2009- 2-4 Stars From the JUCO RANKS!

Chris Matthews WR 6-5 210 4 STAR ****
Mark Crawford DT 6-1 305 3 STAR ***
DeQuin Evans DE 6-2 275 4 STAR ****

 
Chris Matthews is the highest rated juco signed by UK this year and perhaps ever. He has a measured skill set that exceeds anything we’ve seen in the Juco Ranks for some time. I don’t think it will take a long time for him to develop, since unlike Stevie Johnson, he is not coming into a great receiving corps to start the season.

Has great hands, and just outruns people catching the football. He is going to make the UK QB job much easier. Caught 80 balls last year and is the second rated Juco WR by Rivals, behind Halo Carpenter…., AND, from a raw athletic standpoint…, How many 6’5 210lb receivers will UK have this year who run 4.4 forties?

My hunch is that Matthews locks down one wide spot, and will be very good in short order. Randall Cobb will play the slot, and the other WR spot goes to Lanxter.

We received an interesting quote  from Los Angeles Harbor College Coach Brett Peabody about Chris, “Chris is probably the best junior-college wide receiver in the country,” Peabody said. “He lives up to the saying that ‘big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.’ He can beat you short, he can beat you deep, he can beat you across the middle.”

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Mark Crawford was one of the nation’s top 100 junior college prospects at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College after making 41 tackles and getting 6.5 quarterback sacks last year. He only played two years of high school football in Indianapolis, one reason he redshirted his first year at Coffeyville. Certainly UK is not taking this Juco out of desperation like they were a few years ago when they were coming through the probation.

By all accounts Crawford is looking good and making strides at the DT position: “I am adjusting real well. It is a new experience with coach Petri teaching me how to play better and teaching me stuff I never knew in junior high or high school.”

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 DeQuin Evans: Defensive Ends are sorely needed, a known fact, and “DE”, as I’ll be calling Dequin Evans, needs to hit the ground running. Watch him on film and you see what amounts to a man among boys. Now granted that wasn’t SEC competition, but the film says a lot about what type of player we are getting. Simply stated, I don’t think we have seen a Defensive Juco player who looked any better than DE did on film.

Making up the loss of a Jeremy Jarmon may be a daunting task,  therefore this makes it even more important that someone from our stable of players at the Defensive End position step up and make a big splash there. DE  has all the tools. Evans (6-2, 275) is rated the No. 15 junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, as well as one of our 4 Star athletes. He was a teammate of Chris Matthews. Did I mention he ran a 4.6 forty according to Scout…That is truly smoking for a man his size! GBB!!!

Five teams put in fourth-round claims for the 6-foot-3, 278-pound defensive end, a source told ESPN.com’s John Clayton. The Redskins have five remaining draft choices in the 2010 draft. They are now without third- and sixth-round picks.

 Jarmon, the only player selected in the draft, is only the fourth supplemental choice on an active roster this year. The Chargers have two — defensive tackle Jamal Williams and safety Paul Oliver — and the Ravens have one — left tackle Jared Gaither. Jarmon is the first supplemental pick selected since 2007.

The Redskins needed to look for a young defensive end because they have too much age at the left end spot of their defensive line. Phillip Daniels is 36 and Renaldo Wynn is 34. The Redskins can develop Jarmon over the next year to take over the starting job and maybe help at defensive tackle on passing downs.

Vinny Cerrato, Washington’s executive vice president of football operations, was among a group of scouts who came to Lexington last week to watch Jarmon work out.

After drafting Jarmon on Thursday, Cerrato told Redskins.com that the 6-foot-3, 278-pounder was a bargain.

“He was a guy that the scouts really liked,” Cerrato said. “We graded him as a second-round pick.

“He’s a great kid. He’ll fit well in the locker room. He runs well. He’s making tremendous strides.”

Cerrato said he thinks Jarmon would have been a second-round pick in next year’s draft had he been able to stay at Kentucky and play his senior year.

“He’s basically a year ahead of where he would be if he’d come out next year,” Cerrato said.

“He can develop at his pace. He’s very athletic, but he needs strength. He benched 19 times. He needs to be doing that 30 times.”

Jarmon left Kentucky after he was declared ineligible for his senior year because of a failed drug test in which he tested positive for a banned diuretic supplement.

He fits perfectly in a 4-3 defense. He can play end or tackle.

Jarmon took the supplement while recovering from a shoulder injury and was not taking part in activities. He had been taking the supplement for 15 days before checking with the training staff, who told him to stop taking it.

“But it was too late,” Jarmon said, reading from a prepared statement in May.

Jarmon said his goal in the offseason was to become leaner. He bought a dietary supplement while shopping for vitamins on the recommendation of a worker at a nutrition store, not knowing that it contained a banned substance.

“I do not need to cheat to be successful,” he said.

Jarmon has the third-most sacks in Kentucky history. He was an honorable mention on last season’s AP All-Southeastern Conference team.

http://www.kentucky.com/817/story/864626.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4332087

Because they want to experience the same results Blake Griffin, this year’s #1 overall draft pick out of Oklahoma experienced.

I did a lot of research for this post, and it really amazed me just how little information I was able to find. But what I could find was very interesting. Either this guy is a complete basket case, which I do not believe, or he is one of the few innovators left. His methods are definitely different, but anyone who witnessed Blake Griffin terrorize the Big 12 and the rest of the country, realizes they bring results.

Matrisciano is half-italian, half-spanish, and was raised in northern New Jersey. (Couldn’t find a town). He is the youngest of four, has no kids himself, and has never been married. Reportedly he is 43 years old but that hasn’t been confirmed. Frank has been training basketball players since 1992, and though he doesn’t like to talk about the athletes he trained, the list includes the Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas, Celtics’ Leon Powe, the Pacers’ Kareem Rush, and Arron Afflalo of the Pistons.

“I look at them like robots.”

“I take them to a level they’ve never been.”

“I’m just a shadow in the background.”

All quotes from a man that has coined a personal phrase “Law-7.” What that means is for every ten athletes that enlist his help, seven of them leave within the first half-hour. He does not advertise his services, you must know someone within his training circle to get hooked up with him. Matrisciano addresses everyone “sir” and expects the same in return. He admits that in the past he was saddled with nicknames like “Mental Patient” and “Genetic Freak.”

“You don’t know how many say they want to do it,” Frank says. “But it’s easy to say when you’re on the couch. It’s another thing to get up at 5 a.m. and get out there on the sand hills.” He does not accept payment from high school or college players. They are responsible for paying their living expenses and bringing the will and desire to follow through with what they started. Four to eight hours per day five days a week for four to six weeks is what the newbies have to look forward to. Basketball doesn’t get neglected either as part of that time is spent in skills training under former NBA coach Bob Hill.

Survival of the Fittest training. Chameleon training. Two of the terms Matrisciano uses to describe his workouts. Stairmasters, ellipticals, treadmills, and even traditional free weights mean nothing to this man. His playground is San Francisco. Adapting to one’s surroundings and overcoming any obstacle is the mantra he preaches as his charges labor up stairs carrying medicine balls, jog up sand hills in harnesses he tugs at from behind, and run in the soft, sandy beaches while wearing a 65-pound weighted vest. The workouts are held almost exclusively outside and never on a flat or hard surface.

Hell’s Trainer has pushed many to their absolute limits which some say is his ultimate gift: the ability to identify exactly where each of his client’s “limit” is. He has trained boxers, MMA & Martial Artists, Federal Marshalls, Firemen, Policemen, Pro Athletes, and Military Personnel.

So did Patrick and Daniel make the right choice? Only time will tell, but if Blake Griffin’s domination last year is any indication, Wildcat fans will appreciate the time and hard work our two big men are putting into the team’s success. After all, when you have ran stairs, sand dunes, and inclines of every sort, how hard could it be to sprint up and down a 94′ basketball court?

 http://sewildcatreview.com/blog2.php?p=105&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Here’s how the supplemental draft works. Teams make bids to the league for players in the supplemental draft pool. However, any team that makes a pick in the supplemental draft will forfeit a corresponding selection in the following year’s draft. For example, if a team were to win the rights to Jarmon with a fourth-round bid, it would forfeit a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Jarmon is the most likely of the three players to be drafted, and he worked out at Kentucky on July 9. He also participated at the Kentucky Pro Day before the draft, measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds with a 4.76-second time in the 40-yard dash.

Surrency, a big receiver with good hands, played only one season at FSU and caught 12 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns. He’ll work out in Tallahassee on June 30.

Prior to his time at FSU, Surrency played at El Camino Junior College in Los Angeles. Surrency, who’s originally from Miami and played at Southridge High School, was heavily recruited by LSU, California, Oregon State and Oregon, among others.

A former junior-college player, McMahon transferred to Iowa State but never played there before ending up at Central Michigan. McMahon was a two-time Golden Gloves champion in boxing, and his high school teams in Chicago won state championships in football and rugby.

The supplemental draft began in 1977 as a way to accommodate players who weren’t eligible for the upcoming college football season. That year, Notre Dame RB Al Hunter flunked out of school after the NFL draft but before his senior season in college. Because Hunter wouldn’t have been eligible to transfer, the supplemental draft was created. The Seattle Seahawks landed Hunter with a fourth-round bid.

-Gil Brandt

Kentucky has two blue chip QB’s joining the program this year. What impact will they have on the ’09 season? Will Ryan Mossakowski redshirt and play baseball?

Will one of the Freshmen QB’s eventually transfer due to lack of playing time?

How long before Joker does what he did last year, and replaces Hartline with one of the Frosh, or does Hartline start all year? It’s impossible to say right now.

Which one of the newcomers, Newton, Moss, will be called upon should Joker make a change?

From watching the film of the newcomers, it is plain to see that either one of them can hit a receiver in full stride deep down the field. At some point in the season, just as happened last year, I think Joker will bring in one of the freshmen to try and stretch the field. He has a more experienced set of receivers this year, and a better offensive line. There is no fall off in the running back position with Smith, Locke and Turtle, and the fullback is one of the best in the business.

Once opposing defenses stack the LOS, and that becomes a problem for the offense, Joker will again call on another QB to loosen things up, and that QB will be Morgan Newton, IMO. He is the best athlete and can do everything, including hurt you with his legs, (4.5 forty), as well as his arm. Even if he calls on Ryan Mossakowski to run the offense, the “PRO STYLE” will not suffer, as his arm has been rated as the 2^nd strongest in the nation as a high schooler, and he can hit any receiver going down field. Let the best man win.  

I

One thing that may help Jodie in making the team is the fact that the Bucks were very high on him from the get go, something that they had been keeping somewhat “close to the vest”, as most teams do. Consider this statement out of the Milwaukee camp after Jodie was chosen:

“He was a guy we had on our board for the last few days, and up until even last night, and we said, ‘No way this kid makes it to the second round,’” Bucks general manager John Hammond told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I’m sure a lot of people are saying that about their second-round picks.”

“We just felt he’s one of the top-notch shooters in this draft. Our guys who were out scouting all year said he may be one of the better defenders, too. He has great strength and is a great athlete, but one thing he can do is shoot the ball the way he can.”

Meeks led the Southeastern Conference and ranked eighth in the country in scoring, averaging 23.7 points per game. Jodie set the school record for points in a game (54 at Tennessee) and three-pointers in a season (117) and shot an SEC-best 90.2 percent from the free throw line. He also had the highest 3 game point total of any player in collegiate basketball with 3 games of 54, 46, and 45 points.

“He arguably was the best shooter in college basketball last year,” Bucks coach Scott Skiles told the Milwaukee newspaper. “He’s a guy who has some toughness, a nice strong body and a really good defender.”

“I don’t think I get enough credit for my athletic ability”, Jodie said.

I believe that with his skill set, Jodie will make the Bucks roster and have a long NBA career. I also believe that he would have benefited by coming back and playing one more year under Cal, and changing his NBA perception from a “catch and shoot guy” to one who can also get to the rim.

Let’s face it, if Terrance Williams can go with the 11^th pick while averaging 12ppg, then anything in that range would have been possible for Jodie next year, if UK had made the deep run in the tournament that most everyone was predicting with Jodie on the squad.

I also must respect the fact that Jodie had been injured, and perhaps had that in the back of his mind, when he decided to stay in the draft. One more injury next year could have ruined his chances for an NBA career, so he choose to strike while the “iron was hot”.

Again, I wish Jodie nothing but the best for his future NBA career.

7. Danny Trevathan: From his coach Chuck Smith, “Trevathan is athletic, fast, and physical. He looks to be a future star. He’s not started a game yet, but once he gets a taste of SEC play and progresses like I think he will, he has a chance to be one of the great linebackers at Kentucky.” Danny runs very fast and hits very hard, two attributes that a LB must have. Danny returned a kick 31 yards in Spring Game…A linebacker!

6. Winston Guy: A physical specimen who said that he really did not understand what it took to be an SEC type player when he arrived on campus last fall. Rich Brooks has called Guy the most talented defensive back he’s signed at Kentucky. Guy looked the part this spring at free safety. He is doing the work now and the possibilities are there for him to be one of the “Greats” at UK before he is done. Has that rare combination of size, 200+ lbs, and speed 4.4 forty… Back at his natural position at Safety he should make big waves this year.

5. Micah Johnson: Micah was Coach Brooks first high-profile recruit at UK. A bigger hitter at the middle spot you will not find. Just a man-child waiting for his draft numbers to go up. Had 11 tackles in the spring game.

4. Chris Matthews: Some of us like the outrageous numbers he has put up, not only catching a football, but his raw athletic ability. Has great hands, and just outruns people catching the football. He is going to make the UK QB job much easier. Caught 80 balls last year and is the second rated Juco WR by Rivals, behind Halo Carpenter…., AND, from a raw athletic standpoint…, How many 6’5 210lb receivers will UK have this year who run 4.4 forties? Nuff Said.

3. Dequin Evans: I had Jeremy Jarmon here, before it has been ruled that he is ineligible to play this year. This makes it even more important that someone from our stable of players at the Defensive End postion step up and make a big splash at that spot. Dequin has all the tools. Evans (6-2, 275) is rated the No. 15 junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals.com as well as one of our 4 Star athletes. He was a teammate of Chris Matthews. Did I mention he ran a 4.6 forty according to Scout…That is truly smoking for a man his size!

2. Randall Cobb: Talk about Mr. Everything, what can you say about him that has not been said? Joker says “If he is on the bus, you got a chance”. Look for him to excite the fans once again this year, as we break out the “Wildcat Package” and snap a few balls toward Randall. Remember he has a gun for a left arm, and out there in the flats he can see exactly where he is throwing.

1. Trevard Lindley: The quiet man. He lets his game speak for itself. Probably would have been selected before Jeremy and Micah in the NFL draft, he choose to come back for his senior season. Coach Rich Brooks says he is one that you can just “leave on an island” out in coverage and not worry about him.

The good news is we have several young kids that have an opportunity to step up and play. I’m thinking Dequin Evans and Chandler Burden in the fall… We’ve lost Paris, Minton, Stafford, and now Jarmon for various reasons the last couple of years at that Defensive End position.

This just means somebody/everybody HAS to step up that is already on the roster at the DE position, (Ukwu, Wyndham, Burden, Evans, Rumph etc.) There won’t be a size drop-off or manhandling Chandler Burden, at 6’4 295, or Evans the 4-star JUCO at 275lb, but will they bring the speed and talent that Jarmon did?

Jeremy Jarmon, the senior defensive end, has tested positive for a substance banned by the NCAA. The NCAA denied UK’s appeal of their decision which ends Jeremy’s career at UK.

Here is a kid who made an honest mistake, and one who was not trying to gain a competitive advantage by getting “bigger, stronger, and faster”. He was merely trying to lose some weight. After he was told to stop taking the supplement, he tested negative, but it was too late according to the NCAA. The NCAA could be much less stringent when a case like this one arises…The need to punish has overruled the need for compassion, and a desire by the athlete to comply.

Jarmon met with the media on Saturday morning at his own request. It was a tearful end to a great career here at UK, as he read a statement explaining how his positive test came to be. He explained how he purchased dietary supplements from a local retailer with the intent to reduce his body fat.It’s a sad day for UK football all around, because Jeremy was a stand-up guy and a leader on the field and off. He will be missed by all.

This from Mitch Barnhart: “Let me be abundantly clear, this guy has been a model of discipline for our program. He has never had a disciplinary action and he has never even come close to failing the test before. It has never been an issue. This is a three week isolated deal that is very unfortunate. He has been unbelievable for the University of Kentucky. Do not lose sight of that. I don’t know anyone that could represent this program better than he has in a lot of different ways and I am thankful for that and that he knows that.”

What does John Calipari do with his # 1 ranked class in the country to enhance his recruiting season? Well, he goes out and lures the #1 player in the class to UK. Late last night, Slam Magazine confirmed that John Wall had selected UK among Miami, Florida, and Duke.

I can’t begin to express how ecstatic the UK fan base is now, what with the job that Calipari has done already in recruiting, and now landing Wall. Described by Dave Telep as, “The nation’s single most unguardable player”, Wall joins a class already loaded with 5- star recruits, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton and DeMarcus Cousins. I foresee us fans talking UK basketball all summer.

There were some who believed that our signing Eric Bledsoe recently would affect John’s decision. It appears it had nothing to do with it. ““I’ve been thinking about it for the last couple of weeks. I sat down and prayed and thought about it. Last night we had a meeting and I just came out and told Brian “(Clifton).

It hasn’t been that long since some of the SEC coaches have said that UK’s dominance of the league was over…Well, that is about to change and change very quickly.