Brooks’ Big Blue Board - 9/11......by Rob Gidel

[WildcatRick]

Quarterbacks
Names to Remember: M. Gray (***,IN), B. Daniels (***,FL), ^J. Weinke (***,IL), ^C. Philips (***,TN), C. Todd (**,JC), B. Burnette (**,TN), JK Ratliff (**,KY)
Notes: UK scores commitment from Tn. QB Randall Cobb but intends to move him to WR .. It's anyone's guess as to whether or not UK will go after a QB in this slim class despite losing Andre.
UK 2008: C. Pulley (*Rs. JR), M. Hartline (Rs. SO), W. Fidler (Rs. SO), M. Lentz (Rs. Fr.)

Running Backs
Names to Remember: Darius Willis (****, IN); Jeremiah Schwartz (**, FL)
Notes: Freshmen god-send Locke has changed UK's direction making this group less of an importance
UK 2008: Dixon (Rs. SR), Bates (Rs. JR), A. Smith (Rs. JR), Grinter (JR), M. Allen (SO), D. Locke (SO), B. Jackson (Rs. FR)

Wide Receiver
Names to Remember: A. Boyd (***,KY), C. Heard (**,GA), F. Sykes (***,FL), R. Wilks (***,TN), M. Roark (***,GA), E. Adeyemi (**,FL)
Notes: The position UK has the most chances to make the biggest noise .. Love the speed and athleticism of this group for sure .. Playing time is available.
UK 2008: Lyons (Rs. SR), Ford (Rs. JR), T. Jones (Rs. SO), K. Lanxter (SO), A. Mosley (Rs. FR)
Commitments: Eugene McCaskill (**, SC)

Tight End
Names to Remember: R. Wallace (***,KY), S. Stackhouse (***,FL)
Notes: With senior J. Tamme departing, UK is looking to fill his shoes with someone quickly
UK 2008: Bogue (Rs. JR), Drake (JR), Goode (Rs. SO)

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=3458

[gerntz]

"Defensive Line
.... .. A position that loses just Lewis on the outside and Craigman and Day on the inside"

I don't care who we just lose, we need big time help & depth here if we're going to improve the D substantially. The way mobile QB's go ballistic on us must be stopped!

If we have 16 total recruits, 8 here wouldn't be too many.

[SBCatMan]

I agree with Gerntz. We have done an excellent job stockpiling talent at virtually every position -- except DT. I think DT and WR are our biggest needs in this class.

[johnkyblue]

It's okay because DT is everybody's weakness.

[wildcatdon]

johnky,i disagree with that statement..i know we hear coaches everwhere saying there are not enough def tackles,yet every team in the country has 3-4-5? some are converted o linemen,I know but they are out there to be recruited..I agree with Gerntz too..we should make them a priority and get more than 1 or two in here..I am a cup half full guy on this one..

[gerntz]

It's okay because DT is everybody's weakness.


jb, tell that to LSU. Actually, I think you're attempting to be funny & as usual, failed miserably.

[RV]

We have more numbers and better athletes at this and other positions than we've had in the past. Look folks - this is a process. It ain't baskeebaw where you can sign a couple of guys and go from rags to riches. It takes time to build a football program and DT is one of, if not the hardest position to fill. I can honestly say that we are now a legit SEC team and should be for the foreseeable future. The greater our success on the field the greater our success will be in the recruiting circles. BTAIM we have to play with who we have and currently we have these guys on our roster. I expect to see those still available for Saturdays game to give great effort.

98 Myron Pryor 6-1 305 Jr.
91 Corey Peters 6-3 290 So.
53 Ricky Lumpkin 6-4 290 RSFr.
95 Ventrell Jenkins 6-2 285 RSJr.
94 Travis Day 6-3 275 RSSr.
96 JoDane Craigman 6-4 280 RSSr
93 Austin Moss 6-0 260 RSSo.
60 Shane McCord 6-3 280 Fr.

Not including Charles Mustafaa and Greg Meisner who are projected to grow into DT’s.

[gerntz]

I agree. But I believe KSU showed that it's still not enough at the least with the current injury shortages.

I hope I'm proved dead wrong.

[RV]

Going another direction -

Don't have any definite info but all signs point to FB Ben Bates (Rs. JR) being gone. Locke is wearing his number and Brooks said the other night that John Conner was on scholarship while Bates was buried on the depth chart at 4 or 5 at FB. There were no open scholarships unless someone left so ...

[wizard]

We have more numbers and better athletes at this and other positions than we've had in the past. Look folks - this is a process. It ain't baskeebaw where you can sign a couple of guys and go from rags to riches. It takes time to build a football program and DT is one of, if not the hardest position to fill. I can honestly say that we are now a legit SEC team and should be for the foreseeable future. The greater our success on the field the greater our success will be in the recruiting circles. BTAIM we have to play with who we have and currently we have these guys on our roster. I expect to see those still available for Saturdays game to give great effort.

98 Myron Pryor 6-1 305 Jr.
91 Corey Peters 6-3 290 So.
53 Ricky Lumpkin 6-4 290 RSFr.
95 Ventrell Jenkins 6-2 285 RSJr.
94 Travis Day 6-3 275 RSSr.
96 JoDane Craigman 6-4 280 RSSr
93 Austin Moss 6-0 260 RSSo.
60 Shane McCord 6-3 280 Fr.

Not including Charles Mustafaa and Greg Meisner who are projected to grow into DT’s.


well, Pryor, Lumpkin, Mustafaa, and Meisner are all injured, (Pryor & Lumpkin for the 2nd time with the same problem), and if I was a betting man, I would bet at least one of those 4 will end up unable to make it back to the field. I think we still need to find a couple of DTs to add for next year.

[johnkyblue]

jb, tell that to LSU. Actually, I think you're attempting to be funny & as usual, failed miserably.No, I wasn't. LSU is the best team in the country for a reason. They have players other's don't at DT. There may be other places we need help in and chasing after the magical DT with too much effort might be like chasing your own tail.

[gerntz]

Going another direction -

Don't have any definite info but all signs point to FB Ben Bates (Rs. JR) being gone. Locke is wearing his number and Brooks said the other night that John Conner was on scholarship while Bates was buried on the depth chart at 4 or 5 at FB. There were no open scholarships unless someone left so ...


I thought Locke took Boswell's scholarship. But what do I ever know.

I heard Brooks speak about the Conner scholarhip right around the start of the season, maybe a week or two before. There was a thread here on that.

Anymore news on Boswell - his appeal & future? Thanks.

[gerntz]

Originally Posted by gerntz
jb, tell that to LSU. Actually, I think you're attempting to be funny & as usual, failed miserably.

No, I wasn't. LSU is the best team in the country for a reason. They have players other's don't at DT. There may be other places we need help in and chasing after the magical DT with too much effort might be like chasing your own tail.

OK, then DT isn't EVERYone's weakness. Maybe everyone but LSU.

[RV]

I thought Locke took Boswell's scholarship. But what do I ever know.

I heard Brooks speak about the Conner scholarhip right around the start of the season, maybe a week or two before. There was a thread here on that.

Anymore news on Boswell - his appeal & future? Thanks.

Locke did get the scholarship that was targeted for Boswell. That brought us up to the 25 for 07 and 85 max and there were zero walkons in that number. All were recruited scholarship players including Ben Bates who was buried at FB and wore #41.

Now Locke is wearing 41 and Conner is on scholarship. The logical conclusion is that Bates left and Conner has that ride. I'll be looking for Bates on the sideline this week but I suspect he's not there.

Another possibility would be that Sefo Blaylock so I will check that out as well.