We knew changes were coming to Kentucky’s recruiting philosophy, but on Wednesday, we got our first real look at what the "New Normal" might look like.
And frankly, it looks like bargain hunting.
The Wildcats picked up a commitment from Junior College cornerback Braxton Urquhart. On paper, adding a 6-foot-2, 198-pound defensive back to a secondary that just got shredded by Vanderbilt makes sense. Kentucky needs bodies, and they need them yesterday.
But if you look a little closer, this commitment signals a massive shift in how Mark Stoops is building this roster.
The offer list tells the story
Urquhart isn't exactly a blue-chip prospect fighting off offers from Georgia and Alabama or even Mississippi State. He chose Kentucky over a list that included UTEP, Colorado State, Western Michigan, and Samford.
In the past, Kentucky tried to develop high schoolers or grab proven portal players. Now? Stoops has been open about his limited NIL budget. He can't buy the elite portal guys, so he is pivoting to the JUCO market, looking for overlooked, hungry players who won't break the bank.
Mark Stoops is taking a year-to-year gamble
This is the new reality. Stoops is moving toward a year-to-year roster management style, trying to find diamonds in the rough rather than competing for the expensive 4-star talent.
Is it going to work? It’s hard to be optimistic. The gap between the "Haves" and "Have Nots" in the SEC is widening, and signing a middle of the pack JUCO player doesn't exactly scream "Closing the Gap."
The bottom line
We can't blame the kid, Urquhart is seizing an SEC opportunity, and at 6-foot-2, he has the size you can't teach. And considering how bad the secondary looked against Diego Pavia, maybe a hungry JUCO player is exactly what the room needs.
But let's call it what it is: This is a desperation pivot from a coach who knows his old way of doing things isn't working anymore. At least he's trying something new, even if it feels like shopping at the dollar store while the rest of the SEC is at the luxury mall.
The fact is, he isn't going anywhere, so might as well get on board.