Three-star defensive end commits to Kentucky after official visit
Kentucky’s big recruiting weekend paid off with its first commitment Sunday night.
Three-star defensive lineman Chris Whittaker has flipped his commitment from Central Florida to UK after spending the weekend in Lexington. The Cats’ newest commitment was first reported by 247Sports analyst Ryan Bartow.
Whittaker — a 6-foot-4, 250-pound prospect from Hollywood, Fla. — is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 52 weakside defensive end in the class of 2017. He had been committed to UCF for three months.
The Wildcats now have 15 commitments for the class of 2017, and Whittaker is the third defensive lineman in that group, joining Quinton Bohanna and Phil Hoskins.
One of Whittaker’s high school teammates, wide receiver Josh Ali, was already committed to Kentucky for the 2017 class. UK now has five commitments for next year from the state of Florida.
Whittaker had 10.5 sacks as a senior this past season.
Kentucky’s class will move up to No. 37 nationally with Whittaker’s commitment, according to the Rivals.com team rankings for 2017.
UK is expected to add several more recruits to that class. Whittaker was one of eight highly touted 2017 prospects in Lexington for official visits this weekend.
National signing day is Feb. 1.
Ben Roberts: 859-231-3216, @BenRobertsHL
UK football commitments for the class of 2017
Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | Hometown | Rivals | Scout | ESPN | 247 |
Tyrell Ajian | DB | 6-1 | 185 | Mansfield, Ohio | **** | *** | **** | **** |
Josh Ali | WR | 6-0 | 175 | Hollywood, Fla. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Quinton Bohanna | DT | 6-4 | 300 | Cordova, Tenn. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Danny Clark | QB | 6-4 | 230 | Akron, Ohio | *** | **** | **** | *** |
Jamin Davis | LB | 6-2 | 190 | Ludwici, Ga. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Cedrick Dort | CB | 6-1 | 165 | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. | ** | *** | *** | *** |
Austin Dotson | OL | 6-6 | 290 | Belfry, Ky. | ** | ** | *** | *** |
Phil Hoskins | DL | 6-5 | 275 | Toldeo, Ohio | *** | *** | — | *** |
Alex King | LB | 6-3 | 225 | Mason, Ohio | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Bryant Koback | RB | 5-11 | 190 | Holland, Ohio | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Michael Nesbitt | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
JaVonte Richardson | WR | 6-4 | 210 | Maple Heights, Ohio | **** | **** | **** | **** |
Clevan Thomas | WR | 6-0 | 190 | Pembroke Pines, Fla. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Chris Whittaker | DE | 6-4 | 250 | Hollywood, Fla. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
Walker Wood | ATH | 6-0 | 190 | Lexington, Ky. | *** | *** | *** | *** |
This story was originally published December 4, 2016 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Three-star defensive end commits to Kentucky after official visit."