James Young has proof of his Kentucky Wildcats Basketball eligibility
By Paul Jordan
Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Keeping on the theme of recruit rankings for now, UK’s 2014 football class is still well represented. Rivals updated their top 250 players and five Wildcats are represented.
"Running back Stanley “Boom” Williams is UK’s highest-rated commitment at No. 106 overall in the class. The Georgia native remains the No. 1 “all-purpose” back in the Rivals rankings. Conner quarterback Drew Barker is next at No. 121 overall, slipping four spots in the overall rankings. He’s now considered the No. 6 pro-style quarterback in the country. Also making the list were running back Mikel Horton (No. 128 overall), safety Darius West (No. 182) and offensive lineman Nick Richardson (No. 206). All three of those players are from Ohio. Another Ohio native — wide receiver Thaddeus Snodgrass — had been listed in the previous Rivals 250 at No. 205, but he dropped out of the rankings."
Matt Elam is on the list at number 215 and Rivals ranks UK’s overall class 7th. Once again, what a difference a year makes.
Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
As expected, word leaked that Max Smith and Jalen Whitlow are the top two QB’s on UK’s roster and Mark Stoops said yesterday that BOTH will see action versus Western Kentucky. That leaves Patrick Towles as the odd man out and the speculation is that he will redshirt.
"Meanwhile, Stoops said Towles is open to redshirting. The former Ft. Thomas Highlands star played in five games last season as a true freshman. He threw for a touchdown against Mississippi State on the initial drive in his first collegiate action, then suffered an ankle injury. He completed 19 of 40 passes for 233 yards on the year. A four-star recruit, Towles was rated as the ninth best dropback quarterback in the Class of 2012 by Rivals. He was considered the No. 1 prospect in the state. Towles, said Stoops has “as much talent as any quarterback we have on campus, but it’s just a matter of letting him grow into the situation a little bit. And he’s open to the idea, if the opportunity presents itself, to redshirt.” If Towles does redshirt he would drop a class behind Whitlow and Smith, who are both sophomores. Now throw Conner quarterback Drew Barker, ranked No. 121 overall by Rivals for the Class of 2014, who will be on campus next fall. On the day he committed, Barker said he expected to redshirt his first season in Lexington."
And this is not a bad thing for Towles. He was expected to redshirt last year and was pressed into duty due to injuries and Stoops said that he will be available this year if needed. This also solves the problem of having three junior QB’s on the roster next season and provides some separation. Here is a very quick look at how the QB situation should play out:
2013: Max Smith, SO/Jalen Whitlow/SO – Patrick Towles/Reese Phillips redshirt
2014: Smith/Whitow = Juniors – Towles = Sophomore – Phillips = Freshman – Drew Barker – redshirt
2015: Smith/Whitlow = Seniors – Towles = Junior – Phillips = Sophomore – Barker = Freshman
See how that all works out? Even if one of the QB’s (Smith or Whitlow) transfer or change position, UK is back to the one QB in each class rotation which will work out nicely.