In a recent interview, Kentucky defensive coordinator Rick Minter suggested that the Wildcats will begin their transition into the 3-4 defense soon and have already begun recruiting with a focus on the new scheme. If the Cats do indeed make the switch, some of the guys that have been relative afterthoughts in this recruiting class will be much more important to the future of the Wildcat defense.
Shaq Love – DT – 6’5 / 280 – Harriman, TN
In the 3-4 defense, no player is more important than the nose tackle. This guy is responsible for occupying two blockers and creating havoc in the offensive backfield. Love is a little light right now to play the nose, but a year or two in the strength and conditioning program could change that. One thing that’s absolutely certain, the switch in defensive schemes makes Love one of UK’s most important targets moving forward.
David Washington – DT – 6’3 / 270 – Hampton, GA
Washington is sort of a “tweener” that’s somewhere in the middle of a defensive end and a defensive tackle. While that’s not really ideal for Kentucky’s current 4-3 alignment, it’s exactly what you look for in the 5-techniques used in the 3-4. Washington has the strength necessary to hold up against offensive linemen on running downs, and while he’s not a burner by any means, he has enough speed to provide an adequate pass rush. The hardest position to recruit for the 3-4 is the jumbo-sized defensive end positions and Washington is just the kind of player to fill that role.
Christian Coleman – DE – 6’5 / 265 – Milan, TN
Very similar in size to David Washington, Coleman is a prototypical 3-4 defensive end recruit. He’s bigger and stronger than your typical 4-3 defensive end would be, but not quite big enough to play defensive tackle effectively at the SEC level. Additionally, at 6’5 he has the height you look for in 3-4 defensive linemen, and should be able to disrupt passing lanes and use his ling frame to knock down passes. Coleman, Washington, and Love may have become the three most important recruits in this class.
Alvin Dupree – DE/OLB – 6’5 / 230 – Irwinton, GA
Dupree has indicated that Kentucky is looking at him as a defensive player and he is an interesting option for the Wildcats. With a recorded forty-yard dash time of 4.6 seconds, there is no doubt that Dupree has the size and speed that is necessary to fill the outside linebacker role in the 3-4 defense, which is really just an undersized defensive end. If he is able to put on some weight and maintain most of his speed, he could be an absolute terror as a jumbo defensive end in the 3-4. One thing is certain though, and that’s that the staff should have no problem finding a way to use a player like Dupree.
Ashely Lowery – SS – 6’1 / 190 – Cleveland, GA
There was some thought that Lowery might eventually end up as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 alignment, but there’s no doubt that he doesn’t fit in there in the 3-4. One role that is typically different in the defensive backfield between the two schemes is the strong safety position. In the 4-3 Kentucky has used over the last few seasons, the strong safety was dropping in coverage most of the time, and occasionally played man-to-man defense on a slot receiver, tight end, or running back. In the 3-4 defense, the strong safety is asked to blitz frequently and a good strong safety can make your defense go from good to great. By all accounts, Lowery has the abilities necessary to fill the “Troy Polamalu” role in Kentucky’s version of the defense and he could turn out to be a real difference maker when all is said and done.
It will be interesting to see how UK recruits from this point on and the targets they land between now and signing day could indicate how quickly the transition between the two defense will go.
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