Kentucky Football: Analyzing the recruits

Sunday has rolled around and its time to start really sweating as we inch closer to signing day. I’ll preface this post by saying that I’m excited about ALL of Kentucky’s football commitments and I think they’ll all be great additions to the roster.

Anyone that follows football recruiting knows that the entire landscape of your signing class can change in an instant. Last season UK lost Ryan Smith and Kenarious Gates right before signing day, but also picked up commitments from Miles Simpson, Brandon gainer, Tim Patterson, and Alex Smith at the eleventh hour. Because the Wildcats have gone after more talented players this season, the pressure to hold on to each commitment will be much worse. I’ve separated each of the current commitments into three groups. The first group is the “Must Haves.” These guys are essential to the success of this class and losing them would be a major blow. The second group is the “Filling Needs” guys. These players are coming in to a situation where they’re going to be expected to fill roles of upperclassmen that have left this year, or will leave the following season. The last group is the “Luxury Picks.” These prospects are great players, but they aren’t essential to having a great class. Keep in mind that often times the “Luxury Picks” are the guys that end up being the best in the long run because the pressure for them to contribute early is almost non-existent.

MUST HAVES

Josh Clemmons – RB – 5’10 / 200 – Fayettville, GA
Clemmons is coming into a great situation. Kentucky had their top two running backs leave between Derrick Locke’s graduation and Donald Russell’s decision to transfer. While most would expect returning players Raymond Sanders and Brandon Gainer to get the lions share of the carries next season, Clemmons could be called on as a freshman to give the Cats some needed depth at the position.

Christian Coleman – DE – 6’4 / 260 – Milan, TN
Coleman jumped from a need to a requirement when defensive coordinator Rick Minter announced that the Cats would be making the eventual transition to the 3-4 defense. If there’s one position Kentucky is short on, it’s jumbo defensive ends that can hold up against the running games of the SEC. Coleman probably will need a season to redshirt and get physically stronger, but the change in defensive scheme should put him on the field much sooner than he might have been otherwise.

Glen Faulkner – S – 6’2 / 195 – East St. Louis, IL
Kentucky’s safety play was inconsistent at best, despite the position being key in what the Cats needed to to be successful. With so many players slated to graduate after next season, he’s likely to be called upon much sooner rather than later. He has immense talent and showed his skills in limited time during the US Army All-American game. If any of the upperclassmen struggle this season, Faulkner may get his chance to play as a true freshman.

Shaq Love – DT – 6’5 / 280 – Harriman, TN
Much like Coleman, the switch to the 3-4 will put an entirely new emphasis on Love. While he is a little raw, he has the one thing you cannot teach a lineman…monstrous size. The most important position in the new defense will be the nose tackle and it will be his responsibility to occupy blockers and collapse running lanes. With so few players big enough to play the position on the current roster, the addition of Love will give the coaches someone to groom for the spot moving forward. He’ll almost certainly need a redshirt season to add some strength and a couple more pounds, but he will probably be the most important player in this class by the time his career at UK is over.

Darrian Miller – OL – 6’6 / 285 – Lexington, KY
UK lost several linemen over the past two years and brought in precious few to replace them. The Wildcats will likely start at least three seniors on along the line next season, and will need to start grooming replacements right away. Miller is a long and athletic tackle prospect from the shadows of Commonwealth Stadium that has as much upside as anyone in this class. He probably won’t be needed in the two-deep during his freshman season, but it’s very possible that he will be in the mix to replace Chandler Burden as a redshirt freshman in 2012.

David Washington – DE – 6’3 / 260 – Hampton, GA
Similar to Coleman and Love, Washington’s importance to this class grew markedly when the announcement of the future move to the 3-4 happened. Similar in size to Christian Coleman, Washington has the size and strength to contribute very early in his career as a 3-4 defensive end, or eventually as a nose tackle if he can add more weight and strength. He is rumored to be wavering from his commitment to Kentucky now that Mississippi State has put on a full court press, but he’s also been quoted recently as being firmly committed to the Wildcats. This is one guy that Minter will really need if he wants to make the transition to the new defense smoothly.

Zach West – OL – 6’5 / 305 – Lexington, KY
Just like Miller, West is essential to this class because he comes in at a position Kentucky is going to be thin at moving into the 2012 season. West is a prototypical offensive guard, but has some upside as a center or a right tackle as well. Even though it’s rare for freshmen offensive linemen to contribute in more than garbage time, don’t be surprised if West makes a big splash this fall as the staff grooms him for a replacement spot on an offensive line that should be made up of juniors and seniors.

FILLING NEEDS

Marcus Caffey – RB – 6’0 / 190 – Atlanta, GA
Caffey is a hot prospect that recently switched his verbal commitment to Kentucky from Purdue. He is a speed-back with the ability to change direction on a dime and can still make defenders miss. While he’s almost universally considered a running back prospect, he also has the ability to play in the defensive backfield if needed. He should provide the Wildcats with some depth at running back early in his career, and may also challenge for playing time as a freshman.

Theltus Cobbins – QB – 6’2 / 190 – New Orleans, LA
While some UK fans may not want to admit it, there’s a decent chance that either Morgan Newton or Ryan Mossakowski will transfer when they don’t win the starting quarterback job. While its definitely not a certainty, the departure of either would leave Kentucky with only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Cobbins is a little unpolished, but has the arm to stick at QB, and the athleticism to move the pocket around and make some plays with his feet. If he just doesn’t have the skill-set necessary to stay under center, he could easily move to the defensive backfield or out to wide receiver.

Rashad Cunningham – WR – 6’4 / 200 – Mobile, AL
Kentucky has only brought in a few wide receivers in the last few classes and needs to restock on pass-catchers. Cunningham is a match up nightmare for defensive backs with his 6’4 frame and 4.4 speed. He’s been rumored to be an academic risk, but recent reports suggest he’s taken care of his business in the classroom and should be on track to enroll at UK on time. While he may not contribute immediately, Cunningham could end up providing the offense with a big red zone target much like Chris Matthews did this season.

Nile Daniel – WR – 6’0 / 185 – Griffin, GA
Daniel is coming in right on the heels of Kentucky losing their top two receivers to the NFL. He is a change from the tall receivers the staff usually targets, but will also be one of the faster wide-outs the Cats have brought in in some time. He also has the ability to play in the defensive backfield if needed.

Ashely Lowery – S – 6’1 / 190 – Cleveland, GA
Lowery made waves this fall after a youtube clip of him hurdling a defender went viral. He’ll come to Kentucky as a safety prospect with extreme athleticism that should be able to make an early impact on the depth chart. There is a chance he could bulk up to play linebacker as well, but the switch to the 3-4 defense would require him to put on quite a bit more weight than he would have needed to add otherwise, so it seems less likely now.

Demarius Rancifer – LB – 6’3 / 210 – Pensacola, FL
Its pretty clear that Kentucky needed to add some linebackers to this class and Rancifer becomes the first commitment of the 2011 class. He is an athletic player that could really fill any of the four linebacker spots in the new 3-4, depending on what type of weight he puts on. While he may not contribute much right away, he should be seeing the field regularly once he learns the defensive scheme, which could be by his second or third year on campus.

Demarco Robinson – WR – 5’10 / 170 – Lithonia, GA
Robinson set all kinds of records in Georgia and many were surprised when the Bulldogs didn’t offer him. Georgia’s loss is Kentucky’s gain as the Cats should now have someone capable of making up some of Randall Cobb and Chris Matthews production. Robinson probably will never be the biggest or fastest player on the field, but he runs disciplined routes and understands the nuances of the receiver position. If any receiver in this class is likely to see the field as a true freshman, it’s probably Robinson.

LUXURY PICKUPS

Jon Davis – TE – 6’3 / 235 – Louisville, KY
While the fans in the bluegrass are hanging on every word that comes out about Jon Davis, the reality is that he’s a luxury for the Cats. There are already some promising tight ends on the roster and while Davis may be a better athlete than all of them, the class doesn’t really hang on adding him. That being said, he would definitely have the ability to come in and play as a true freshman and adding him would allow Kentucky to go to a two tight end set more regularly, with his ability to sty in tight, motion out wide, or even line up in the backfield as a fullback or running back.

Eric Dixon – CB – 5’11 / 175 – Mobile, AL
Dixon is the type of player you just don’t pass up on. He is the ideal cover-corner with the speed to stay with receivers one-on-one and the size to go up and fight for the jump balls. I listed him as a luxury pickup because Kentucky added three cornerbacks in last year’s class, but he should be able to break his way into the rotation early in his career. He also has potential as a safety.

Alvin Dupree – DE – 6’5 / 220 – Irwinton, GA
Dupree is listed as a luxury pickup solely because of how many talented rush-ends the Cats added last year. Douglas, Henderson, and Davis will all eventually earn their stripes by rushing the pass, and that’s probably going to be the best place for Dupree as well. The one reason he might see the field before a lot of the players listed in the other categories, is that the eventual switch to the 3-4 defense will benefit him due to his versatility. He could add some weight and be a terror as a defensive end, or could move to the outside linebacker position that’s really more of a linebacker/defensive end hybrid.

Josh Forrest – WR – 6’4 / 200 – Paducah, KY
There is probably not a single player in the class more raw than Forrest. He’s still relatively new to football and he will probably take some time to get a grasp on the offense. There is probably not a player in the class with the upside Forrest has either though. As a 6’4 point guard, he has the type of ball skills that could make him a real threat in the red zone as he acclimates to the college game.

Daylen Hall – CB – 5’9 / 170 – Louisville, KY
Much like Dixon, the primary reason for Hall being in the “Luxury” group is simply the low need for cornerbacks in this class. While that might make it seem like he won’t contribute much at Kentucky, the reality is that it will allow him some extra time to develop before he’s thrown into the fire. Hall has great speed and athleticism, and with some refining, he could end up as one of the biggest surprises in this class.

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