Kentucky Wildcats Football: B1G’s Kentucky Problem Continues

We are in the home stretch of the 2015 recruiting cycle and Kentucky looks primed to sign another great, albeit smaller, recruiting class. Another trend that seems to be continuing is the Cats surprising foothold in Ohio, traditionally Big Ten recruiting ground. Ever since Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow came to town Kentucky has been a hot brand in the Buckeye State. Perhaps the hottest outside of the home state team. Kentucky has seven commitments from Ohio thus far this season, a number that would be higher had Alex Stump not been offered by Ohio State. They signed eleven last year.
Apparently the Big Ten had a plan as a conference for Ohio State and Michigan to take the blue chips out of Ohio and then recruit nationally while the rest of the league would pick up the scraps. Of course in Ohio, the “scraps” are solid football players. It’s a top five football player producing state so there are tons of players who go under the radar. Well now Ohio State is more of a national recruiting power than ever under Urban Meyer and Michigan should be able to sell nationally for a while on Jim Harbaugh’s name alone. Which would theoretically lead to the rest of the Big Ten getting more quality players. But there is Kentucky, scooping up more than their fair share. CJ Conrad had offers from nearly the whole league. The Dowell twins flipped from Northwestern. Jordan Jones was heavily pursued by Nebraska, among others.
With three weeks left before Signing Day, Kentucky could wreak more havoc on Big Ten commitment lists. Wisconsin commit Titus Booker will take an official visit. They may reach out to Iowa commit Karan Higdon. They are still talking to Michigan pledge Tyree Kinnel. Michigan State commit Justice Alexander may take a visit. There is even some talk of Ohio State QB commit Joe Burrow opening up his recruitment. Not to mention than UK seems to be recruiting the same defensive backs that Michigan wants, nearly everyone on Kentucky’s radar has seemingly gotten an offer from the Wolverines in the past month. Wide receiver A.D. Miller was committed to Illinois for several months, but just hours after an in-home visit from Kentucky he decommitted from the Illini.
Here’s the twist. Not all of these players are from Ohio. Kentucky’s push North forced several Big Ten programs to look elsewhere for talent, but the Wildcats are there, competing for the same players. The Cats are likely to end up with Miller and Booker. The shocking reality is that the majority of the Big Ten is on the same level as an SEC bottom-feeder. Oh and don’t forget that UK went into Maryland’s backyard and pulled Levon Livingston and Jabari Greenwood out of the DMV, so the Cats are beating the new members as well. Rutgers may be the only team safe from Stoops’ staff’s reach.
The truth is that Kentucky will never be a true threat to Ohio State in Ohio and if Michigan starts winning again that program has deep roots in their rivals state. But the rest of the league? Well theoretically Wisconsin, Nebraska and Michigan State should have a stronger case in a recruits living room than does Kentucky, but they Cats have been beating them. The rest of the conference isn’t keeping up. The weak schedule almost cost Ohio State a chance at the College Football Playoff this season after they lost to a bad Virginia Tech team they didn’t have any more quality opponents to make a case. Honestly they probably should’ve been out based on their regular season but they certainly played when it mattered most.
It remains to be seen how the Big Ten will respond to the threat Kentucky poses, but they are certainly aware of it. Ohio State site Eleven Warriors posted an article last year detailing the problems little ole Kentucky was causing. If you click the link avoid the comments section, it will make you want to drive to Columbus and start decking people. The level of talent in Kentucky is improving but in order to continue improving to a competitive level the Cats will need to continue signing a handful of Ohio prospects each year. After the Wildcats were able to retain ace recruiter Vince Marrow, the Big Ten’s Kentucky Problem isn’t going away anytime soon.