by Andrew Hardison by Andrew Hardison

Should UK fans be concerned with the football recruiting?

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by Andrew Hardison

The rising expectations of the UK football program, as well as last seasons successful recruiting campaign have led many fans and pundits to question the 2010 recruiting progress. Three straight bowl wins have increased expectations and recruiting in recent years has improved. Coach Brooks’s program has done a good job of developing new ways to get recruits to sign with the Wildcats, such as pipeline recruiting (most notably Georgia) and finding ‘diamonds in the rough,’ (’08 ** recruit Randall Cobb). These techniques have allowed UK to bring in some solid classes. For the 2009 season, Rich Brooks and the rest of his staff will bring in one of their best recruiting classes since Brooks’ first arrived at Kentucky prior to the 2003 season.

While successful, the main question is if Brooks can turn his classes into upper-tier SEC classes. Until Brooks arrived, football at UK had always been a stand-in until the start of the basketball season and Midnight Madness. The struggles the football team experienced were compounded by NCAA violations during the Hal Mumme era, which essentially crippled any chance of becoming a relevant program. Losing 19 scholarships for the next three seasons, Rich Brooks started his career at UK behind already.

Brooks came in, ready to turn things around and to do so in the quickest way possible. Brooks needed to change the outlook in recruiting. With the program reeling from violations imposed by the NCAA, Brooks went 9-25 in his first three full seasons. In 2006, things began to look up as, Brooks brought in his best recruiting class to date as more scholarships were made available. He signed local talent in four-star defensive players Corey Peters and Micah Johnson. His ‘diamonds in the rough’ that year were Stevie Johnson (currently battling for 4th receiver in Buffalo Bills camp) and offensive lineman Justin Jefferies.

Progress was made as Brooks took a program riddled with less-than average talent and violations, to a team who is breaking streaks and actually knocking off number one ranked teams. Commonwealth Stadium is no longer a “sure win” for the opponents but the challenges are still plenty as the Cats look to break 20+ years of losing to Florida and Tennessee, as well as trying to finally beat Steve Spurrier (0-16). It’s apparent that Brooks has righted the ship, but competing for a SEC Title is the next step.

The ’09 recruiting class brings in the most talented group of newcomers that the school has seen. It wasn’t a top-10 class, something many other SEC teams reel in year in and year out but is a top-30. With the use of pipeline recruiting, Brooks was able to sign three 4-star players, as well as a plethora of 3-star players. The biggest catch is at quarterback between pro-style quarterback Ryan Mossakowski, a 4-star player from Texas and the electric Morgan Newton from Indiana. Other highly touted players such as JUCO players DeQuin Evans (4-star) and wide receiver Chris Matthews (4-star) and Mark Crawford highlight UK’s most talented group to date. While UK and Vanderbilt sit outside the top-25 for football recruiting, six other SEC schools reside in the top-25. Cracking this glass ceiling is a goal that Brooks (and Joker Phillips) will continually strive to achieve.

Despite having one of the schools best recruiting classes ever, many are wondering about the 2010 recruiting class even before the ’o9-’10 seasons has even started. With only two commitments for the 2010 class, the Cats must step it up. That’s exactly what head coach Rich Brooks feels he and his other coaches are doing.

In the past, Kentucky has usually had to take a commitment when they could get it, even if it is not the best prospect out there. For the 2010 class, Rich Brooks feels that slowing the process down will attract more highly touted players, as they also wait to sign and lengthen their own recruiting process. This idea may scare many UK fans, but Brooks is as cool as the other side of the pillow when discussing the topic.

For Brooks to say that recruiting is going pretty well and is better than it was in the past may appear shocking. After three straight years of a post-season bowl games, UK will look to produce the same results (or exceed them) this season to please the fan base. As long as Brooks is here, he will need to continue to recruit the best talent possible and sign them before other powerhouses Playing in the SEC makes that task even more difficult as recruits are blinded from the glare of the Gator’s and LSU’s recent national title trophies.

How can you tell a kid that you’re going to do better at Kentucky instead of a place like Florida or LSU? This is what Rich Brooks has to fight against. A fourth bowl win in a row will help. Recent UK players at the pro level will help more and more high school players realize that a dream of playing in the NFL can start at the University of Kentucky.

Next season’s recruiting class will be one to keep a close eye on as it will determine if Brook’s methods can lead to UK becoming a Top 25 program. That recruiting class can be the legacy that Brooks eventually turns over to Joker Phillips.

Andrew Hardison is a new contributor to WildcatBlueBlog. Allow him to introduce himself in his own words: Ever since I can remember, my passion for Kentucky Wildcats sports has run deep. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, I grew up rooting on the Cats with help from my grandfather, a Central City native of Kentucky. Now, as a recent University of Kentucky college graduate, I will look to build upon my love for the Cats by writing for various websites so I can get a new perspective out there on the University of Kentucky athletics.

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