Mark Stoops beat Florida on the field, and now he might be beating them on the recruiting trail for one of their own commits. Boy have the tables turned.
Carsyn Baker, a 4-star running back from Georgia who is currently committed to the Florida Gators, was in Lexington for an unofficial visit during Kentucky's 38-7 humiliation of his future team.
And apparently, he liked what he saw. A lot.
The visit itself was a major sign, but Baker's activity after the visit is what should have Gator fans in a full-blown panic. He told Rivals' Chad Simmons, "I just want to make sure I’m choosing the right place."
That is not something a locked-in commit says.
Reading the social media tea leaves
Baker's "major love" for Kentucky has been obvious. He posted an image from his visit to Kroger Field, surrounded by his mother as he kneeled with a crown. He then posted again after a hype video featuring him in Kentucky gear went viral.
For a player committed to a rival, this is a massive red flag for Florida and a huge opportunity for Kentucky. Baker didn't just see a win; he saw a program's complete collapse on one sideline and a dominant, run-heavy offense on the other. Kentucky ran for 233 yards in that game. For a 4-star running back, that's the only stat that matters.
247Sports National Analyst Hudson Standish describes Baker as a "physically imposing upright runner" with a "blazing track and field profile."
"Finds success running outside/wide zone, quickly finding a crease and reaching his top-end gear... Consistently creates explosive plays when given a lane... Offers value as a receiver out of the backfield and has the physical build to develop into a three-down back."
That sounds like a perfect fit for an offense that just gashed his future team. Can Mark Stoops steal him? From the looks of things, he already has a massive shot.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion