Mark Stoops Transcript on JUCO signings, Drew Barker and more
By Jason Marcum
On what makes this incoming class so unique …
“I have to be careful with who I talk about and all those things and the implications and all of that, but why it is so unique and I just talked about a couple of different things but closing out the two junior college guys was very important. Again, we battled that until an hour ago. That was hard fought. I am very excited they are here. Going back to the high school guys and some of the guys you all know and can read about and some guys that have been committed to us for some time. That part of it is very unique because this class is bonding so well together. I think, if you look at some of the characteristics of this class we are bringing in, obviously they are great and very talented football players, but they are great leaders, I think they are very humble. Kids when they are on campus, amongst themselves, they interact with each other in a way that they have known each other for years. They feel like they are almost brothers and that is coming from them and their quotes and different things. That is why it is unique because they feel a very strong bond with one another and they feel a very strong bond with Kentucky and with our fans and with our people here and all the staff. It is just a very pleasant group to be around.”
On who he had to fight for until the last hour …
“Yes (A.J. Stamps). He will get a few extra cross-fields (runs) when he gets here. I love him, but it’s never over until it’s over and the last 48 hours some things turned. It’s always a hard-fought battle going after players of this caliber.”
On what it feels like to be recruiting with major BCS title contending schools …
“It feels good. We are competitive people. We want the best players. We know that’s the lifeline of our program, is recruiting. I’m very encouraged because I feel like we really try and do everything right. We try to cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ and don’t leave any stone unturned. We really try to go about everything the right way. After that, you let the chips fall where they may.”
On the advantages the offseason gives his team starting early for recruiting …
“The only advantage it gave us was the first week. The teams playing there in the last week is probably a disadvantage because there were only two weeks (of off-campus recruiting) in December this year. But outside of that, no, I don’t see it as an advantage. I really see it as a disadvantage because we are not in a bowl game. I have been going 100 miles per hour for a year now and this is the first week that you can decompress and put your feet on the ground and I’m pretty bummed out about that, to be honest with you. I’d rather keep on going.”
On the new NCAA rules allowing coaching in the offseason …
“We can spend a little bit more time with them meeting and things like that. We are limited to just two hours a week, so that time will be good in the offseason as far as watching film. As far as the offseason workouts and some of that, preparation hasn’t changed.”
On if the new junior-college players can make an immediate impact …
“I’m confident these guys will come in and help us. That’s the reason we recruited them. The fact that they’re here for the whole next semester, going through our off-season conditioning and going through spring ball is really important.”