Kentucky Wildcats Football: Top ten in-state prospects
By Kyle
(Trinity’s Jason Hatcher)
It’s very early in the recruiting season for the 2013 class, but the Wildcat’s coaching staff is already at work to haul in the next crop of talented athletes. Like just about every other year, the level of talent in the state of Kentucky will likely determine how well the 2013 class is regarded for UK when all is said and done. While the selections I’ve made for my top ten will likely vary from others, these are the guys I have seen enough of to have formed a solid opinion on.
Hunter Bivin – OT – 6’7 – 290 – Owensboro, KY (Apollo)
My take: Bivins is a BIG guy and has SEC tackle written all over him. He’s likely to be the highest rated player in Kentucky when all is said and done, and for good reason. He’s athletic enough to go one-on-one with a defensive end, has the type of reach necessary to play on the edge of the line, and is strong enough to open running lanes for the offense. If there’s a surefire player in the state, it’s Bivin.
Kentucky’s Chances: Pretty good. He’s previously said that he’s a Notre Dame fan, but the Cats have better playing time to offer at the tackle position and he would remain much closer to his home in Owensboro. After the way Louisville did his big brother, I wouldn’t imagine the Cardinals will be in the running either.
Joey Bloomfield – OL – 6’6 / 290 – Louisville, KY (Ballard)
My take: Much like Bivins, Bloomfield is a BIG guy too. He is probably a tackle in college but he could actually play pretty much any position along the line. Bloomfield has great natural strength for a high school player and he is surprisingly athletic for his size. Along with Danville’s J.K. Howard, he’ll be right behind Bivin when schools are looking for a BCS-conference caliber linemen.
Kentucky’s chances: Pretty Good. It’s always tough to pull kids out of Louisville, but the abundance of playing time Kentucky should have for tackles over the next few years should be appealing for any linemen in the state. In the event that Bivins spurns the Cats, Bloomfield would make a great consolation prize if the Wildcats could get him. Really, If Kentucky could get both and call it a day at tackle, I’d think that would be a hell of a haul.
Jeffery Canady – S – 6’0 / 200 – Barbourville, KY (Knox Central)
My take: He’s probably more of an ‘athlete,’ but Canady projects best at safety in college. He can play on offense and special teams too but at 6’0 and 200 pounds and running a 4.5 second forty, he sure looks like a safety to me. The great thing about a guy like Canady is that a school can sign him, and then can put him at whatever position they need him at.
Kentucky’s chances: Very Good. The Wildcats will undoubtedly have to fend off some suitors for Canady, but southeastern Kentucky is a predominantly pro-UK area. The Cats need defensive backs again in the 2013 class and if he doesn’t work out at DB, Canady could be placed at running back, receiver, or even punter if need be. With Barbourville’s distance from normal recruiting grounds, Canady may stay under the radar long enough for Kentucky to get a steal.
Shane Fields – CB – 6’0 / 175 – Louisville, KY (Eastern)
My take: There will be plenty of players that garner more attention in Louisville than Fields, but he might be the best of the bunch. He has gotten better each year of high school and tallied 12 interceptions over the past two seasons despite quarterbacks knowing better than to throw the ball in his direction. I have no idea why Fields is not a household name, but I think he’s the sleeper of the 2013 class in the state.
Kentucky’s chances: Good. I really feel like Fields is set for a breakout summer and senior year. Depending on exactly how much he blows up, Kentucky may have a hard time reeling him in. With cornerback being a need position again in 2013, his chances of getting on the field early are good if he picks UK.
Jason Hatcher – DE – 6’2 / 240 –Louisville, KY (Trinity)
My take: I think Hatcher is the best defensive prospect in the state of Kentucky since Dennis Johnson. Better than Micah Johnson, better than Lamar Dawson, better than Jordan Whiting, better than Justin Green. He has an abnormal blend of size and speed and could be a devastating player at multiple positions in college.
Kentucky’s chances: Not as bad as you might think. While some will write off Hatcher as a guy that will end up in Alabama, Notre Dame, USC or somewhere like that, I think he’s smarter than that. The past history of highly rated players that chose to pass up offers at UK to go out of state is NOT impressive and Hatcher is made for the hybrid DE/OLB position in Kentucky’s defense. Kentucky might not be a favorite right now, but he would probably play extensively as a true freshman for the Cats, in the SEC, and only about 60 minutes from his home.
Kentayvious Hopkins – RB – 5’10 / 190 – Paris, KY (Bourbon Co)
My take: Hopkins really blew up over the past year and finished the season as the state’s leading rusher. He has adequate size and speed to play in any conference in the country and he has a diverse skill-set to go along. He will still get bigger, stronger and faster as his body matures and will probably develop into an every-down back.
Kentucky’s chances: Good. You have to think that the idea of playing 20 minutes from his home is appealing to Hopkins and in a stadium that his entire family can watch him from for four years. He certainly has the talent to play in Lexington. The only hiccup I can see is Kentucky already having a full stable of running backs. With George, Gainer, Clemons, Taylor and Mobley all projected to be on the roster again and Caffey possibly still being at RB, that’s a lot of bodies. If Kentucky takes a back in this class, Hopkins’ versatility makes him a good one to get.
Jacob Hyde – DT – 6’2 / 315 – Manchester, KY (Clay Co)
My take: Hyde is a versatile big guy that projects well on either side of the ball in college. He has the height and mass necessary to play at guard or defensive tackle and enough strength to knock over a brick wall. Being from Manchester will inevitably hurt the amount of exposure he gets, but he’s a serious talent and should have plenty of options of where to play in college.
Kentucky’s chances: Very Good. Hyde is the type of player Kentucky really needs to have if the three-man front looks to be in the long-term plans. Anyone that knows football will tell you that a 3-4 defense is only as good as the nose guard and Hyde has the type of size and low center of gravity that make him an ideal fit for the defense. It’s no secret that he is interested in Kentucky and the Cats should be very interested in him too.
James Quick – WR – 6’1 / 180 – Louisville, KY (Trinity)
My take: Part of the success Trinity saw in 2011 can be attributed to the play of Quick. When a player in high school can dominate the level of competition the way Quick was, it gets them noticed fast. He’s got adequate size, excellent speed, and great hands.
Kentucky’s chances: Not good. Quick is a Louisville legacy and I just don’t see him playing at UK. If the Cats could get commitments from Hatcher, White, Dayln Dawkins, and Travis Wright, I would think there would be a better chance at quick, but outside of pulling in Trinity’s entire senior class, I think he’s a Cardinal or leaves the state.
Ryan Timmons – WR – 5’11 / 180 – Frankfort, KY (Franklin Co)
My take: In my opinion, there is not a more dynamic player in the state of Kentucky than Timmons. He can do a little bit of everything and can play just about any position he wants in college. He’s still a relatively new name on the scene after having a monster junior season, but he’s quickly becoming one of the hottest players in the state.
Kentucky’s chances: Good. Being only 30 minuted from Frankfort has to help, but I think Kentucky’s need for receivers in the 2013 class helps even more. Timmons is a clone of Randall Cobb and could contribute on offense and special teams the minute he steps on campus. There will certainly be some competition for his services, but I think location and playing time give the Wildcats a good chance.
Ryan White – CB – 5’10 / 180 – Louisville, KY (Trinity)
My take: As good as the Trinity offense was in 2012 the defense was equal if not better, and part of that can be attributed to White completely taking away half of the field for opposing quarterbacks. He’s not huge, but white has decent size for a cornerback and has speed to burn. While Hatcher and Quick have gotten the most attention at Trinity, White might be the most promising player on the roster outside of Hatcher.
Kentucky’s chances: Good. Even though the Cats brought in several defensive backs in 2012, many of them project as safeties, hybrids, or even linebackers. With only six scholarship corners projected to be on the roster after next season’s conclusion, there may not be a better place for him to see the field as a freshman than UK.