Three things to watch with Kentucky on the verge of historic football signing class
The University of Kentucky is on the verge of signing its highest-rated recruiting class in the internet era.
UK’s class going into Wednesday was rated No. 11 in the country by 247Sports and 15th nationally by Rivals. Those spots would be the highest finishes in the respective services, which are the longest-running active sites. On3 Sports, a fledgling service launched this year by Shannon Terry, the founder of 247Sports and Rivals, has UK ranked 15th in its consensus ranking.
Kentucky’s previous high marks came in 2014, when Rivals ranked its signing class 17th in the country and 247Sports tabbed it No. 22. UK that year had 28 signees, led by six four-star prospects, among them in-state standouts Drew Barker (considered a top-10 quarterback in the country) and Matt Elam. That signing class also featured Darius West, a four-star safety, and Mike Edwards, a three-star safety who now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Most anticipate the Wildcats to finish strong as the early signing period begins. Here are some story lines of which to be aware going into Wednesday.
Kiyaunta Goodwin
If he signs with Kentucky this week, offensive tackle Kiyaunta Goodwin would be the highest-rated recruit to ever make it official with the Wildcats. He’s been committed since April.
Will he flip to another program? Alabama, Texas A&M and Michigan State have remained steady in their pursuit of Goodwin, who took visits to all throughout the season in addition to attending most of Kentucky’s home games. He hosted all four schools for in-home visits last week (A&M’s Jimbo Fisher and UK’s Mark Stoops came themselves) but spent the final weekend before the early signing period in East Lansing, where he watched the Spartans’ basketball game against Penn State.
The “Will he or won’t he?” feeling is one that Kentucky fans have to get accustomed to if they want the Cats to continue climbing the Southeastern Conference rankings. Players like Goodwin — he’s a five-star prospect whom both 247Sports and Rivals rank as a top-five offensive tackle in the 2022 class — are worth wining and dining until the very last moment, and programs trying to compete for national titles will do it. This isn’t exactly new for the Wildcats; two classes ago it had to sweat out the signature of five-star defensive lineman Justin Rogers, who took visits throughout and after the 2019 regular season.
UK recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow has been on Goodwin since he was in seventh grade, and the 6-foot-8 senior has often cited relationships as the biggest factor in where he’ll sign. Marrow sticking with him as some other programs backed off early due to concerns about his weight was important to him back in April, and it’s hard to see it being less important in December. With that in mind, this BBN-friendly conspiracy theory doesn’t seem all that crazy: Goodwin’s taking advantage of the recruiting process at the end not because he’s actually weighing a flip, but to distract other coaches on behalf of UK in the final days.
That’s probably not the case, but weirder things have happened in college football. If he signs, it’ll be a banner day for Kentucky. If he doesn’t, the class will still be strong, but Wednesday would ultimately feel like a big letdown.
How many?
Going into Wednesday, Kentucky’s class has 19 players committed (18 from the high school ranks and one junior-college player).
UK is expected to also add Tayvion Robinson, a transfer from Virginia Tech, on Wednesday. Robinson on Saturday briefly tweeted out that he was committing to the Wildcats but deleted that post, opting instead for a signing day announcement. A commitment elsewhere would be shocking. On Monday, the Wildcats added Tashawn Manning an offensive lineman from Auburn who announced he was transferring to Lexington for his senior season.
That would put UK at 21 incoming players for the 2022 season. Assuming all of its players who’ve entered the transfer portal actually end up elsewhere, the Cats would have 72 scholarships accounted for before any seniors make a decision about opting in to an additional year of eligibility. Six scholarship players made that call last season, so if a similar number followed suit going into 2022, the Cats would still have quite a bit of wiggle room to add transfers following spring camp.
Expect that to happen.
“Obviously our roster improved from the transfer portal last year, and it helped us,” UK head coach Mark Stoops said last week. “So we’ve got to continue to do that. We better better it and be as proactive as you can and do what you need to do. It’s still extremely important to recruit high school players and develop them.”
Playmakers on ‘D’
UK is expecting to add a four-star prospect (Frederick Douglass star Dane Key) and a couple of three-star speedsters (Jordan Anthony, Brandon White) to its receiving corps in addition to the veteran Robinson, on top of a what was believed to be a strong group of receivers signed in 2021. There’s been some scuttlebutt Jacob Copeland — Florida’s leading receiver this season — could join UK, too.
But what about defensive play-making? Kentucky ranked in the bottom 25, nationally, and last in the SEC this season with just six interceptions. It was also in the middle of the pack nationally, and in the bottom third of the league, with 29 sacks produced.
DeCarlos Nicholson, the top-ranked junior-college defensive back, is committed to the Wildcats but took a visit to Mississippi State over the weekend and has been considered a potential recruiting loss for most of December. He figures to be the only commit who could come in right away and contribute on that side, so not getting him would be a blow.
Tyrese Fearbry, a four-star edge rusher, could end up as a quick contributor, as could four-star linebacker Keaten Wade. Cornerback Elijah Reed, a standout for Pleasure Ridge Park, has a physical profile — 6-foot-3, 180 pounds — that might allow for him to carve out a roll on defense. Outside of them, UK’s only real hope for immediate playmaking would come via the transfer portal.
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 7:45 AM.
