Recruiting Roundup: The Kentucky Defense

With around one week to go until National Signing Day, OTP continues it's coverage of recruiting. We'll be addressing both Ball State and Kentucky's commitments as a build up to National Signing Day on both sides of the football. RV will be along with his recruiting recap of his top classes and players to watch in the Class of 09. Today's edition is the Kentucky defense.

Recruiting Roundup
The Kentucky Defense

To say I'm surprised about the holes, or more specifically, the lack thereof, to fill on the Kentucky defense would be an understatement of the highest order. Three underclassmen were testing their draft waters, and most, if not all (myself included), figured at least one (corner Trevard Lindley) would be playing on Sunday next fall. As it stands, however, this Kentucky defense will only need to fill 6 starting spots as opposed to the 7 or higher variety.

Coaches Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips have landed an impressive defensive class, currently 12 strong, and may get stronger. The Wildcats are still in the running for DeQuin Evans, a JuCo defensive end, but the staff, and the fans, may have to wait until closer to signing day, if not on signing day itself. The Cats are also listed as a potential destination for several defensive backs and a handful of linebackers. The class appears solid, though a defection or two wouldn't surprise me, most notably Ridge Wilson, who has taken several more visits since committing to Kentucky very early in the process. Messageboard scuttlebutt varies by the day, and while I expect Wilson to be suiting up in Kentucky blue next year, it's not out of the question he lands somewhere else.

If the class gets no stronger it is still a remarkable defensive class, and with the return to Lexington of NFL potentials like Micah Johnson, Jeremy Jarmon, and Lindley, this is a defense that is transitioning from talented to talented and deep, something the Wildcats haven't been able to say in recent memory.

Here's who has verbally committed to the Wildcats to date:

Name: Tristian Johnson
Position: DE
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 222
Scout Position Rank: 101
ESPN Position Rank: 142
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Dante Rumph
Position: DE
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 260
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked (PostGraduate)
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked (PostGraduate)
Scout Rating: ****
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Patrick Ligon
Position: DE
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 255
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: *
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Myron Walker
Position: DT
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 264
Scout Position Rank: 119
ESPN Position Rank: 31
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Mister Cobble
Position: DT
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 270
Scout Position Rank: 63
ESPN Position Rank: 126
Scout Rating: ***
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Mark Crawford
Position: DT
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 305
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked (Junior College)
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked (Junior College)
Scout Rating: ***
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Qua Huzzie
Position: LB
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 205
Scout Position Rank: 32
ESPN Position Rank: 88
Scout Rating: ***
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Jarvis Walker
Position: LB/S
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 202
Scout Position Rank: 94
ESPN Position Rank: 45
Scout Rating: ***
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Ridge Wilson
Position: LB
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 207
Rivals Position Rank: 73
ESPN Position Rank: 108
Scout Rating: ***
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Demetri Merritt
Position: LB
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 200
Scout Position Rank: 36
ESPN Position Rank: 106
Scout Rating: ***
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Ryan Mosby
Position: LB/S
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 197
Rivals Position Rank: 74
ESPN Position Rank: 132
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: ***

Name: Martavius Neloms
Position: DB
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 175
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: *
Rivals Rating: **

The question remains if this class is talented or talented for the SEC, as there is a distinction. My initial gut reaction says there are some jewels on the defensive side of the ball, and with another commitment or two that the Cats could land, this might be one of the classes for the ages. Once a UK fan realizes that expecting dozens of commitments from 5-star blue chippers is relatively impossible, then the true perspective on what a feat this class is becomes clear. No, we are not USC. No, we are not Florida or Alabama. However, the talent gap that is between those schools and Big Blue is getting smaller and smaller with each class that Joker Phillips and Rich Brooks bring in.

At bare minimum, Kentucky was able to fill some gaps and prepare for the future with the senior class of 2009 departing a year from now. There is potential for this class and the prospects within to see significant playing time while not being relied on to be world beaters. They can learn from a defensive unit that showed flashes of greatness last year, and these gents will only add to that performance. All in all, a solid effort from the staff and a class that UK fans should be excited about.

Tomorrow OTP will spotlight the Ball State defense, and will recap the Kentucky recruiting class as a whole along with where they shake out amongst the SEC on Thursday.