Feb. 4, 2009

• Quotes on Kentucky Football Signees from Head Coach Rich  Brooks and Offensive Coordinator Randy Sanders
• Live Blog and other coverage from Cat Scratches
• Signing Day Player Highlights (no audio)

UKathletics.com will be your first and official source for live coverage of Signing Day 2009. Throughout the day, we will provide information on prospective student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to play football at Kentucky. NOTE: Prospective student-athletes may only be listed or mentioned on UKathletics.com only when the UK Football Office has received an official, signed NCAA National Letter of Intent that has been verified by the UK Athletics Compliance Office.

UPDATE, 3:00 PM ET

Added DeQuin Evans and Jonathan George

Note: Class denotes eligibility for the 2009 season

Pronunciation Guide

Jordan Aumiller AWE-mil-ler
Qua Huzzie KWAY HUZ-zee
Demetri Merritt dem-EE-tree
Terrell Mitchell ter-RELL
Martavious Neloms mar-TAY-vee-us NEL-ums
Donte Rumph RUMF

Brian Adams, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 210, Fr-HS, Gainesville, Ga. (South Forsyth)

Primarily a quarterback in high school, he projects as a wide receiver on the collegiate level … Has excellent height and speed, having been as timed as fast as 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Was a dual-threat quarterback at South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. … Also saw playing time at wide receiver and defensive back … Missed most of his senior season because of an injury … Second-team all-region as a junior … Rushed for 646 yards and six touchdowns while passing for 1,137 yards and six TDs … Also returned punts … Listed as the nation’s No. 55 quarterback by Scout.com … Coached by Wendell Early … Also played baseball.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Brian Adams is a tremendous athlete who played quarterback and was an outstanding runner. We actually had him in camp and were very impressed with his speed, size and athletic ability. I think that he will be a guy that can come in and give us a very tall, athletic and fast receiver.”

Jordan Aumiller, Athlete, 6-4, 199, Fr-HS, Danville, Ky. (Boyle County)

Showed his versatility by playing tight end, quarterback, linebacker, safety and punter during his career at Boyle County High School in Danville, Ky. … Could end up on either side of the ball as a collegian … First-team all-state as a junior and senior by the Louisville Courier-Journal … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the state’s top-22 seniors … Senior statistics include 25 pass receptions for 389 yards and five touchdowns as a tight end … Totaled 61 tackles, 19 pass breakups and four interceptions at safety … Helped lead Boyle County to a 13-1 record and the state semifinals as a senior … Threw for 1,055 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior quarterback … Also caught 23 passes for 392 yards … Coached by Larry French and Chris Pardue … The No. 12 prospect in Kentucky by SuperPrep … Listed as the No. 66 tight end in the country by Scout.com.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Jordan is a great athlete and is an outstanding basketball player. He is a young man that we have yet to determine what position he will play to best help us. He could be a safety, linebacker or tight end. One thing that we do know is that he is an outstanding athlete with tremendous ball skills.”

Justin Bean, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 180, Fr-HS, Tupelo, Miss. (Tupelo)

One of the top 25 prospects in Mississippi according to Scout.com … Caught 35 passes for 753 yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Tupelo High School … Had 18 receptions for 405 yards and five TDs during junior season … Helped lead Tupelo to the state playoffs the last two seasons, with a best mark of 9-4 and second-round berth his junior year … Coached by Eric Collins … Made an early commitment to Kentucky in the summer of 2008 and never wavered.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Justin is a talented wide receiver with good hands who has the ability to make the big catch.”

Mister Cobble, Defensive Tackle, 6-0, 290, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (Central)

Two-year first-team all-state honoree … Helped spearhead an outstanding defense that led Central High School of Louisville to back-to-back Class AAA state championships … Dominant presence who often commanded double teams … Made 89 tackles his senior season, highlighted by 25 tackles for loss, and returned a fumble for a touchdown … First-team all-state as a junior and senior by The Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the state’s top-22 seniors … Made approximately 120 tackles his junior year and was named District Most Valuable Player … Four-year starter … The No. 6 prospect in Kentucky as chosen by SuperPrep … Coached by Ty Scroggins … Teammate of fellow UK signee Ridge Wilson … Also participates in wrestling, an all-state performer in that sport.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Mister is a very physical presence in the defensive tackle spot. He was in our camp as well last summer. He was a dominant guy in one-on-one drills and is certainly an intelligent football player as well as a very physical player.”

Mark Crawford, Defensive Tackle, 6-1, 290, So-JC, Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis/Coffeyville Community College)

Enrolled at Kentucky in January and has three seasons of eligibility remaining … Redshirted as a freshman in 2007 at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College … In 2008 he played in eight games, totaling 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup … Had 6.5 quarterback sacks – an excellent number for a defensive tackle – leading the team in that category and ranking sixth in the Jayhawk Conference … Ranked No. 27 among the nation’s top junior-college players by SuperPrep and No. 69 by Rivals.com … Coached by Darian Dulin … “Mark’s strengths are his ‘get off the ball’ (quickness) and ability to anticipate the snap count,” Dulin said. “He plays with a high motor and is hard to block. He uses his hands well, has good punch and runs well for an inside guy” … Played his high-school football at Ben Davis HS in Indianapolis … Earned all-conference honors … Two-year starter at defensive tackle … Played youth league and middle-school football, but did not play his first two years of high school before resuming the game as a junior … High-school coach was Tom Allen.

Rich B rooks quote:
“Mark is already in school, working in the winter conditioning and we are excited that we will add depth to the defensive tackle spot. He is very physical and is outstanding against the run. I think that he will develop into an excellent inside pass rusher.”

DeQuin Evans, Defensive End, 6-3, 260, Jr-JC, Long Beach, Calif. (Dominguez/Los Angeles Harbor College)

The nation’s No. 15 junior-college prospect by Rivals.com … Listed No. 33 in the juco ranks by SuperPrep … Played at Los Angeles Harbor College, where he was a teammate of current Wildcat signee Chris Matthews … Participated in 15 games during his two seasons at Harbor, totaling 63 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 quarterback sacks, four pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery … Coached by Andrew Alvillar and Brett Peabody.

Rich Brooks quote: “DeQuin is a guy who really should be in position to compete for the starting spot at right defensive end vacated by graduation. He is a guy that has great pass-rush skills and the ability to chase from sideline to sideline. We feel like he will give us some experience at the very important defensive end position.”

Jonathan George, Running Back, 6-1, 185, Fr-HS, Lincoln, Ala. (Lincoln)

Running back with a unique combination of athletic accomplishments … Had approximately 3,300 all-purpose yards and 26 total touchdowns as a senior at Lincoln (Ala.) High School … Including in the TD total were five kickoff returns for touchdowns and four punt returns for scores … Honorable-mention all-state in football by the Alabama Sportswriters Association … All-county … Named to the Anniston Star “Dandy Dozen,” covering the Northeast Alabama area … Missed most of his junior year because of injury … Coached by Keith Howard … A state-champion performer in both track and wrestling … State champ in the 400-meter run and also a member of the 4×400-meter relay unit that won the state title … State runner-up in the 200-meter dash … Also state champion in his weight class in wrestling.

Rich Brooks quote: “Jonathan is a very fast, explosive runner and obviously has ability as a kick returner. I don’t think I’ve ever recruited a player who was a state champion in the 400 meters and also a state-champion wrestler. I’ve had some wrestlers before, but never a wrestler/sprinter.”

Qua Huzzie, Linebacker, 5-11, 205, Fr-HS, LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange)

All-time leading tackler in the history of LaGrange (Ga.) High School, which has won multiple state championships over the years … Made 473 tackles as a Granger, including 55 tackles for loss … The Class AAA State Defensive Player of the Year as a senior as chosen by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Made 145 tackles during senior campaign, including 21 tackles for loss … First-team all-state as a junior and senior … The No. 35 prospect in Georgia, according to SuperPrep … The nation’s No. 45 outside linebacker and No. 55 prospect in Georgia as rated by Rivals.com … Has been timed as fast as 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has an excellent instinct for finding the ballcarrier … Helped lead LaGrange to an 11-3 record his senior season, including a spot in the semifinals of the state playoffs … Coached by Steve Pardue … Follows in the footsteps of two former Wildcats who were All-Southeastern Conference linebackers from LaGrange, Wesley Woodyard (now with the Denver Broncos) and 2008 senior Braxton Kelley … The Granger tradition also includes former wide receiver/current student coach DeMoreo Ford and current cornerback Randall Burden … Huzzie is a teammate of current Wildcat signees Tristian Johnson and Demetri Merritt … Name is pronounced “KWAY HUZ-ee.”

Rich Brooks quote:
“Qua is one of the most explosive linebackers that I have seen in a long time. He’s in a long line of LaGrange High School players that I think can come in and help us. I am looking forward to getting him on the practice field and watching him make plays. He certainly has outstanding explosion and speed.”

Tristian Johnson, Linebacker, 6-3, 200, Fr-HS, LaGrange Ga. (LaGrange)

High-school defensive end who projects as a linebacker as a collegian … Two-year member of the all-area team … Racked up 97 tackles as a senior, an impressive total for a defensive end … Added 11 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, one caused fumble, and three fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown … Notched 79 tackles, including 10 for loss, as a junior … Ranked as the nation’s No. 57 weakside defensive end by Rivals.com … Has run the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, an excellent time for a defensive end, and also is noted for his quickness … Senior season featured an 11-3 record, with LaGrange advancing to the semifinals of the state playoffs … Coached by Steve Pardue … Joins the recent list of LaGrange players at Kentucky that includes former All-Southeastern Conference linebackers Wesley Woodyard (now with the Denver Broncos) and Braxton Kelley, former wide receiver/current student coach DeMoreo Ford and current cornerback Randall Burden … Johnson is a teammate of current Wildcat signees Qua Huzzie and Demetri Merritt.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Tristian is another LaGrange product who has played various spots. He has played defensive end and linebacker and we project him as a linebacker. He is another guy that can run. Obviously, he has played in a great high school system that understands playing snap to whistle. We are excited that he can bring some competition to the linebacker area this next season.”

Anthony Kendrick, Wide Receiver/Tight End, 6-4, 220, Fr-HS, Katy, Texas (Seven Lakes)

Outstanding athlete who is a two-sport star at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas … Excelled in both football and basketball, receiving Division I scholarship offers in both sports … Earned all-district honors for each sport … Played wide receiver in high school, he could move to tight end in college … The nation’s No. 30 tight end prospect by Rivals.com … Caught 31 passes for 539 yards with eight touchdowns as a senior … Grabbed 40 passes for 689 yards and three TDs in his junior year … Noted as a receiver with great hands, not surprising given his proficiency in basketball …Coached by Kevin O’Keefe.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Anthony is one of the more impressive young men that I have seen on film in recent years from a size and ball-skill standpoint. He played mostly wideout and is already approaching tight end size. I am sure that he will be a factor for us early in his career at the tight end position. We will also flex him out some, like we did with Jacob Tamme, into the slot. He is a guy that has tremendous playmaking ability.”

LaRod King, Wide Receiver, 6-6, 190, Fr-HS, Radcliff, Ky. (North Hardin)

Versatile athlete played quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, safety, and on special teams for North Hardin HS in Radcliff, Ky. … Started at quarterback as a senior … Named first-team all-district … Split time between QB and wide receiver as a junior … His height presents matchup problems for many defensive backs … During his junior season, had one game in which he rushed for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, and threw a TD pass … The No. 7 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.com and No. 10 by SuperPrep … Coached by Crad Jaggers and Joe Washington … Also competed in basketball and track and field … An early commitment to UK and did not consider other schools.

Rich Brooks quote: “LaRod gives us a very tall and physical receiver. He was a high school quarterback at North Hardin, which is the high school that Andre’ Woodson came from. We really feel like LaRod is a physical presence at the wide receiver position. He is also an outstanding basketball player and has great ball skills.”

Patrick Ligon, Defensive End, 6-4, 265, Fr-HS, Germantown, Tenn. (Christian Brothers)

Good-sized defensive end prospect … Was a big-play performer at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis … His 44 tackles during his senior season featured a whopping 21 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks … Also caused three fumbles and had eight quarterback hurries … Team went to the state playoffs his junior and senior seasons … Coached by Kevin Locastro … Originally committed to his hometown school of Memphis before changing his mind and opting for the Wildcats … Older brother, David, played at Tennessee from 2004-06.

Rich Brooks quote: “Patrick is an outstanding player and a physical defensive end. He looks on film to be explosive enough to stay at that position but we know that he could even get bigger and be in a position to move inside to defensive tackle at a later date.”

Chris Matthews, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210, Jr-JC, Paramount, Calif. (Dorsey/Los Angeles Harbor College)

Among the nation’s top 10 junior-college prospects, and the No. 2 wide receiver, as ranked by Rivals.com … Big receiver posted big numbers at Los Angeles Harbor College … Caught 80 balls as a sophomore, good for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns in only nine games … His 80 receptions was tops among all 72 California junior colleges that compete in football … First-team All-California … Caught 32 passes for 529 yards and four TDs as a freshman …. Has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Coached by Andrew Avillar and Brett Peabody … Played his high-school football at Dorsey HS in Los Angeles … Was a tight end in high school.

Rich Brooks quote: “Chris will bring experience to a position on our team that was very young a year ago. He obviously has had a great junior college career and we are looking forward to having a very physical and tall receiver compete next fall for playing time. We feel that Chris can bring outstanding playmaking ability and he certainly has great ball skills.”

Demetri Merritt, Defensive End, 6-3, 222, Fr-HS, LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange)

A linebacker and defensive end in high school, he projects as a defensive end in the collegiate ranks … Totaled 88 tackles as a senior, including six quarterback sacks, three tackles for loss, one caused fumble and two fumble recoveries … Two-year member of the all-area team … Listed as the nation’s No. 36 weakside linebacker by Scout.com … Helped take LaGrange to an 11-3 record and state semifinals his senior season … Coached by Steve Pardue … Among the number of recent LaGrange players at Kentucky that includes former All-Southeastern Conference linebackers Wesley Woodyard (now with the Denver Broncos) and Braxton Kelley, former wide receiver/current student coach DeMoreo Ford and current cornerback Randall Burden … Merritt is a teammate of current Wildcat signees Qua Huzzie and Tristian Johnson.

Rich Brooks quote: “Demetri is a very quick defensive end and has played some linebacker in a long line of great players from LaGrange High School. LaGrange has certainly been a major factor in turning our program around and we are excited to add a third prospect to our signing class from there.”

Kevin Mitchell, Offensive Lineman, 6-7, 295, Fr-HS, Winston, Ga. (Alexander)

First-team all-state for Georgia Class AAAA by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … S izeable offensive line prospect … Has a frame that can continue to add weight and strength … Also a good athlete for a player his size, as he has been timed just under 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Three-year starter at Alexander HS in Douglasville, Ga. … Started at tight end as a sophomore, tackle as a junior and guard as a senior … Two-year selection to the All-Douglas County team …Coached by Kenny Palmer … Also played basketball at Alexander.

Rich Brooks quote: “Kevin is another young man that we had in our camp that proved to be very athletic. He has SEC size at 6-7, 295 pounds and is an outstanding athlete. I believe that his best football is ahead of him. He will bring a very physical presence as soon as he steps on to the field.”

Terrell Mitchell, Tight End, 6-6, 220, Fr-HS, Hiram, Ga. (McEachern)

Highly regarded tight-end prospect … Listed No. 24 nationally at his position by Scout.com … The nation’s No. 35 tight end by Rivals.com, No. 65 overall in the talent-rich state of Georgia … The No. 24 prospect in Georgia as listed by SuperPrep … Considered to have all-around skills as a pass-catcher and blocker … Notable athletic ability includes a best time of 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Had 26 catches for approximately 450 yards and eight touchdowns his senior season at McEachern HS in Powder Springs, Ga. … Played multiple positions, seeing time at tight end, wide receiver, H-back and defensive end … Had an overall blocking grade of 92 percent, an excellent figure … Named All-Cobb County as a senior … Coached by Kyle Hockman, who is a brother of former UK quarterback Ryan Hockman … Also played basketball and ran track.

Rich Brooks quote: “Terrell is another outstanding prospect at tight end, much like Anthony Kendrick. We are talking about a tall, physical receiver who will be able to move inside to the tight end position and flex out and use his athletic ability in the slot. He has certainly been an outstanding playmaker and we look forward to him joining our team here at Kentucky.”

Ryan Mosby, Linebacker, 6-0, 205, Fr-HS, Heath, Texas (Rockwall-Heath)

Brings excellent athletic ability to the linebacker position … Highly productive performer who had 107 tackles his senior year at Rockwall-Heath High School in Rockwall, Texas … Helped lead his team to a 13-1 record, reaching the quarterfinals of the Class AAAA state playoffs … Also had five quarterback sacks and four fumbles caused … Named to the all-district team … Played at Greenville (Texas) HS prior to his senior year at Rockwall-Heath … Had approximately 110 stops as a junior, featuring 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks … Rivals.com has him listed as one of the top 75 outside linebackers in the country … Has the athleticism to play safety in college if that is his best position … Coached by Mickey Moss.

Rich Brooks quote: “Ryan is another very explosive and fast linebacker. He is part of a group of outstanding players that we are getting from the state of Texas this year. He is very fast and has great coverage skills as well as being a physical presence against the run.”

Ryan Mossakowski, Quarterback, 6-4, 201, Fr-HS, Frisco, Texas (Centennial)

All-America quarterback as selected by SuperPrep and PrepStar magazines … Threw for 6,834 yards and 49 touchdowns over his final three seasons at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas … Totals would have been higher but he missed some of his senior season because of an injury … Best year came as a junior, when he passed for 2,963 yards and 19 touchdowns … Strong arm and accuracy are shown by his 67.4 completion percentage during his senior season … Known primarily as a passer, but he also has good mobility … Rushed for 787 yards and 19 touchdowns his last three years … Ranked as one of the nation’s top-25 quarterbacks by SuperPrep, Scout.com and Rivals.com, and his listings would have been even higher had he not missed part of his senior season … The No. 18 overall prospect in Texas by SuperPrep … Named first-team “All-Combine” at the U.S. Army All-America Junior Combine … Coached by Mark Howard … Also an outstanding baseball outfielder, he is considered to be a professional prospect in that sport.

Rich Brooks quote: “Ryan has been through off-season shoulder surgery and is doing extremely well in his rehab. Before his injury he was one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the nation. Throwing the football he has a quick delivery and is also an outstanding athlete that can run it and throw it. He has made many great plays and has the ability to throw the ball deep as well as hit intermediate routes.”

Martavius Neloms, Cornerback, 6-1, 185, Fr-HS, Memphis, Tenn. (Fairley)

First-team all-state in Tennessee Class AAAA as a senior … Led the state in interceptions with eight pickoffs, returning two for touchdowns … Only began playing football his junior year at Fairley High School in Memphis … His achievements are amazing for someone who has played football just two years … Has shown remarkable aptitude for the sport and, of course, has tremendous upside for the future … Also named all-metro by the Memphis Commercial-Appeal … Made six interceptions as a junior … Played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game following his senior season and had an interception in that contest, helping his Red team post a 14-0 shutout … The No. 30 prospect in Tennessee by Rivals.com … Coached by Rahnmann Slocum.

Rich Brooks quote: “Martavius is a guy who, in our opinion, has flown under the radar a little bit. He has intercepted 14 passes in his junior and senior years. He has the size at 6-1 and 185 pounds to be a factor as a freshman. He certainly brings great ball skills and playmaking ability to the corner position.”

Morgan Newton, Quarterback, 6-4, 220, Fr-HS, Westfield, Ind. (Carmel)

All-America quarterback as named by Parade, SuperPrep, The Sporting News and MaxPreps … “Mr. Football” in the state of Indiana … Threw for 1,938 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, along with 1,664 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, accounting for 3,602 yards total offense and 48 TDs … Led Carmel High School to three consecutive state championship games, winning the Class AAAAA title his junior season … Team went 38-7 over those three years … Passed for 1,882 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior, adding 753 rushing yards and 11 scores … First-team all-state as a junior and senior … Indianapolis Star Player of the Year as a senior … Career totals feature 4,284 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, plus 2,617 rushing yards and 37 scores … Broke 10 school records, eight of which were held by former NFL and Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann … The No. 6 quarterback prospect in the nation by Scout.com … The No. 7 QB by SuperPrep, which also listed him as the No. 6 overall prospect in the six-state Midwest Region … Played his freshman year at Pike HS in Indianapolis, where he was a teammate (and is still friends with) current Wildcat signee Dakotah Tyler … Coached by Mo Moriarity … His father, John, played college football at Grambling University.

Rich Brooks quote: “Morgan is an outstanding quarterback. He is a young man that not only has thrown for a bunch of yards but can also run it, as witnessed by his 1,664 yards rushing his senior year. He is one of the more impressive playmakers that I have seen on film in recent years. He has the physical size and strength to be a factor as a true freshman and we are looking forward to his strong arm and accuracy throwing the football.”

Donte Rumph, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 265, Fr-HS, St. Matthews, S.C. (Calhoun County/Fork Union Military Academy)

Talented lineman with the size and strength to play tackle and also the quickness needed to play at end … Originally signed with Kentucky a year ago, he spent the 2008 season at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy … His prep season included a game against the Kentucky junior varsity, in which he made two tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack … Coached at Fork Union by John Shuman … As a high-school senior, earned first-team all-state honors, covering all classifications, by The Associated Press and the Columbia State newspaper … Also first-team all-state for Class AA by the High School Sports Report … Totaled 107 tackles during senior season, including 14 quarterback sacks, for Calhoun County HS in St. Matthews, S.C. … Chosen for the South Carolina vs. North Carolina Shrine Bowl and played for the winning squad … Made 65 tackles and five sacks during his junior season … Coached by Walter Wilson … Member of the Calhoun County basketball team which won three consecutive state championships and had a winning streak of more than 70 games … An uncle, Chris Rumph, is an assistant coach at Clemson … Cousin of Philip Merling, former Clemson star who is now a defensive end with the Miami Dolphins.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Donte is a guy that should be competing for playing time immediately. He signed with us a year ago but took a year in prep school to prepare himself for the next step. We played against him in the JV game and he was very impressive making plays. He did a great job of pressuring the quarterback and making tackles behind the line of scrimmage.”

Donald Russell, Running Back, 5-11, 205, Fr-HS, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Dwyer)

One of the nation’s top 50 running backs as projected by Rivals.com … Also on Rivals’ list of the top 100 players in Florida … Played both cornerback and running back at Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. … Was a full-time corner with additional duty as a ballcarrier … Rushed for 893 yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season, going to the semifinals of the state playoffs in Class AAAA … Gained 932 yards and nine TDs as a junior, when his team hit the state quarterfinals … First-team all-conference as a senior, second team as a junior … Named to the “Super 11” team for Palm Beach County … Coached by Jack Daniels … Also a track standout, has run the 100-meter dash under 10.8 seconds … Has a personal best of 23 feet, 11 inches in the long jump.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Donald is a running back who has been at the top of our list for a long time and we are thrilled to get a guy of his ability and size. He brings a physical presence to the running back position and has the ability to catch the ball coming out of the backfield. He is a young man that should be in the rotation for playing time once we start fall practice.”

Sam Simpson, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 292, Fr-HS, Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay)

Among the nation’s top center prospects … Rated No. 3 in the country by Scout.com, No. 10 by Rivals.com … First-team all-state as a senior by the Louisville Courier-Journal … Second-team all-state by The Associated Press … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” list of the top-22 seniors in the state … Played for his father, Coach Sam Simpson, at Henry Clay HS in Lexington … Helped Henry Clay to three consecutive playoff appearances, including a 12-2 record and trip to the state semifinals his sophomore season … The elder Simpson played at Kentucky in the late 1970s and was a teammate of current Wildcat assistant coach Chuck Smith.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Sam is probably the best pure center that we have signed since I have been here. He is an outstanding prospect and we actually offered Sam after his sophomore year in high school. We feel that he not only has the physical presence to block one-on-one but the athletic ability to make blocks at the second level.”

Dakotah Tyler, Running Back, 6-0, 205, Fr-HS, Indianapolis, Ind. (Pike)

Multi-talented athlete has the ability to play either side of the ball in college … Started at strong safety for a state finalist as a junior, then played quarterback as a senior, but projects as a running back in college … Speedster who was timed at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the best time at a Scout.com prospect camp … Also has a 37-inch vertical jump and has a squat lift over 500 pounds, according to Pike High School Coach Derek Moyers … Ran for 1,291 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior while passing for 727 yards and seven TDs … Pike posted a 14-1 record his junior year, with the only loss coming in the state finals of Class AAAAA … Was a freshman teammate of current Wildcat signee Morgan Newton, who eventually transferred to Carmel HS … Tyler originally committed to Cincinnati in the summer of 2008 before changing his mind in favor of Kentucky.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Dakotah is a very fast and physical running back that played safety his junior year and was an outstanding running back his senior year. He is another running back that can catch the ball coming out of the backfield but more importantly has the explosion and speed to break tackles and make long runs.”

Jarvis Walker, Safety, 6-2, 202, Fr-HS, Marrero, La. (Archbishop Rummel)

A big, rangy safety from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, La. … Noted for his excellent football instincts, a key asset for a safety … Also known as a hard hitter … With his size, he could become an outside linebacker in the collegiate ranks … His athletic ability would give him a large advantage at the linebacker position … Projected as one of the nation’s top 50 outside linebackers by Rivals.com … The No. 29 prospect in Louisiana by Rivals and rated No. 32 in the state by SuperPrep … Helped Archbishop Rummel to a 9-2 record as a senior, going to the second round of the state playoffs … Coached by Jay Roth … Brother of current Wildcat signee Myron Walker.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Jarvis is a very physical safety who also could move into the linebacker position if he continues to grow. He is a physical presence all over the football field and has the ability to make plays in the passing game as well as in run defense.”

Myron Walker, Defensive Lineman, 5-11, 270, Fr-HS, Marrero, La. (Archbishop Rummel)

Strong, quick defensive lineman … His size and abilities have been compared to Lamar Mills, another former Kentucky and Archbishop Rummel defensive tackle … The No. 28 prospect in Louisiana by SuperPrep … One of the nation’s top 100 defensive tackles as listed by Rivals.com … Helped Archbishop Rummel to a 9-2 record as a senior, going to the second round of the state playoffs … Coached by Jay Roth … Brother of current Wildcat signee Jarvis Walker.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Myron is a very physically explosive defensive lineman. We feel like he can be an outstanding active player in our defensive tackle position.”

Larry Warford, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 349, Fr-HS, Richmond, Ky. (Madison Central)

The first verbal commitment of Kentucky’s 2009 signing class is a two-year all-state honoree … First-team all-state senior year by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top-22 seniors in Kentucky … Second-team all-state as a junior by AP … Played his junior and senior seasons at Madison Central HS after moving to Kentucky from California … Helped MCHS to a 9-3 record his senior year, going to the second round of the state playoffs … Coached at Madison Central by Kenny Turner … Earned a starting job as a sophomore at Oceanside (Calif.) HS … One of the nation’s top 30 offensive guards, and the No. 4 prospect in Kentucky, as evaluated by Rivals.com … One of the country’s top 50 OGs by Scout.com … No. 5 prospect in Kentucky by SuperPrep … Cousin of current Wildcat cornerback Paul Warford.

Rich Brooks quote:
“Larry already comes in at SEC size. The physical size of our offensive line signees is extremely impressive. He has great feet and we feel like he can play tackle or guard. We are looking forward to adding him into the mix once we can start camp in August.”

Ridge Wilson, Linebacker, 6-3, 207, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (Central)

First-team all-state as picked by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal … Also named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top-22 seniors in the state … Versatile athlete could end up at several positions on the football field … Played linebacker primarily in high school, but also saw time at defensive end, strong safety and as a wide receiver on offense … Helped lead Central High School of Louisville to back-to-back Class AAA championships as a junior and senior … Totaled 76 tackles as a senior, including 12 for loss, and had three interceptions … Made nine tackles, including two for loss, and caused a fumble in the 2008 state title tilt … District Most Valuable Player as a senior … Four-year starter … Coached by Ty Scroggins, who has captured the state title in both of his seasons as a head coach … One of the nation’s top-75 linebackers by Rivals.com … The No. 8 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals and SuperPrep … Has been timed as fast as 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash … An outstanding student who was recruited by Ivy League schools … Excels in basketball, helping take Central to the Kentucky Sweet 16 state tournament in 2008 … Also has participated in track.

Rich Brooks quote: “Ridge is another Central High product, home of Corey Peters and Mister Cobble. Ridge is a very tall linebacker who covers sideline to sideline. We feel like he can do an outstanding job of pass drops and pass coverage as well as being a physical presence against the run.”