Mike Hartline Starts The Season, But For How Long?

Mike Hartline has that experience and knows the playbook and there is no substitute for that. I’m all for him starting the season, and integrating the freshmen QB’s as they learn the system. The roster is better from size, speed, and skill standpoints.

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.  

JUCO RECRUITS PROJECT AS STARTERS

It is a rare thing when Juco come into a major college program such as UK’s and compete right away. You could ask Stevie Johnson, now a Pro, about the “learning curve” for SEC football. Knowing the difficulty adjusting to the level of play of a league like the SEC, most experts suggest that the Jucos don’t usually contribute until their Senior Year, hence the penchant of most schools to skip the Juco ranks. UK, however, is in a position of great need at the DT and WR spots and just happened to land two of the finest JUCO’s in the land

As it turns out, two of the last recruits that Rich Brooks and Co. Landed turned out to be the two highest rated kids in the entire UK recruiting class according to Rivals. They each land 4 Stars as does Ryan Mossakowski, AND with ratings of 5.9 to Ryan’s 5.8 are actually rated higher…but both rating falls into a range that includes the top 300 players in the country, with only the 5 star “franchise player” rating being higher….

The ratings are configured thusly using only twenty –five, 5 Star players around the country and 300-4 star prospects:

RATINGS 5.8 – 6.0

“All-American Candidate; high-major prospect; considered one of the nation’s top 300 prospects; deemed to have pro potential and ability to make an impact on college team”

Who are these young Juco lads that we signed and why are they so highly rated?

Dequin Evans (6-2, 275) is rated the No. 15 junior college prospect in the nation by Rivals.com and is a teammate of UK’s other 4 Star Recruit, Wide Out Chris Matthews 6’5” 210 4.5 Forty. Here is a tumbnail on both players:

DE DeQuin Evans- 6’2, 260, 4.6 40-

Evans is a talented Junior College defensive end, who if he manages to grasp the defense, should start opposite Jeremy Jarmon to open the season. At 6’2, 270 pounds and running a 4.6 40, Evans has all the pieces to be a force opposite Jarmon and DT Corey Peters who will both demand full focus from opposing offensive lines. His game is solid, the one concern is he is a JUCO who wasn’t able to enroll in January. That is a huge hindrance to the long and short term success of most junior college transfers. DeQuin looks to be a can’t miss prospect, but B.J. Parsons and Ernie Pelayo where also can’t miss prospects for the ‘Cats in the trenches. When you enroll late and miss that first spring practice of your playing career, sometimes that’s a mistake a JUCO player never gets over. With freshmen, it might slow them down, they might not fully understand the system, or the speed and effort needed every single snap in the SEC to be successful until late in their redshirt freshmen or true sophomore year. The same learning curve with a JUCO player would lead them to not understanding what it takes to win until they’ve already spent their eligibility. Evans has the tools, if he can come in and learn quickly, he could be a very productive member of what looks to be a stout defense in 2009. He should start his first year on campus, and should be considered the leader for the position ahead of Collins Ukwu and Donte Rumph.

Evans ended up deciding between Kentucky and Louisville. He also had scholarship offers from major Pac-10 and Big 12 schools, turning down offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Washington State, Oregon State, Kansas and Kansas State.*

^*kyink.com

Scout- 4* Rivals- 4*

WR Chris Matthews- 6’5, 210, 4.5 40-

Matthews is a big, physical WR that can catch in traffic, as well as posing a threat down the field. He also possesses very good speed. As a JUCO, he has shown he can run good routes and has good technique. With the well-documented struggles of UK’s WR corps in 2008, the ‘Cats need an impact guy. Can Matthews break the JUCO jinx and be that guy? In two years at junior college, he had 124 receptions for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns. As fans, we should remain cautiously optimistic with Chris. Had he been able to enroll in January, his chances of breaking out in his first year would have increased.

Signs with UK over offers from Washington and Oregon.

ESPN- Doesn’t Rank JUCO’s

Scout- 3*

Rivals- 4*

^kyink.com

I expect these two Juco lads will be counted on extensively next season as UK unfolds it’s Pro-Style Offense with Morgan Newton**, at the QB spot ( SEC games), throwing to Randall Cobb, the aforementioned Chris Matthews, Cyrus Lanxter, Aaron Boyd, Maurice Grinter, Terrell Mitchell and many more…

**Morgan is rated a 4 Star by Scout and a 3 by Rivals.

Signing day thoughts

Signing day is a couple of days behind us and I have some thoughts on our recruiting this year. Brooks and co did very well in filling our needs. Sure a couple of 5 star players would have helped our final recruiting rankings but the JUCO players we got will help us a lot. Chris Matthews is the #2 WR in JUCO football and we need help there badly. With both Ryan Mossakowski and Morgan Newton signing we filled another need QB.

Getting recruits from Texas as well as Georgia helps us now if coach can get his foot in the door with the Polynesians in Hawaii and on the west coast we could be looking at top 25 classes every year.

HS
Brian Adams, ATH Cumming, Ga.
Jordan Aumiller, TE Danville
Justin Bean, WR Tupelo, Miss.
Mister Cobble, DT Louisville
Jonathan George, RB Lincoln, Ala.
Qua Huzzie, LB LaGrange, Ga.
Tristian Johnson, DE LaGrange, Ga.
A. Kendrick, TE/WR Katy, Texas
LaRod King, WR Radcliff
Patrick Ligon, DE, Memphis, Tenn.
Demetri Merritt, LB LaGrange, Ga.
Kevin Mitchell, OL Douglasville, Ga.
Terrell Mitchell, TE Powder Springs, Ga.
Ryan Mosby, LB Rockwall, Texas
Ryan Mossakowski, QB Frisco, Texas
Martavius Neloms, DB Memphis, Tenn.
Morgan Newton, QB Carmel, Ind.
Donte Rumph, DE St. Matthews, S.C.
Donald Russell, RB Plm Bch Gardens, Fla.
Samuel Simpson, OL Lexington
Dakotah Tyler, RB Indianapolis
Jarvis Walker, LB Metairie, La.
Myron Walker, DT Metairie, La.
Larry Warford, OL Richmond
Ridge Wilson, LB Louisville

JC
Mark Crawford, DT Indianapolis
DeQuin Evans, DE Long Beach, Calif.
Chris Matthews, WR Los Angeles

Sims and Ridge commit to Cats

David Sims becomes the second player to commit to Kentucky since the win on Sunday.Projected to play running back for the Wildcats, Sims also held offers from Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Oregon, Colorado and South Carolina, among many others.

ESPN’s Billy Tucker said of the pledge, “Building off last year’s onfield success and exposure, the Wildcats are quietly putting together an impressive class as Sims is their 19th commitment and sixth positional prospect rated in the top-30 nationally.”
“While Sims has raw arm strength and good zip on the football, we project this productive dual-threat quarterback is being more recruited as an athlete with Morgan Newton (Carmel, Ind.) and Ryan Mossakowski (Frisco, Texas/Centennial) already on board. Either way, he will bring great versatility to the roster and is a great out-of-state pickup for Kentucky.”
“The second rated athlete in South Carolina this year is very a dynamic prospect with a ton of physical talent and legitimately has a chance to develop on either side of the ball in Lexington. Defensively, he is very instinctive as a high-point safety and has good range and ball skills. He could get a look at tailback on offense with his strong, compact body structure needed to earn YAC, quickness to make defenders miss through the hole, and great acceleration when he reaches the second level.”

Earlier in the week Kentucky recieved a commitment from Ridge Wilson, a 6-foot-3 linebacker from Central (Louisville, Ky.), has agreed to accept a Class 2009 scholarship offer from Kentucky.

He said, “I had been thinking about UK for a while, and that game (vs. Louisville) kind of made me decide that now may be the right time to go ahead and make my decision,” the Courier-Journal reports.

The Wildcats edged Louisville, Arkansas and Indiana for Wilson.
Kentucky now has 19 commitments.

Newton Signs with Kentucky

Its been a interesting time for Kentucky fans while I have been setting up the site. 5* qb Morgan Newton, 4* qb Ryan Mossakowski and 3* center Sam Simpson all comitted to play for the Cats. Its shaping up to be the best recruiting class fot the Cats in years with only 5 of the 17 recruits ranked below 3 stars.

In his first game of the year Newton led his team from behind to record a 28-21 victory. After throwing for 170 yards and 2 tds on 13 for 17 passing in the first half Newton ran for 2 tds in the second half.