Brooks making the right choice in new "slow and steady" recruiting approach

Lots has been written about the 2010 recruiting class for the Kentucky Wildcats and the lack thereof of commitments. To date, UK has just three commitments and many pundits and bloggers (myself included) have expressed slight concern over the progress. After thinking about it for a while, I have decided that the kind of recruiting UK is doing is essential to propel them into the upper division of the SEC East.

Over the past few years, UK’s recruiting classes have improved as the on the field product started posting winning records and making bowl games. Last season was UK’s best in several years and placed them right outside the Top 25-30 in overall strength. That sounds great for most programs, but in the SEC, UK’s “best ever” class was still only good enough for around 10th or 11th place in the SEC.

Now from several accounts, UK could have bolstered last years class by a few players as several players were looking to sign with UK around the National signing deadline, but alas no scholarships were available. So this year, Rich Brooks and his staff implemented a new tactic in recruiting. They placed the value of a UK scholarship at a premium, and actively offered less three star players early in hopes that UK would have some room to accept some late interest in the program.

Now that I think of it, Brook’s plan makes a lot of sense. UK will always have their share of the quality of players they have been signing recently. Brooks and Joker Phillips have done a great job in developing pipelines in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina and the players mined from these fertile grounds have tended to become producers at UK. But who can blame Brooks for shooting for the stars and going after more ESPN Top 150 players?

UK has to go after these players to make an impact in the SEC and I don’t think taking the slower course will dissuade any of the “lower rated” players from choosing UK eventually. If Brook’s strategy fails and UK lands no big names, they have enough players in the pipelines and other SEC locations to fill the class with the same quality players UK has been getting recently.

I honestly think that third place in the SEC is wide open this year. The recent USA Today Coaches poll seemed to hold that same opinion as UK was just a few votes behind South Carolina and ahead of Tennessee and Vandy. What is going to happen in these recruit’s minds if Kentucky can make that jump and finish in the top half of the SEC East this season? That kind of success would land UK in the Outback Bowl or the Capitol One bowl, both New Year Day bowls. Don’t you think that would have an impact on a four star recruit on the fence about UK and knowing they can go to UK and get lots of early playing time and still play in a New years Bowl? If they weigh that option against being 3rd or 4th string at Alabama, Florida, USC, or Ohio State, UK looks much more attractive.

Seeing that national signing day is not until February and there is lots of changes and shuffling to occur in that time frame, I decided to lay off the handwringing and throw all my trust in Brooks and company. With my new found full support behind the program, I decided to take a look at some of the “upper tier” players that Brooks and UK are making a run for.

STORM JOHNSON, RB

Johnson is a confusing one as a whole flurry of reports had him committing to LSU the first part of June and even ESPN had some quotes from Johnson saying he was going to commit. But funny thing is, he never committed and from all accounts, UK is still in the running. Johnson is the #6th best RB recruit in the country and is a punishing back between the tackles. UK has not had a back like him since Artose Pinner. Johnson’s dad says that his son’s interest is “Very strong, very strong” and cited Rich Brooks as being a “very good teacher”. From all indications, UK is in the mix with LSU, Florida and Florida State. Johnson and his dad plan to visit UK in September and may make a decision around November.

NICK DEW, S

Dew is rated at the #6 prospect and is cited as a “the entire package and a major sleeper”. Dew is versatile as he has the ability to play either a safety position or he could line up at outside linebacker. UK has not had much success recruiting in Virginia, but Dew has liked UK enough to put him in his top five list. Admittedly, UK is 5th behind Virginia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia but Dew has said that if he makes another visit to Lexington, that can propel the Cats up his list. He had some good things to say about Joker Phillips and said Joker told him “they don’t have a lot of linebackers returning” and that opened his eyes to UK a lot. Dew said he may not make a decision until the Under Armour All Star game which was held in January last year.

NIGEL TERRELL, OLB

Terrell, from Alabama, has been described as ” a very disruptive perimeter defender” and is “lacking just a bit of size and polish to be considered a premier outside linebacker in this class”. Regardless, Terrell is an ESPN Top 150 prospect and like the fact that he could play early at UK.

He has said that he has “a good chance to come in and play as a freshman”. It also helps that a couple of his HS coaches are from Kentucky and knows some of the UK coaches. Terrell attended UK’s Friday Night Blue Light’s Camp in June and came away impressed. As of now it looks like UK is battling FSU, Southern Miss, and West Virginia for his services. Terrell has indicated that while he is not in a rush to decide, he wants to take some more summer visits and possibly decide before his HS season starts or shortly thereafter.

OC BROWN, OL

Brown has the bulk to give offensive line support in the SEC (6’2, 315) and also has the ability to dunk a basketball. Brown, from Memphis, would be a good “get” from the UK staff and Brown is impressed with UK. After his visit to UK in June, he said that UK’s facilities were as good as, if not better than those at Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Auburn, who were Brown’s previous visits. Brown describes himself as an aggressive lineman, who does not stop pulling and grabbing until the whistle blows. The Cats appear to be in pretty good shape for Brown but Iowa, Colorado, and LSU are in the hunt as well.

DYJUAN LEWIS, WR

The Cats, as well as half the Big 10 are still in the hunt for Indianapolis WR Lewis. Right now, Lewis is the 25th best WR prospect and has good size at 6’3. He needs to bulk up and is a little lean right now, but could grow into a very physical receiver. He has soft hands and has shown the flair for the acrobatic catch and could be a big red zone target. There is not a lot about his decision making process thus far, but UK is listed high, along with Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State, and Illinois.

RAJAAN BENNETT, RB

Bennett, from Georgia, is another sturdy back that likes to run between the tackles and frustrate defenses. ESPN says he is a “guy who could carry the load at the next level, remain durable, and wear down a defense”. UK has been recruiting him for quite a while now and it appears the interest is mutual. He likes the fact that Brooks is not afraid to play young playe
rs. UK seems to have the home field advantage as former teammate Terrell Mitchell will be a freshman with UK this year and is the HS coach is the brother of former UK QB Ryan Hockman, and his HS defensive coordinator was an assistant at UK under Jerry Claiborne. Don’t expect a decision to come soon, but he has a pretty solid final three of UK, East Carolina, and Vandy.

While not by any means a final list of all the players UK is looking at, I think it’s apparent that any of the above players can made a big impact at UK and even contribute as a freshman. That said, it makes sense to practice discretion when making scholarship offers and hope that Brooks has the gameplan to bring UK to a new level in football.

Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans