[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]For a long time, the Kentucky football program has relied on its’ own to bring in fresh life. That is to say, the current players help bring in new players by word of mouth. Joker Philips and his staff have been able to get their proverbial foot in the door with many top-rated recruits, because of their ties with current or former UK football players.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]That trend continues with the Cats’ recruitment of Jackson (TN) Jackson Christian wide receiver Drae Bowles. Bowles is listed as a top 150 overall player by just about every recruiting service and he has 21 scholarship offers to back that notion. Those offers include two-thirds of the SEC, Duke, and Louisville, as well as the Wildcats.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]But the relationship between Kentucky and Bowles started very humbly because of a current Cat.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“Actually,” Bowles explained, “a buddy of mine, Avery Williamson…he’ll be a sophomore this upcoming season there. He’s from the west Tennessee area, and he’s one of my real good friends. He gave the UK offensive coordinator, Coach (Randy) Sanders, my highlight tape, and they offered me after they saw it.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Williamson has put the full court recruiting press on Bowles, trying to get his friend to join him in Lexington. “He’s just a real good friend, and he’s always looking out for me. I talk to Avery all the time, and I have talked to Coach Sanders a few times now. I think they’ll probably get a visit at some point.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Bowles is hoping football rolls around quickly this year, as he is anxious to get started. Jackson Christian’s 2010 campaign let Bowles and his teammates taste a little success, and he would like to build on that his senior year.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“We were 6-6 last year, and we lost in the second round of the playoffs. But overall, we felt we were successful. We just came up a little short. We lost ten seniors, and eight starters from that team for the upcoming season. We’ll be a lot younger, but we’re working hard, and honoring God. That’s what is important.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Bowles was a big part of any success Jackson Christian had in 2010. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder had 57 receptions, with over 1,100 yards receiving, with 14 touchdowns. But he also went ironman, playing defense as well for the Eagles. On defense, Bowles recorded 56 tackles and three interceptions. He looks to raise both offensive and defensive numbers in 2011.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“If you’re asking me personally, I would say I’m more of a physical receiver. I’ve run a 4.5 in the forty, but I like being a very physical player, and I’m not afraid to make contact. People have talked to me about my game, and for the most part, they say the same things.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]You can put a lot of college coaches in that group. Several schools have turned up the heat in Bowles’ recruitment. “The schools that are recruiting me the hardest are Tennessee, Ole Miss, Duke, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Kentucky. But I don’t have any favorites, right now. I’m still wide open. I’m just trying to find the perfect fit. I plan on visiting three or four schools this summer.”[/COLOR][/FONT]
