examining UK’s rising recruiting category: Who Cats have and the way they fit

A hot birth on the soccer box has carried over into UK's recruiting efforts with three new commitments for the classification of 2019 in the past week.

Mark Stoops has certainly seen his team's 4-0 list make an off-the-container have an impact on.

"definitely," he referred to Tuesday. "I think like we've been on the cusp of having a robust yr this complete recruiting cycle, and here's doing nothing however assisting us."

The Cats now have a complete of 18 commitments for next year — all of those avid gamers might be eligible to officially sign with UK in December — and their category standing has enhanced to No. 31 nationally within the rivals.com rankings and No. 37 overall within the 247Sports rankings.

Kentucky nonetheless has a number of spots to fill in its 2019 category, with in-state goal Wandale Robinson amongst a handful of proficient prospects that could bump the Cats' ranking even more. The Cats are expected to host extra of their appropriate pursuits Saturday evening towards South Carolina, and Stoops is hoping the raucous Kroger box ambiance from last weekend contains over to future domestic games.

"It's tough to quantify how tons so one can assist, since it will support a very good deal," he talked about. "it'll change many things. It's what's anticipated during this league. That's the usual that we deserve to have, since it makes a change. not only with our soccer team and how we play, however also in recruiting."

here's a place-via-position analyze the place UK's type stands at this time with a look at how each and every commitment fits alongside subsequent season's projected roster (all rankings are 247Sports composite):

Quarterbacks

Amani Gilmore: The Louisiana native dedicated to UK shortly after attending Saturday nighttime's victory over Mississippi State. notwithstanding categorised by means of 247Sports as a pro-vogue QB, the 6-foot-three, 200-pound prospect is a real twin-hazard player with the capacity to make performs together with his feet and with his arm. He sat out the 2017 season after transferring high schools and is off to a scorching birth to his senior season. Tennessee changed into his different essential present. (No. forty six pro-trend QB).

Nik Scalzo: The Cats' usual QB commitment for the 2019 type can also make plays during the air or on the floor. The Florida native is a bit undersized — about 5-11 — for the position, but he possesses a grit and successful angle that attracted numerous recruiting consideration over the summer season. This season, Scalzo is eighty one-for-131 for 1,163 yards, 9 touchdowns and only 1 interception via 5 games. (No. 21 dual-hazard QB).

Outlook: The Cats have 4 scholarship QBs on the roster: sophomores Terry Wilson and Gunnar Hoak, and redshirt novices Danny Clark and Walker wood. The quarterback position is one the place transfers are always a chance, and that should be one scenario to observe following this season. wood has also frequently been mentioned as a candidate to play different positions, even though he's worked exclusively with the QBs this autumn.

working lower back

Travis Tisdale: This man is asking like a steal for the Cats, who secured his dedication returned in June and have watched him run in every single place the box q4. Tisdale — a 5-9 prospect from Valdosta, Ga. — has 85 includes for 1,097 yards and sixteen touchdowns in barely six video games this season. He also has eleven catches for 131 yards, plus an eighty five-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. (No. forty three RB).

Outlook: Sihiem King is a senior this autumn, and Benny Snell could very smartly go away for the NFL Draft, so the Cats may have spots to fill within the backfield. AJ Rose is decided to come back for his junior season, and UK has a pair of gifted actual freshmen in Chris Rodriguez and Kavosiey Smoke. The Cats are nonetheless hunting for an extra operating lower back to add to the 2019 type.

broad receivers

Demonate Crumes: The Louisville native was once committed to U of L before switching his commitment to UK all over the summer. A 6-1, one hundred sixty five-pound prospect, Crumes has 18 catches for 514 yards and eight touchdowns in six video games for Butler this season. (No. 88 WR).

DeMarcus Harris: some of the greater underrated gamers in UK's type — competitors nevertheless has him as a two-famous person recruit — Harris is a 6-2 receiver from Florida who has already collected 28 catches for 574 yards and eight touchdowns in 5 video games this season. (No. 151 WR).

Outlook: The Cats will lose seniors Dorian Baker and David Bouvier to graduation after this season but look to convey returned several gifted gamers, together with leading receiver Lynn Bowden and a couple of young contributors. 4-megastar recruit Wandale Robinson is still the Cats' greatest WR target.

Tight conclusion

Nikolas Ognenovic: A high school teammate of QB commit Nik Scalzo, he has the dimension (6-6, 235 pounds) for the position and will add a further huge body to Vince Marrow's tight conclusion room. Ognenovic has seven catches for 115 yards in 5 games this season and may also be an outstanding blocker at the next level. (No. 29 TE).

Outlook: UK will suffer a huge loss with senior CJ Conrad, but the Cats are nonetheless projected to return junior Justin Rigg and particularly touted proper newcomers Brenden Bates and Keaton u.s.. Bates has already viewed time this autumn, whereas america is out for the 2018 season with an injury.

Offensive line

Eli Cox: An in-state commitment, Cox is a standout prospect at West Jessamine excessive school who tasks as an indoors lineman on the school level. The 6-four, 295-pounder is all in with his pledge. "UK is my domestic crew and that i love seeing the application constructing extra exhilaration these past couple years," he advised the Herald-chief when he dedicated. (No. 64 OG).

Jake Pope: A 6-7, 275-pound handle from Florida, he picked UK over stated scholarship presents from Michigan State and Virginia Tech early in the system and should bring loads of upside with him to Lexington. (No. 116 OT).

Outlook: The Cats will lose senior starters George Asafo-Adjei and Bunchy Stallings however seem to come a few offensive linemen with ample journey. The depth throughout the road should still give UK's 2019 learners an opportunity to redshirt and ease into the school online game.

line of defense

Cavon Butler: His country wide ranking doesn't somewhat reflect it, however Butler is a big-time recruit that bought a valid scholarship present from Alabama this autumn and chose the Cats over that program. The 6-three handle tasks ideal as a "three-method" lineman in faculty, but UK will need to reside on him all through the manner. The Ohio native has mentioned he plans to take other visits. (No. 57 DT).

Isaiah Gibson: The Cats landed a dedication from Gibson — certainly one of their desirable final ambitions — closing week, besting Wisconsin and Purdue for the proficient lineman. The Ohio native tasks as a defensive address at the school degree, notwithstanding 247Sports' bill Greene lately wrote that he has the capabilities to be an NFL participant on the middle place. (No. 38 DT).

Taures Payne: A junior-faculty switch, Payne measures at 6-4 and 260 kilos and may have two years to play two seasons of football at Kentucky. through 4 video games with Northwest Mississippi CC this season, he has 16 tackles and leads the group with four.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three QB hurries, two pressured fumbles and a blocked kick. (No. three juco strongside DE).

Outlook: UK will lose senior interior linemen Tymere Dubose and Adrian Middleton but may still return several key contributors from this season's crew, including Quinton Bohanna, TJ Carter, Phil Hoskins, Kordell Looney and Marquan McCall. nevertheless, there may still be an opportunity for immediate playing time for the inexperienced persons.

Linebackers

Marquez Bembry: initially a Tennessee dedication within the 2017 category, Bembry went the juco route and is now dedicated to Kentucky. The totally athletic 6-three, 225-pound prospect is anticipated to have three years to play three seasons for the Cats. He has 12 tackles and three tackles for loss in 4 juco games this fall and tasks as an outside linebacker. (No. 1 juco athlete).

KD McDaniel: An early commitment, McDaniel is the Cats' 2nd optimum-ranked pledge for the 2019 type. The 6-2, 225-pound prospect initiatives as an outdoor linebacker at the next degree and could play the "jack" linebacker spot at UK. different faculties will continue recruiting the Georgia native up until signing day, however he appears to be solid with the Cats. (No. 33 OLB).

Tra Wilkins: The 6-2, 210-pound prospect from Georgia has played both internal and outdoors as a high college linebacker and could do the identical at UK, which centered him early in the 2019 cycle. He took an official discuss with to Louisville three weeks earlier than committing to the Cats. (No. forty six ILB).

Outlook: UK loses facet rushers Josh Allen and Kengera Daniel and longtime starter Jordan Jones in the core, however the Cats should convey again Kash Daniel, Boogie Watson, Jamin Davis, Chris Oats, DeAndre rectangular and some other contributing gamers.

protecting backs

Moses Douglass: The son of former UK star Maurice Douglass is the maximum-ranked player in the Cats' recruiting classification and projects as an affect defense on the faculty stage. The 6-2, 200-pound prospect is additionally the most effective four-big name dedication in UK's type and has referred to that he'll no longer take official visits to any other faculties. (No. 37 defense).

Brandin Echols: The Cats' most fresh dedication, Echols announced his college option below 24 hours after staring at UK defeat Mississippi State at Kroger field on Saturday evening. The junior-faculty prospect may be an instant contributor at cornerback subsequent season. via four games with Northwest Mississippi CC this fall, he has 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and leads the crew with two interceptions and 5 pass breakups. (No. 5 juco CB).

Jalen Geiger: notwithstanding now not incredibly ranked via the countrywide recruiting services, Geiger became excessive on UK's recruiting board going into the summer after emerging as one of the software's excellent cornerback aims this yr. The 6-1, 190-pound prospect plays excessive college ball in South Carolina and has ties to the state of Ohio. (No. a hundred and fifteen CB)

Jay Ward: The Georgia native may come to be being the steal of the type for UK, which landed his commitment in June and has enjoyed seeing him tear up the competitors as a senior this fall. The 6-1, a hundred seventy five-pound cornerback has earned compliment from recruiting analysts for his physical play and tasks as a high-upside player in school. more scholarship presents may well be coming his manner, however Ward currently advised rivals.com that he's firmly committed to the Cats. (No. ninety CB).

Outlook: The Cats lose a whole lot here — starters Derrick Baity, Mike Edwards, Lonnie Johnson, Darius West and Chris Westry are all seniors and should be out of eligibility q4. That skill there could be abundant probability to earn playing time, notwithstanding UK will additionally return a few talented shielding backs, together with Davonte Robinson, Jordan Griffin, Tyrell Ajian, Yusuf Corker, Michael Nesbitt and some tremendously touted players from the 2018 signing classification.

specialists

Outlook: UK doesn't have any commitments and is not anticipated to add any scholarship players at these positions. beginning punter Max Duffy is a sophomore this season, and the Cats signed their kicker of the future, possibility Poore, within the 2018 type.