Mark Stoops and Kentucky Football has lit up the summer so far in the Bluegrass while being #1 in the country in recruiting and they continue to garner national attention.
ESPN’s Jeremy Crabtree looks at the biggest surprises of the summer and Kentucky is right where their 2014 recruiting class currently sits.
On top.
Kentucky, normally known for its recruiting success on the hardwood, is having its best recruiting class, well, ever. Of the 18 Wildcat commits, six are four-star prospects and nine are three stars. They also have the most commitments in the SEC, six players in the ESPN 300 and already scored one of the nation’s best quarterback and running back tandems in Drew Barker and Stanley Williams.
Kentucky’s early success can be attributed to a number of factors.
One of the biggest was the ability to land Barker, the nation’s No. 6 pocket-passing quarterback from Hebron (Ky.) Conner. His commitment in early May was followed by pledges from 12 players, including several who attributed their decision to Barker. Getting a blue-chip quarterback early is vital for recruiters because it often has a domino effect.
“It’s my responsibility to go out and help Kentucky get the best recruiting class ever,” Barker said in June.
Another factor in the Wildcats’ ascension to No. 11 in the rankings is the job that Kentucky assistant coach Vince Marrow has done. Eight of Kentucky’s commitments — including four of the top eight — are from Ohio, a top-five state in producing Division I talent. It’s also Marrow’s home state and a stronghold of his.
You can read “Early Success for Surprise Teams” by clicking here.
