A lot has been made about Kentucky’s recruiting progress this season and Brooks emphasis on going after better athletes in an effort to make UK more competitive in the SEC. The results have been mixed so far. Brooks has landed players such has Raymond Sanders, who has gotten a lot of attention nationally for his efforts on the field this year. But a lot of blue bloods still fret and point to the lack of **** and ***** recruits and cry “woe is me” about UK’s future prospects.
The first thing to realize is that the “star system” to rate HS athletes is not as big a deal in college football as it is in college basketball. There is not as big a difference between a solid *** recruit and a **** recruit. College football is a game where the recruiting stars really mean nothing once the seasons start. There are as many stories of 2 star players making the NFL as there are of 5 star plays being huge busts in college and not even finishing their careers.
Now even though that UK is on the short end in the landing high star recruits, Brooks and company are in position to win their fourth straight bowl, something very few current coaches in the SEC can say. Not even defending NCAA champion Urban Meyer or former champ Steve Spurrier can make that claim. So clearly, Rich Brooks is doing something right as he takes these “lower tier” athletes and makes them winners. Let’s take a look at the current Cats on the roster and where there were coming out of HS. (All ratings courtesy of Rivals)
2005 class (coming off a 2-9 season)
Alfonso Smith – 2* DB
Zipp Duncan – 2* TE
Ross Bogue – 2* OL
Sam Maxwell – 2* LB
Jorge Gonzalez – 2* OL
Christian Johnson – 2* OL
Here is where the groundwork was set for Brook’s four time bowl eligible team. Not a 3* player in the lot and this class also included 2* Jeremy Jarmon. This is about the time that Brooks started going for speed as the overall class had 5 players at 4.5 speed and under, including Alfonso Smith at 4.45.
2006 class (coming off a 3-8 season)
Micah Johnson – 4* DE
Corey Peters – 4* DT
Ashton Cobb – 3* DB
Will Fidler – 3* QB,
Mike Hartline – 3* QB
TC Drake – 3* TE
Calvin Harrison – 2* DB
Justin Jeffiries – 2 * OL
Trevard Lindley – 2* DB
Ricky Lumpkin – 2* DE
Paul Warford – 2* RB
Lones Seiber – 2* K
Brandon Thurmond – 2* LB
Lots of recognizable names here with just two stars beside it. Micah and Corey were the big grabs in this class, but almost every name on this list has had their moment in the sun for UK. Brooks also adds four more players with 4.5 speed or better.
2007 class (coming off 8-5 season)
Stuart Hines – 3* OL
Moncell Allen – 3* RB
Brad Durham – 3* OL
Antwane Glenn – 3* DE
Kyrus Lanxter – 3* WR
Billie Joe Murphy – 3* OL
Matt Lentz – 2* QB
Randall Burden – 2* DB
Shane McCord – 2* DT
Greg Meisner – 2* DE
Anthony Mosely – 2* WR
Jake Dufrene – 2* LB
Jake Lanefski – 2* OL
Ronnie Sneed – 2* LB
Greg Wilson – 2* Athlete
Taiedo Smith – 2* DB
Ryan Tydlacka – 2* K
Once again, a very solid class in retrospect as a lot of these guys have not played a lot yet, but are showing flashes of potential. One name is missing from this list and that is of RB Derrick Locke. Why, you ask? Because he was signed to UK as a track athlete. Further proof that Mr. Brooks knows just a little something about diamonds in the rough.
2008 class (coming off 8-5 season)
Aaron Boyd – 4* WR
Winston Guy – 3* DB
Osaze Idumwonyi – 3* OL
EJ Fields – 3* Athlete
Randall Cobb – 3* Athlete
Cartier Rice – 3* DB
Matt Roark – 3* Athlete
Dave Ulinski – 3* OL
Sean Stackhouse – 2* TE
Taylor Wyndham – 2* LB
Danny Trevathan – 2* LB
Collins Ukwu – 2*DL
Chandler Burden – 2* OL
Matt Smith – 2* OL
Trevino Woods – 2* OL
William Johnson – 2* Athlete
Eric Adeyemi – 2* WR
Gene McKaskill – 2* WR
Yet another very solid class. Most of the 3*’s are playing key roles and a lot of the 2*’s redshirted last year and are just starting to make a little bit of noise. Danny Trevathan was severely underrated as a 2* recruit. Yet another good “under the radar” grab by Brooks.
2009 class (coming off 7-6 season)
DeQuin Evans – 4* DE
Chris Matthews – 4* WR
Ryan Mossakowski – 4* QB
Mark Crawford – 3* DT
Morgan Newton – 3* QB
Qua Huzzie – 3* LB
Anthony Kendrick – 3* TE
Donald Russell – 3* RB
Sam Simpson – 3* OL
Jarvis Walker – 3* LB
Larry Warford – 3* OL
Tristian Johnson – 3* DE
LaRod King – 3* WR
Ryan Mosby – 3* LB
Dakotah Tyler – 3* RB
Myron Walker – 3* DT
Ridge Wilson – 3* LB
Brian Adams – 2* Athlete
Jordan Aumiller – 2* TE
Mister Cobble – 2* LB
Kevin Mitchell – 2* OL
Martavius Neloms – 2* DB
Patrick Ligon – 2* DE
Jonathan George – 2* RB
This class is without a doubt the best of Brook’s career at UK and quite a few of these players we know already. The class that Brooks has recruited so far this year is similar to the 2009 class with maybe a few more two star players. The one thing tha
t UK fans need to remember is that here are a lot of UK’s signees are still being evaluated and they may actually move up a star or two by February. In addition, there is always the possibility of players de-committing from their current school and coming to UK. February is a long ways off still. Plus there are still a handful of 4* players UK is still chasing and a couple that I am sure we don’t know about. In the case of Brooks, it’s best to withhold judgement on this year’s class till February until all the dust has settled.
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