Jaylin Bannerman, Linebacker, 6-5, 220, Fr.-HS, Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington Central) – A tall and speedy linebacker/defensive end who is a consensus three-star prospect … PHS posted an impressive 34-10 record and won four straight Ohio Capital Conference Championships during his career … Coached by Jay Sharrett … Earned first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Central District honors in 2015 … As a junior he totaled 87 tackles, including 17 tackles for a loss in helping Pickerington go undefeated in the regular season at 10-0 … Three-star prospect by Scout.com, which ranks him as the fourth-best defensive end in Ohio and the 56th best defensive end in the nation … Scout.com says, “Long framed athlete who is raw but shows signs of being a high level player in the coming years. Length will allow Kentucky to do a couple of things with him. First he can stay at defensive end and add bulk without losing athletic ability. He could also add less bulk and take a step back and line up as a linebacker depending upon the scheme the Wildcats want to run” … Rated by 247sports as a three-star prospect and as the 37th best prospect in Ohio … Tabbed by ESPN as the No. 37 prospect in the state of Ohio and the 96th best defensive end … Rated by Rivals as the 48th best prospect in Ohio … Also starred in basketball and track & field as a high jumper … Had offers from Pittsburgh, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Toledo.

Coach Stoops on Bannerman: “Jaylin is a dynamic athlete who has great size and length.  He was a multi-sport athlete in high school who has the ability to develop as a standup edge player.”