By LARRY VAUGHT
Three in-state players that were not on Kentucky’s radar before Mark Stoops was hired as new coach became immediate recruiting targets for the Wildcats.
One, Mr. Football James Quick of Trinity, gave his verbal commitment to Louisville earlier this month and basically admitted that UK just came into the recruiting picture too late for him.
Another player, Franklin County standout Ryan Timmons, seems intrigued by Neal Brown’s offense — he played in basically the same offense in high school — and could be favoring UK now over Florida and Ohio State.
The third player, Trinity four-star defensive end Jason Hatcher, recently decommitted from USC after making a visit to USC. He has visited UK and could visit both Florida and Louisville before signing day Feb. 6. Like Timmons, Hatcher’s interest in UK now is because he likes the defense that Stoops and defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot use.
Hatcher had 27 tackles last season and is ranked among the nation’s top defensive ends.
Getting either Hatcher or Timmons would be a huge recruiting bonanza for Stoops. Getting both would be liking finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
So could UK land Hatcher? Absolutely. The guess here is that it will come down to Louisville or UK. He has more ties to Louisville, but I’m hearing more and more that he’s doing nothing to discourage UK.
What do you think? Could Stoops break the Trinity barrier and land this big-time player less than two months after taking the UK job?
19 Responses to Could Stoops find a way to get talented DE Jason Hatcher of Trinity
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Stoops can get him and if he does would be a major coup. He could be a differance maker that could start to turn this program around. If Stoops gets Hatcher, Timmons and Badet we could see a big upturn in the win column very quickly. Go Blue
What is the latest on Jeff Badet? I heard he had decommitted from USF.
Hopefully, Mr. Hatcher wants to play in the strongest Conference, with a new Coaching staff with an excellent pedigree!
Come on board Jason. Help turn UK football around. We need you big time. Its the SEC.
Certainly, good fot!
I am not going to beat the war drums against the last football coaching regime to hard , but this is really an indictement on them in that they are just now hearing from Uk. wow . but heres to the new regime.
Love to have CMS and staff bring in tis kid!
One question about this article:
It states “27 tackles lat season” — Is that possibly a typo?
…LAST season
No, 27 is how it is listed. Can’t confirm if he committed again or not
Just read on another board that Hatcher has recommitted to Souther Cal and has stopped any further visits.
Hope it’s untrue.
My comment or question may be slightly off topic but since USC is part of this sub plot here it is. I think I saw a listing of the top 150, 2013 high school recruits and the committments they had made as of last friday It was published by Rivals.com I believe.
The University of Southern California had landed something like 10 commits in the first 100 recruits., 10% of the class of 4* and 5* players.
Ten kids salivating over playing for the great Lane Kifen?? It has to be more than smoke and mirrors here and I understand the desire to locate ones self in LA with its climate , et.al. But Lane Kifen?? C’mon man !!
Stoops and staff could land him, but I’m not holding my breath. The kid seems to change his mind more often than not; his business I know.
UKFAN, Kentucky coaches I think are beginning to wonder if Hatcher could be playing games as well
Sounds like a kid that is really into himself. At his age it is understandable. Still, one has to step back and look at the total person. I therefore ask the question: if a kid is not serious about the recruiting process how serious is he going to be about football when he is faced with serious competition for playing time? Perhaps Joker Phillips recognized this in the kid and did not peruse him for that reason. Character does mean something at the end of the day. Could be the kind of kid that ends up putting your program at risk with the NCAA………..
Hi Larry,
Has Quick signed with Louisville or just committed? If he says that UK came into the picture to late, is it possible that the new staff could get him to reconsider and come to UK. Not sure of the exact difference between committing and signing but if he has just committed can UK still recruit him?
Committing is meaningless until you actually put ink on paper on signing day. You hear the terms hard or solid commit, and that is when the kid really wants to play at that school. A soft commit means absolutly nothing.
TrueBlueJohn.
Are you saying that Uk can still recruit him and, do you think they will talk to him.
Thanks for the info and clarification.
TrueBlue is right. The dictionary version of committment is not the same as the recruiting version. Signing the letter is what is important. They need to change the terminology. A committment is not a committment as we were taught.