Kentucky near bottom of SEC with 2008 recruiting class

[Dfenz]

Only Vanderbilt ranked lower...UK didn't make the Top 50 nationally, according to Scout.com -

 

Have at it...

 

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2008

[LRCW]

Only Vanderbilt ranked lower...UK didn't make the Top 50 nationally, according to Scout.com -

 

Have at it...

 

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2008

 

 

 

The Cats were ranked above Ole Miss according to the rankings that ESPN used. I'm not quite sure whose rankings they used.

[Cawoodball player]

What makes Tennessee's any better? Are there three-star players better than our's or something?

[ACE]

The bottom line is, during the Brooks tenure, he and his staff have taken what would be called "average to slightly above average" recruiting classes(per national media experts) and taken the program to it's highest level in 20 years. Therefore, the staff clearly knows how to take players and motivate them to exceed the perceived potential. All of this should boad well for the future. I think the program is in great hands, probably the best ever.:thumb:

[The Red Rambler]

Kentucky had a great recruiting year as opposed to years past. They would have never signed in-state guys like Boyd, Field, or Winston Guy in previous seasons. We keep scratching out winning seasons and going to bowl games the recruits will come. Louisville built their program on 3 star guys and the best in-state guys, Kentucky is taking the same approach. We may not go to a BCS Bowl as quickly as Louisville being in the SEC (if we ever go), but this year we signed some guys we never would have had a shot at in years past. Plus UK only lost one soft verbal this year as opposed to the 2 or 3 (sometimes more) they have lost in years past. I'd say things on the rise.

 

Kentucky just has to find a way to keep winning. I look for a bumpy ride next year, but in 2009 and 2010 when this class has had time to learn the system and will see the field, I feel we will be in good shape. I look forward to renewing my season tickets and watching these kids grow over the next 3 and 4 seasons!

 

GO BIG BLUE!

[SvFan4life]

On Rivals they ranked 55 and Louisville ranks 60th.

[cshs81]

UK will always be low in the SEC recruiting rankings. No news here.

[HT721]

The Cats were ranked above Ole Miss according to the rankings that ESPN used. I'm not quite sure whose rankings they used.

 

Where are the ESPN rankings at?

[colonel-fan]

ESPN Insider:SEC boasts six top-25 classes

 

ESPN has UK tied with UT for 9th.

 

 

Atlanta Journal-Constition: Petrino, Saban flex: Rating the SEC

 

The AJC has Kentucky 11th.

[pigman]

11th in the conference and 60th nationally just reinforces how strong the SEC is.

[colonel-fan]

As always, recruiting rankings have to be taken with a grain of salt. Some of these highly ranked guys will never make it to the field. UK's D.J. Stafford is a good example.

 

I don't need rankings to tell me that when UK is beating out Tennessee, South Carolina, Clemson, and Oregon for players instead of Ball State and Ohio, recruiting is improving. Also, not having to go the juco route is an encouraging sign as UK traditionally doesn't do well with the juco players (although if there are any more Steve Johnsons out there, I'm sure UK would take them).

 

I would contend the biggest difference recently between UK and the "big boys" of the SEC is depth. UK seems to have closed the speed gap, but are an injury or two away at DT from being in serious trouble. Hopefully the depth issues will get better as UK was able to redshirt most of the class last year and should be able to do the same with this year's class.

[Covercorner]

The bottom line is, during the Brooks tenure, he and his staff have taken what would be called "average to slightly above average" recruiting classes(per national media experts) and taken the program to it's highest level in 20 years. Therefore, the staff clearly knows how to take players and motivate them to exceed the perceived potential. All of this should boad well for the future. I think the program is in great hands, probably the best ever.:thumb:

 

Wesley Woodyard was just a 2-star I belive.

[5wide]

This isn't a huge surprise. UK is still at the point where the staff and coaches are going to have to find the diamonds in the rough and get the most out of what they get. It's going to take more than a couple of decent seasons before UK can start seriously competing with most of the SEC schools. I thought the class looked alright, regardless of where it was ranked.

[HT721]

I found the espn rankings interesting, they moved Mississippi State up a lot higher than anyone else and Ole Miss a little lower than anyone else.

[4chs]

There is not as much in-state talent in Kentucky compared to the other school's states, plus UK is not able to recruit the big-time players from other states that someone like UT is able to do............just have to recruit wisely and develop the ones they do get.