LEXINGTON, Ky. — The defending national champion Kentucky rifle program has signed in-state product Connor Davis to a National Letter of Intent, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon by UK head coach Harry Mullins.

“We are very excited to welcome Connor into the Wildcat family,” Mullins said. “He is an outstanding young man and has a tremendous drive to succeed. One of the things that really attracted us to Connor is that he is a focused team player. He has a good foundation on what it is like to shoot for a team. He has tremendous drive in the sport and has shown great potential in the numbers that he has produced.”

A native of Shelbyville, Ky., Davis signed an NLI with the Wildcats as one of the top recruits in collegiate rifle. Last year, Davis was the men’s Junior Olympic three-position smallbore national champion and the three-position Junior Olympic air rifle national champion. Davis is currently a member of the United States Junior National Team.

“It is always great to have a top recruit come out of our own state,” Mullins said. “We feel that after watching Connor for some time he will fit into our system and will be able to contribute from the start. His willingness to work and strive for the team to succeed will get him started on a good note.”

Kentucky (7-0, 3-0 Great American Rifle Conference) returns to action on Jan. 14, 2012, traveling to West Point, N.Y., for a matchup at Army.

“Looking at this year’s recruiting classes, Connor is one of the top recruits to come out of high school, if not the top,” Mullins said. “The great part is that he is coming to UK from the state of Kentucky. Connor bleeds blue and he will make a great Wildcat during his career.”