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[FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Kentucky head football coach Joker Philips has always had strong recruiting ties in the state of South Carolina. During his time with Lou Holtz and the Gamecocks he forged many relationships in the Palmetto State that he continues to use now as a head coach. [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]When recruiting in South Carolina in 2009, Philips and his coaches were able to secure the commitment of defensive end Justin Henderson of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. Henderson was so high on the Cats, that he graduated early in December 2009, and enrolled at Kentucky for the spring semester. He is now fighting for playing time after redshirting last season.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Now, the Cats are sniffing around Bamberg-Ehrhardt once more, and again, it is the Red Raiders’ defensive line that piques their interest.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Coaches everywhere are interested in defensive end Martin Aiken, and Kentucky is no exception. UK has offered the 6-foot-3, 245-pound highly-rated recruit, as well as about twenty-five other high-major schools. But you may not know as much about Martin’s linemate, defensive tackle David Deleon. NationOfBlue.com wants to change that.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Deleon is receiving just as much interest as Aiken, because of a stellar junior year. The 6-foot-1, 270-pounder[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]recorded 89 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles for his squad that went 13-1 and lost only in the state championship game.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“We lost twenty seniors from that team,” Deleon said. “And don’t get me wrong, we were a great team, and those guys will be missed. But we have about forty very talented freshmen coming in. A lot of them will start and plug the holes those seniors left. We’ll be just as good as we were last season.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Deleon’s performance in 2010 has raised the interest of college coaches all across the country. So some travel is in order for the summer. “I have 17 offers right now. This summer, I plan on taking a look at several schools up close. I will visit Pittsburgh, Marshall, Illinois, and Miami(OH) for their camps this summer. I may pick up another, maybe two. I’ll just have to wait and see.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Although he wasn’t planning at this time to take in Kentucky’s camp scene, he did say he felt UK would get a visit this season. “Oh, I definitely think I’ll get up there at some point this year. I really want to check them out and see why Justin is so high on them.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Kentucky assistant coach Greg Nord is handling David’s recruitment, as well as Aiken’s. “Coach Nord came down and offered both me and Martin. He said he liked my explosiveness and how I use my hands. He also said I had a strong motor. I liked him. He was very straight with me, and he seems to be a cool guy.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Kentucky can also call on Henderson to try and lean on his old teammate a little. “We played next to each other on the line,” Deleon said about his relationship with Henderson, “so we were close. I don’t get to talk to him very much now, because he is so busy. But we still talk, and he really would like for me to come join him.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“I’m just trying to get better every year,” Deleon said, about his training in the offseason. “There’s always room for improvement. I want to improve my speed and try to gain some weight. I want to go from 270 to 285, by working hard on my chest, arms, hips, and legs. But my focus is on more upper body strength.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Deleon’s investment in speed work is showing returns. He recently clocked a 4.83 forty at a combine that his high school held recently.[/COLOR][/FONT]
