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Kentucky Football: Ranking the Top 5 recruiting wins in the Mark Stoops era

By Frank Spencer

Dec 31, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops (center) looks on from the bench in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at EverBank Field. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won 33-18. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops (center) looks on from the bench in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at EverBank Field. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won 33-18. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky Football
Oct 24, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs tight end Darrion Hutcherson (84) comes down with a pass in the end zone as he is defended by Kentucky Wildcats safety Darius West (25) during the third quarter of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State won 42-16 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Darius West, S

When it comes to recruiting victories, not a lot of folks would think about Darius West as a candidate. West, a safety out Lima, Ohio was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports. Darius West had offers from many power five schools. Most notably, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Georgia Tech, Louisville, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Wisconsin were all in on West.

Darius West committed to Kentucky in the class of 2014. Notre Dame was considered the school in which Stoops and company were competing for West. His recruiting class included names such as Denzil Ware, Boom Williams, Drew Barker, as well as Matt Elam.

While at Kentucky, West redshirted his first season. As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he recorded 17 total tackles while spending most of his time on special teams. West was sidelined last season with a knee injury but hopes to be in the fold in the secondary this fall.

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