[B] Valley,AL- [/B]DeVonta Staples has not many headlines in the recruiting scene for the most of the year. However, the under-the-radar safety from Valley,Alabama has had caught the attention of the Kentucky Wildcats, as well as they have caught his. The six-foot, 185-pound defender has already seen the Wildcats over the course of the year, but is planning to set up an official visit to the Blue Grass State here in the next few weeks or so. While he isn’t sure of where he will eventually end up playing his college ball, Staples did tell of who has the best chance and how they can land the Alabama star.
“I’m hoping to take my official up there (Kentucky) for the Tennessee game. However, I like the idea of taking it after the season so I can spend more time talking to the coaches. I talked to Coach Brown and really like him and respect him. He has coached in the NFL so he knows what he is talking about,especially teaching technique. He told me if I come up there they want me to come in as a freshman and find myself learning the position. Then, by the time I learn that they want me to learn the defense and compete for a spot in the roation.”
While playing time at Kentucky could be within his first two years on campus, Staples has expressed interest in coming in and playing as a true freshman.
” I want to be able to come in as a freshman and either start, or find my spot in the roation. I would really like to start though.”
Staples, who has Kentucky stuck as one of his top schools that are pursuing him, also has plans for two others, and possibly more as well.
One, which may come out to be the favorite in the upstart program of South Alabama, which aren’t too far from the UK target and seem to be sitting well with Staples..
“I really like the coaches that they have down there. I have a great relationship with the coaching staff down there, and they have been on me pretty hard. One of my high school coaches (who worked for a (Jags) coach at another high school) got them to look at me last year. Another thing that I really like down there is their facilities. They have really nice facilities for a new program.”
One thing the future D1 school has in favor for them is location.
“I wanna be close to home in case of a emergency. When I first visited Kentucky I thought it was going to be farther, but when I got there it wasn’t as far away as I first inteded.”
Second, another school the ‘Bama defender has in mind is just a bit north of UK in Big Ten country in Illinois. Staples has visited them before and is set to take his official coming up soon.
“They (Ilinois) has great tradition.I have a great relationship with my recruiter there as well, Coach Long. He came out to see me last week at one of my games. They also have great academics as well.”
Academics is very important to Staples. Who hopes to have a career in Health Science or Computer Sience.
“I researched online and found that Kentucky and South Alabama have a good major for Health Science, but Illinois has a good major for Computer Science.”
While only 4 schools have offered, Staples claims he has been getting a lot of interest of late from schools like Purdue, Southern Miss, and even Ole Miss.
The Safety from Alabama brings a lot speed with him, running a 4.49 40 and having success in the track and field part of his athletic accomplishments. Having that speed will be very beneficial for the Wildcats if Staples decides to place his verbal with the Cats.
