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LEXINGTON — If Kentucky football fans were happy with this year’s recruiting class, tight ends coach Vince Marrow says just wait because even better days are ahead.
“We had six weeks to do this. Giving us a whole year, it’s going to be pretty special, pretty interesting. I’m very fired up. I know everybody else is fired up. Like I said, we’ve already got some of the top 10 guys on board that want to come now (next year). So it’s going to be a good thing,” said Marrow.
The coach, who came to UK from Nebraska, has strong connections in Ohio. That’s one reason UK¿signed Marcus McWilson, a four-star recruit that Marrow calls a “gifted athlete” that many feel is one of the best five players in Ohio.
“I am already on the top 15 guys (in Ohio) for next year. Can’t say their names, but they’re some very highly recruited guys,” Marrow said. ”So I can tell you this: Ohio is a very important state for us. We will be in there. We will take the top guys. I will be battling with Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska. And I feel pretty good about where we’re going with this.”
He says the key is not to be afraid to go after the best possible players.
“I know I don’t take a back seat to anyone. I know where Mark (Stoops) is from – he’s from Youngstown, Ohio – he don’t take a back seat. And most of the guys on this staff. We went after the top guys. We’re not going after no third-tier guys. We’re going after the top guys,” ¿Marrow said.
“I like coach Stoops’ attitude. We’re going to recruit five-star, four-star, highly recruited guys. You’ll see. We did this in six weeks. Now we’ve got a whole big chance for next year and we’ve got some guys on board already talking about wanting to commit as juniors.”
Junior defensive end Denzel Ware of Florida, a top-50 player in some recruiting rankings, gave Stoops his verbal commitment earlier this week.
Marrow also says UK¿fans can expect the tight end to have a “more integral part” in next season’s offense.
“You’ve got to have a kid that can run. That’s why we took the Steve (Borden) kid. I call him the WWF wrestling kid (his father is wrestler Sting). But that’s why we took him. We’re going to get some of the top national guys for 2014,” ¿Marrow said. “But I like the (current UK tight end Anthony) Kendrick kid. He fits what we need to do. You’re going to see the tight end play a big role in this offense.”