Patterson a big PR win for Joker, UK
February 7th, 2010 | 
Author: Editor’s note: This is another of a series of articles pertaining to players signed by UK coach Joker Phillips’ last week.
By LARRY VAUGHT
One of the biggest surprises for Kentucky on signing day was Louisville Central linebacker Tim Patterson, a life-time University of Louisville fan who seemed to have been swayed by new Louisville coach Charlie Strong to stay home and play for the Cardinals.
Patterson was regarded as the state’s No. 1 prospect by most recruiting analysts even though he has some academic work to get in order before he’ll be eligible next season.
However, no matter what happens, signing Patterson was a huge public relations move for Kentucky. The Cats got the state’s top prospect and won a significant head-to-head recruiting battle with Strong that could set a tone for 2011 recruiting.
“We always talk about the heart and soul of our recruiting has got to be in Kentucky. What city has the biggest population? Louisville. We have got to be successful in Louisville. We feel we have been and Tim adds to that,” said UK coach Joker Phillips.
Phillips knew Patterson was “real crucial” for UK’s recruiting class.
“We have gotten those guys out of Louisville who have not grown up being fans of Kentucky, but the ones we have got to come and have had success and opened the eyes of other ones like Tim Patterson and Ridge Wilson. We have to continue to get into Louisville,” Phillips said.
Tim Patterson bio
Linebacker, 6-4, 220, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (Central) – The top prospect in Kentucky as named by Rivals.com and SuperPrep … Rangy linebacker with outstanding height and sub-4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash … First-team all-state as a senior by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top seniors in the state … Made 92 tackles as a senior but missed the state playoffs because of injury … Also the top prospect in Kentucky by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who wrote, “This guy can really deliver a blow, always seems to be in the right position at the right time, takes great angles to the ball, and once he gets there, look out.” … Helped lead Central HS to consecutive state championships his sophomore and junior seasons … Made 91 tackles his junior year, with 12 for loss and two interceptions … Coached by Ty Scroggins … Not surprising with his skill set, is also an outstanding basketball player; helped Central to the state finals of the 2009 state tournament.
Posted in UK Football
Very glad to have Patterson in Blue. Great job on Joker with keeping that pipeline from Central hot for us. Can’t wait to see how Ridge Wilson develops also.
This is a great catch by Coach Phillips. Ky and Lou are going to have tremendous recruiting battles for many years to come. GO CATS!
It was important to keep that Central pipeline going
And Yes, Strong and Phillips will have some huge battles the next few years until one establishes the dominant program.
What do you mean, until one establishes the dominant program? As of right now, UK has the dominant program, have you compared UK’s 09 recruiting class to UL’s? Yes, UK needed that unt fumble last year, but they came from behind twice to win, they wouldn’t have in prior years, and UK was dominant before the three third quarter turnovers gave UL new life. Rivalry games tend to be close.
UL needed to make up a lot of ground with this class, they fumbled late and UK finished strong, they didn’t do much if anything to gain ground. UL’s class will have a bigger impact next year, but only out of necessity, UK is ahead and the HUGE factor is UK’s redshirt class, two four stars in Moss and Boyd, and TEN three star freshmen. Walllace and Fields also get added, UK’s experienced additions will have a bigger impact than UL’s true freshmen, and the true freshmen will have some gems just like UL too. UK did a good job of filling needs.
UL will undoubtedly improve, UK is too and next years classes might be a big UK win if UK continues to progress, I think UL starts in a hole next year with a defeat in their freshmen’s first game. UL better improve, because I think UK definitely will, and we have a big head start.
Of course, anything can happen in football, especially a rivalry game. (Sorry, tried to go back and correct errors but it won’t let me?)
I meant with the coaching changes, recruits are going to wait and see how the next few years develop. High school kids have short memories. IN a few years, they won’t remember Brooks or Kragthorpe. But have to agree that UK seemed to win the recruiting class again
Won’t matter if he doesn’t make the grades…here’s hoping he can!
I hope he can make the grades, too, but even if he doesn’t, lot better chance he will come back to UK than Louisville in two years like Bailey and Rumph are this year hopefuly