For the first time since he took over at Kentucky, coach Mark Stoops does not have a Kentucky player in his signing class. Kentucky signed eight players Wednesday, but none from Kentucky.
Stoops says he does no want that to happen.
“I definitely want to continue to make Kentucky our priority, and some years there’s going to be more than others. There’s always good quality in Kentucky. The quantity is not maybe the same as some other states, but there’s always some very good players in here,” Stoops said.
He did go into Michigan this year to sign Marquan McCall and DeAndre Square.
“There’s some very good football players in there,” Stoops said after crediting assistant coach Steve Clinkscale for UK’s recruiting success there.
That’s also true about Florida — and Kentucky signed eight players from Florida Wednesday.
“(Offensive coordinator) Eddie Gran has just done a remarkable job getting these players. I’ve been down there, as you know, for a long time, but Eddie really has very, very strong relationships with people down there, and down there, when you start recruiting South Florida,” Stoops said.
“It’s about trust, and he’s been there for, I don’t know, I don’t want to age him, at least 30 years. I noticed it right away. I think I commented on it before at a prior press conference about other things, but when he and I first went to Florida State and I went to him, because I’ve been through Florida, all through Florida, but when I went with him to South Florida, it’s amazing the connection that he has down there.
“And it’s just about the way he works and the type of person he is and the strong relationships that he has, whether it be guys that he’s recruited that are now down there coaching, but he’s always done right by kids for a long time and has a great reputation in South Florida, and I think that’s a big key is trust.
“He works extremely hard at it, and I love the players that he signed out of there, both last year and this year, because they’re very, very unique individuals and remarkable young men, and proud to have them. ”
Here’s a look at the bios of the eight players from Florida that Kentucky signed Wednesday.
Ashtan Pierre, Linebacker, 6-2, 200, Fr-HS, Pompano Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach) – Three-star prospect by all major recruiting services … Played multiple positions in high school, including linebacker, defensive end, running back, kick return and punt returner … 247sports says “Pierre is a rangy, aggressive defender that does a nice job of making his presence felt by striking and driving through the ball carrier. He does the majority of his damage when shooting off the edge, but also shows good backside pursuit and effort until the whistle is blown. Physically, Pierre possesses a great build with his best football ahead of him. He projects best at outside linebacker with his ability to roam in space and lay a beat down on the ball carrier, but this is an instinctive, aggressive defender that’s always swarming around the pigskin.” … Coached by Jevon Glenn … Helped lead Deerfield to the Class 8A state semifinals in 2016 and the regional quarterfinals in 2017 … Chose Kentucky over Oklahoma, South Carolina, Iowa, Iowa State and Ole Miss.
Marvin Alexander Jr., Wide Receiver, 6-2, 175, Fr-HS, Miami Gardens, Fla. (Chaminade-Madonna) – One of the nation’s top-100 wide receivers by Rivals.com and a national top-125 wideout by 247sports … Helped lead Chaminade-Madonna Prep to the Florida Class AAA state championship, winning its last 10 games en route to an 11-2 record … As a senior, caught 37 passes for 585 yards and eight touchdowns … Coached by Dameon Jones … Chose Kentucky over Wisconsin, Syracuse, Central Florida and others … Teammates with fellow signees Davoan Hawkins and Akeem Hayes … Will rejoin former high school teammates Josh Ali and Chris Whittaker at UK.
Jamari Brown, Defensive Back, 6-2, 180, Fr-HS, Sunrise, Fla. (Blanche Ely) – Tall cornerback received offers from every Power 5 conference in the nation … One of the nation’s top-100 cornerbacks according to the 247 Sports composite ranking … Missed time with injuries during his senior season but still had an interception, eight pass breakups, a fumble recovery and returned a kickoff for a touchdown … Also saw playing time as a wide receiver … Coached by Calvin Davis … His numerous offers included, among others, Auburn, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Illinois, Oregon, Louisville, North Carolina State and Pittsburgh.
Stanley Garner, Defensive Back, 6-2, 180, Fr-HS, Parkway, Fla. (Dillard) – Four-star recruit by Rivals.com, which evaluates him as the No. 35 cornerback in the nation … Plans to enroll at Kentucky in January … All-Broward County selection … Was invited to play in the prestigious Broward County vs. Dade County All-Star Game, but will be unable to participate because of his enrollment at UK … Was a standout two-way player, as he also played wide receiver on offense … Coached by Rick Hemingway at Dillard High School … Helped lead Dillard to the district championship … Will rejoin former Dillard teammate Jordan Wright at Kentucky … Teammates with fellow signee Bryce Oliver … Entertained dozens of Division I offers, from every Power 5 conference, including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan and many others.
Davoan Hawkins, Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 275, Fr-HS, Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade-Madonna) – Another recruit from the pipeline of Chaminade-Madonna to Kentucky … Coached by Dameon Jones … Will rejoin former high school teammates Josh Ali and Chris Whittaker at UK … Played both offense and defense … Team won the 3A state championship … Played offensive guard … On defense registered 50 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss and seven sacks … Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Projects as a defensive lineman at the collegiate level … Chose Kentucky over Miami, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Illinois, Iowa State, North Carolina and Wisconsin … Teammates with fellow signees Marvin Alexander Jr. and Akeem Hayes … Name is pronounced “Davoan (day-VEE-on) Hawkins.”
Akeem Hayes, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 170, Fr-HS, Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade-Madonna) – Caught 25 passes for 401 yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Chaminade-Madonna, which won Florida’s 3A state championship … It was the school’s first football state title since 2005 … Hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass in the title game … Coached by Dameon Jones … Caught 35 passes for 750 yards and six touchdowns as a junior … Part of a pipeline from Chaminade-Madonna to Kentucky that includes 2017 signees Chris Whittaker and Josh Ali … Teammates with fellow signees Davoan Hawkins and Marvin Alexander Jr. … Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Committed to Kentucky in June 2017 … Chose Kentucky over Louisville, Oregon and NC State.
Kenneth Horsey, Offensive Lineman, 6-3, 330, Fr-HS, Sanford, Fla. (Sanford Seminole) – Recruited primarily as an offensive guard … Has size to make an immediate impact … Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … Ranked as the No. 58 offensive guard in the nation … Helped lead his team to a 9-3 record and district championship as a senior … Coached by Don Stark … Excels in the classroom as well as he touts a 3.6 GPA and scored 1220 on his SAT … Chose Kentucky over Mississippi State, Missouri, South Florida and Central Florida.
Bryce Oliver, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 200, Fr-HS, Sunrise, Fla. (Dillard) – Dual-sport athlete … Also a star basketball player … Three-star prospect by all major recruiting services … High school teammate of redshirt freshman Jordan Wright … Helped lead the Panthers to a district championship in 2016, catching 76 passes for 1,112 yards … Coached by Rick Hemingway … Will rejoin former teammate Jordan Wright at UK … Teammates with fellow signee Stanley Garner … Chose Kentucky over Louisville, Rutgers, North Carolina State, Illinois, Temple, UCF, Iowa State, Iowa and Pitt.