The brotherhood of the former Kentucky Wildcats basketball players

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

We are now just a few weeks from the Damien Harris decision and going by Harris’ recent comments, you have to feel good about the Kentucky Wildcats chances. It seems as if Harris is looking for more of a family feel and if you have followed Harris on social media, you can see that the Kentucky Wildcats fill that void.

"Harris said Kentucky’s hire of former West Virginia offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson was of little consequence and among the things that will factor into his choice, said he was looking for a “family feel.” The 5-star prospect added that he’s formed great relationships with Kentucky coach Mark Stoops and running backs coach Chad Scott, as well as Wildcats’ freshmen Matt Elam and Drew Barker during his 14 visits to the Lexington campus over the last two years. An Under Armour All-American and winner of the Paul Hornung Award given to the state’s top player, Harris (5-11, 205) rushed for 1,474 yards and 23 touchdowns in just seven games as a senior this season and for his career, ran for 5,274 yards and 90 scores. Ranked as the No. 2 running back and No. 32 overall prospect in the country according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Harris is still considering Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio State and Texas A&M. The Wildcats (45 percent), Buckeyes (38 percent) and Crimson Tide (9 percent) are all represented on Harris’s 247Sports Crystal Ball."

Nov 29, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Patrick Towles (14) looks to pass against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Papa John

Now that Shannon Dawson has been officially announced as the new Kentucky Wildcats offensive coordinator, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the development of Patrick Towles.  Looking back at Dawson’s career, he has always seemed to be ahead of the curve.

"Dawson’s journey up the Air Raid coaching tree started at Mississippi College where he met Dana Holgorsen, who coached quarterbacks, receivers and special teams. Holgorsen had learned under Hal Mumme at Valdosta State in the early 1990s. Holgorsen and Dawson formed a fast friendship that would eventually lead Dawson into his chosen profession. But there would be many stops along the way. In 1999, Dawson followed Holgorsen to Wingate, a small liberal arts school in North Carolina. The next year, Holgorsen left to join Mike Leach at Texas Tech and Dawson stayed behind to play a final season at the place where his coaching life would begin. His senior year, Dawson was the team’s top receiver, leading the 2001 Bulldogs with 43 catches for 584 yards and seven scores. In private meetings, Dawson told Reich his dream was to be a college coach. Less than a year later, he was hired to coach the position group he’d just led on the field the season before. “He was years ahead of what you’d think for a first-time coach,” Reich said. “He was really, really already up to speed. It was as if he’d been coaching a number of years when we got him.” He was like a sponge, soaking in information, taking mental notes. “He had some good ideas on some things, which for a guy right out of college is more than a little unusual,” Reich said. Dawson made the same impression on Mumme the next year when he joined the newly formed staff at Southeastern Louisiana."