UK commit Justin Rogers ranked 15th overall by Rivals; two Kentuckians in top 60
Kentucky is about two weeks away from signing its highest-ranked football recruit in the last two decades.
Justin Rogers — a 6-foot-4, 314-pound senior out of Oak Park, Michigan — committed to UK in May and to this point has shown no sign of flipping before the early signing period begins on Dec. 18. He would be just the second five-star prospect to sign with the Wildcats since recruiting service Rivals began rating players in 2002; Lafayette’s Landon Young was the first.
Rogers clocked in as the No. 15 overall player, nationally, in Rivals’ latest top 100 rankings for the class of 2020, released Tuesday. He was once ranked as high as 10th nationally, but is now rated as a defensive tackle — the position he’ll probably play at Kentucky — rather than an offensive guard. He’s considered the second-best defensive tackle in the 2020 class behind Clemson commit Bryan Breese, a 6-5, 290-pound Maryland native whom Rivals ranks as the No. 1 overall player regardless of position.
Two Kentuckians also remained in Rivals’ latest top 100 rankings. Covington Catholic tight end Michael Mayer (6-5, 235 pounds) was among the highest risers, climbing 21 spots to No. 37 overall; he’s committed to Notre Dame. Frederick Douglass offensive tackle Walker Parks (6-5, 275), who’s headed to Clemson, is the No. 59 overall player.
UK’s 2020 recruiting class currently ranks 24th overall and 11th among Southeastern Conference teams, according to Rivals. The Wildcats’ class is ranked ahead of Missouri (46), Vanderbilt (62) and Arkansas (95) in the SEC, and is also ahead of Louisville (30).
Rivals rates four of Kentucky’s 16 commits as four-star prospects — offensive lineman John Young, quarterback Beau Allen, defensive end Samuel Anaele and defensive tackle Tre’vonn Rybka.
UK’s 11 other commitments are rated as three-star prospects by the service. They are: Kalil Branham (WR), Deondre Buford (OL), Izayah Cummings (WR) Torrance Davis (RB), Rickey Hyatt Jr. (DB), D’Eryk Jackson (LB), Joshua Jones (OL), Jutahn McClain (RB), Andru Phillips (DB), Earnest Sanders (WR) and Carrington Valentine (DB).
