Top QB prospect likes what he sees at UK

[WildcatRick]

The University of Kentucky has become a major player for one of the nation's top quarterback prospects in the 2009 class.

Morgan Newton, a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder from Carmel, Ind., was on the UK campus for an unofficial visit Monday and has the Wildcats listed among his top schools.

Newton is listed as a five-star prospect by Scout.com, which ranks him as the nation's seventh-best quarterback. Newton threw for 1,900 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 750 yards and 11 scores as a junior. He has scholarship offers from 19 schools and lists UK among his favorites along with Clemson, Florida, Illinois, Purdue, Miami (Fla.), Indiana and South Carolina.

Newton's father, John, was a teammate of former Super Bowl MVP quarterback Doug Williams at Grambling.

Newton didn't rank the schools on his list but said Kentucky is ”definitely pretty high up there.“

http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/438277.html

[lighthouse]

Wow! Would he be the highest rated QB ever at UK if RB can sign him?

[Russ24ky]

Wow! Would he be the highest rated QB ever at UK if RB can sign him?

I do not know.. Where was Couch ranked..Just wondering

[Tom Blevins]

I do not know.. Where was Couch ranked..Just wondering

As I recall, Tim Couch was ranked not only the #1 quarterback prospect in the nation comming out of high school, but also the #1 player, regardless of position.

[sardiscat]

Under Curci, UK signed Leon Murray, a QB from Cincinnati who was supposedy the No. 1 player in the country. Signed him the same year as Derrick Ramsey. Murray hurt his knee in the first fall scrimmage his freshman year--as Ramsey ran over and through the varsity defense in that same scrimmage--and never was able to play again. Curci also signed Kent Reyes, who was a very highly rated QB. Reyes also never saw the field, except as the kickoff man for a year or two before he transferred. He was a big guy with a cannon arm but not very fast or elusive, and Curci was running the veer. I don't know what Rick Norton was rated, but I believe it was very high. Bill Tolson, another Curci signee who never played, also was a highly-rated QB.

[UKATFAN]

Outside of Dusty Bonner, hasn't UK's last 4 QB's been drafted or at least had an opportunity in the NFL. High school QB's are now seeing UK as a step to the NFL. Now if Coach can get more offensive and defensive 4 and 5 star players on board, THE CATS can become a national power year after year.

[gerntz]

As I recall, Tim Couch was ranked not only the #1 quarterback prospect in the nation comming out of high school, but also the #1 player, regardless of position.

Agree. Recall an article stating we got the top two rated players in the country in back-to-back years: Dennis Johnson & Couch.

[gerntz]

Under Curci, UK signed Leon Murray, a QB from Cincinnati who was supposedy the No. 1 player in the country. Signed him the same year as Derrick Ramsey. Murray hurt his knee in the first fall scrimmage his freshman year--as Ramsey ran over and through the varsity defense in that same scrimmage--and never was able to play again. Curci also signed Kent Reyes, who was a very highly rated QB. Reyes also never saw the field, except as the kickoff man for a year or two before he transferred. He was a big guy with a cannon arm but not very fast or elusive, and Curci was running the veer. I don't know what Rick Norton was rated, but I believe it was very high. Bill Tolson, another Curci signee who never played, also was a highly-rated QB.

I recall Murray. He was a tremendous hoops player too. Averaged like 35 pts his senior season. He went to North College Hill. OJ Mayo broke his all-time school scoring record.