on committing anytime soon, and I will be taking all of my official visits.I’m probably not going to commit until after the season. I’m just going to take my time and enjoy the process as well."