Anyone remember Mike Cross? DT from Ohio.

[UKONMYMIND]

http://kentucky.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=56669

[ridgecat78]

Don't recall ever seeing anything on him.

Looks to be a monster though.......

[lighthouse]

Good News!!! Thanks.

[RV]

Yes - I remember him. I'm thinking he hasn't played football since high school but am not sure how much eligilibilty he has remaining. Will be at least 2 but possibly 3 or even 4 years left. BTAIM, another good get for the staff. Don't know if he'll end up on the O-line but that's a possibility.

[Caveman Catfan]

I thought Cross was recruited as an O-lineman a couple of years ago.

[RV]

Signee: OL/DL Mike Cross






By InsideKentucky.com (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=48&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('InsideKentucky.com') + '%22&sssiteid=48';)

Posted Feb 2, 2005

Cats sign Michael Cross from Marion Franklin HS in Columbus, Ohio


Michael Cross (http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=48&p=8&c=1&nid=1752023)
, Offensive Lineman/Defensive Lineman,
6-6, 295, Fr-HS,
Columbus, Ohio (Marion-Franklin)

First-team all-state lineman as chosen by the Ohio sportswriters … Four-year starter at Marion-Franklin HS in Columbus, Ohio … Played several positions in the offensive and defensive lines during his career and also got some time at tight end … Made 107 tackles as a senior, including a whopping 32 tackles for loss …

IIRC- the talk was he would get a chance at defense - much like Mr.Jeffries, hence my O-line projection. Regardless, he's a big mobile kid that we can always use.

[UedK]

Per his Rivals bio when he originally committed back in 05:

"Cross (6-6, 305, 5.25) helped lead Marion-Franklin to a 9-2 season and the school's first appearance in the state playoffs. He was selected first-team All-Ohio as an offensive lineman and first-team all-city as a defensive end after racking up 98 tackles."

My bet is that he's destined for the OT position.A big athletic defensive player moved to offensive tackle is a very good prescription for a successful offensive line.

[EricBigNally]

Sounds solid to me. I always love reading that someone has verballed...

[jwade]

At the risk of being a wet blanket, I would urge caution before getting too excited about Cross. Let's hope he comes in and works himself into the rotation in a couple of years, but remember:


I went to the Garden City CC web site and Cross isn't listed on the 2005 roster which would seem to bear out what RV is saying, that maybe he hasn't played since high school. One has to wonder why?However, I understand he will play this season so would assume he would have 3 years' eligibility remaining if he ends up here.
His weight has gone up from 305 to 320, but what kind of shape is he in? If he hasn't played since high school, has he at least been in the weight room? In other words, is he a "good" 320# or a "bad" 320#?
UK's recent experience signing JUCO offensive linemen hasn't been good: Ernie Pelayo, Kalavi Blanchard, and Yancey Reynolds are three that come to mind immediately. Can anyone think of a JUCO lineman we've signed in recent memory who turned out to be a success?
Generally speaking, you'd prefer to sign 4-year players rather than JUCOs. We know that O-linemen will be a recruiting priority with a limited number of total scholarships to give in the 2007 class. Does accepting Cross' verbal mean we're having difficulty recruiting the high school seniors on our recruiting board?
Again, I'm not saying this isn't a good pickup. Just asking some questions and urging caution.

Jim

[trublue4life]

jwade wrote: At the risk of being a wet blanket, I would urge caution before getting too excited about Cross. Let's hope he comes in and works himself into the rotation in a couple of years, but remember:


I went to the Garden City CC web site and Cross isn't listed on the 2005 roster which would seem to bear out what RV is saying, that maybe he hasn't played since high school. One has to wonder why?However, I understand he will play this season so would assume he would have 3 years' eligibility remaining if he ends up here.
His weight has gone up from 305 to 320, but what kind of shape is he in? If he hasn't played since high school, has he at least been in the weight room? In other words, is he a "good" 320# or a "bad" 320#?
UK's recent experience signing JUCO offensive linemen hasn't been good: Ernie Pelayo, Kalavi Blanchard, and Yancey Reynolds are three that come to mind immediately. Can anyone think of a JUCO lineman we've signed in recent memory who turned out to be a success?
Generally speaking, you'd prefer to sign 4-year players rather than JUCOs. We know that O-linemen will be a recruiting priority with a limited number of total scholarships to give in the 2007 class. Does accepting Cross' verbal mean we're having difficulty recruiting the high school seniors on our recruiting board?Again, I'm not saying this isn't a good pickup. Just asking some questions and urging caution.

Jim



All good points and questions. We'll just have to trust the coaching staff to come up with the answers and make the right decision.

[RedandBlackATTACK]

Again, I'm not saying this isn't a good pickup. Just asking some questions and urging caution.

I have some friends (imagine that!) here in Columbus that follow high school football with a real passion. I will ask 'em about Cross, if they have any information on the kid, I will get it posted.

Rick

C-Bus

[TOPCAT]

He is in jr. college in kansas...california.He is an absolute stud!

[Benj66]

how about a young man named Sweet Pea Burns I know he was a DE here but wasn't he recruited as a DL and didn't he play some DL...

[wizard]

Kentucky placed him at the juco and he redshirted (or sat out) his first year to work on his grades,so he will have 3 to play 3 when he gets to UK.

[Blue4ever]

trublue4life wrote: jwade wrote: At the risk of being a wet blanket, I would urge caution before getting too excited about Cross. Let's hope he comes in and works himself into the rotation in a couple of years, but remember:


I went to the Garden City CC web site and Cross isn't listed on the 2005 roster which would seem to bear out what RV is saying, that maybe he hasn't played since high school. One has to wonder why?However, I understand he will play this season so would assume he would have 3 years' eligibility remaining if he ends up here.
His weight has gone up from 305 to 320, but what kind of shape is he in? If he hasn't played since high school, has he at least been in the weight room? In other words, is he a "good" 320# or a "bad" 320#?
UK's recent experience signing JUCO offensive linemen hasn't been good: Ernie Pelayo, Kalavi Blanchard, and Yancey Reynolds are three that come to mind immediately. Can anyone think of a JUCO lineman we've signed in recent memory who turned out to be a success?
Generally speaking, you'd prefer to sign 4-year players rather than JUCOs. We know that O-linemen will be a recruiting priority with a limited number of total scholarships to give in the 2007 class. Does accepting Cross' verbal mean we're having difficulty recruiting the high school seniors on our recruiting board?Again, I'm not saying this isn't a good pickup. Just asking some questions and urging caution.

Jim


All good points and questions. We'll just have to trust the coaching staff to come up with the answers and make the right decision.

Kind of a strange situation here but I did some research and Cross was listed as a two star recruit by Rivals coming out of high school. The JUCO he's currently enrolled at is in the Jayhawk Conference. The conference (I don't think I've ever heardanything like this utside of the CFL?) has a restriction on the number of out-of-state players that a team can carry on its roster. In the article I read they said that Cross my be squeezed outbecause of this. So this may be why he's not listed on the active roster?:shrug: