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SEC Breakdown: Kentucky

Kentucky had a resurgent cycle in 2013 after the hiring of new head coach Mark Stoops and staff. The Wildcats closed strong with 247Composite four-star prospects Ryan Timmons and Jason Hatcher and enrolled on of the top mid-year junior college defensive line transfers in the country in Za'Darius Smith of East Mississippi Community College. The Wildcats finished with the No. 36 class in the country. In this video feature, 247Sports National Recruiting Director JC Shurburtt, Lisa Cornwell of SECPressPass.com and Jon Cooper of Saturday Down South break down the Cats' recruiting efforts.

247Sports Staff

    • When Kentucky has had good players the team has made noise. It's not surprising how most seem to forget the good UK has done. Those teams didnt have the talent that Coach Stoops will bring in.

      Big Tymer

    • Ignorant, lazy comments by Cooper in that video. How in the hell can he make the statement "Kentucky's not going to compete for SEC championships"?? How the heck does he know? Stanford wasn't supposed to compete for PAC10/12, same with Oregon not too long ago. Boise St wasn't supposed to be known for anything other than a blue field. South Carolina was neck and neck with UK for the near basement of the SEC before Spurrier. Vandy and Ole Miss staffs over the past two and one seasons have made 180 degree improvements in the same brutal conference as UK. It can be done. Stoops and staff keep this momentum up, and they certainly can, and will, compete for SEC championships.

      UKcats60

    • UKcats60 said...

      Ignorant, lazy comments by Cooper in that video. How in the hell can he make the statement "Kentucky's not going to compete for SEC championships"?? How the heck does he know? Stanford wasn't supposed to compete for PAC10/12, same with Oregon not too long ago. Boise St wasn't supposed to be known for anything other than a blue field. South Carolina was neck and neck with UK for the near basement of the SEC before Spurrier. Vandy and Ole Miss staffs over the past two and one seasons have made 180 degree improvements in the same brutal conference as UK. It can be done. Stoops and staff keep this momentum up, and they certainly can, and will, compete for SEC championships.

      I think his point was that when UK has cycled up-like it did under Brooks and Mumme, it's been to the 6-8 win level.

      That being said, if Kentucky can recruit well, the fan support, facilities and everything else is in place there to win.

      People think UK folks just care about basketball. Not true to anyone that has been to a game at Commonwealth Stadium.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • Vanderbilt went from winning 2 to winning 9 in two seasons under Franklin and Ole Miss went from winning 2 to winning 7 (and put quite a scare into A&M and LSU) in the first year under Freeze.

      JC Shurburtt ●

    • JC Shurburtt said...

      I think his point was that when UK has cycled up-like it did under Brooks and Mumme, it's been to the 6-8 win level.

      That being said, if Kentucky can recruit well, the fan support, facilities and everything else is in place there to win.

      People think UK folks just care about basketball. Not true to anyone that has been to a game at Commonwealth Stadium.

      I understand, JC, and I appreciate and agree with your responses. It's just when a paid analyst blurts out the same old "UK will never compete" or "6-8 wins is getting it done at UK" it ticks me and other die hard UK fans off. Like you said, a lot of people don't realize how passionate UK fans are about football.

      Commonwealth Stadium usually ranks in the top 25 in national attendance numbers. During the "successful" 6+ win seasons, the stadium is sold out and parking passes are scalped for well over $100 each. Bowl attendance records were broken when UK made the Outback Bowl in '98 and Music City in '06 (Clemson fans were hard to find in Nashville). Stoops already has the fan support and as he builds UK toward relevancy in the SEC, the rest of the conference will eventually have no choice but to recognize that UK and it's fans are serious about their football too.

      UKcats60

    • JC Shurburtt said...

      Vanderbilt went from winning 2 to winning 9 in two seasons under Franklin and Ole Miss went from winning 2 to winning 7 (and put quite a scare into A&M and LSU) in the first year under Freeze.

      But even this isn't "competing for SEC championships". Some of us are expecting way too much from Stoops in his first season. Seems to me the writer's assessment is about right--and even a bit optimistic.

      t75 ●

    • t75 said...

      But even this isn't "competing for SEC championships". Some of us are expecting way too much from Stoops in his first season. Seems to me the writer's assessment is about right--and even a bit optimistic.

      I think the use of the word never was the issue. I am not sure Jon meant it in that manner.

      JC Shurburtt ●

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