Wednesday, Feb. 6 marks the first day Division I schools can officially sign prospects for the upcoming 2008 season. Follow this page throughout the day to see which players have signed to play Kentucky football. Names will be added to this list only when UK receives and verifies the official National Letter of Intent.
Extreme Access members will be able to watch exclusive video highlights of all the signees (once all the paperwork is in) plus Rich Brooks' press conference about signing day live at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Free live Audio of the press conference will also be available. The audio link can be found on this page.
**Due to outside circumstances, the live audio and video feed from UK head football coach Rich Brooks press conference was not available at 3:00. Likely due to storm damage in the area on Tuesday night, connectivity could not be established from the press conference site. Both the audio and video feed from the press conference will be available through Extreme Access as soon as possible.
Final Update: Feb. 6 - 2:25 pm
FINAL UPDATES: Ukwu - 2:25 pm ... Johnson, Mason - 1:15 pm ... Cobb - 1:06 pm ... Boyd - 11:41 am ... Guy, McCaskill, Rice, Rumph, Stackhouse - 11:20 am.
| Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl-Exp. |
Hometown (High School/Junior College) |
| Eric Adeyemi |
WR |
6-0 |
165 |
Fr-HS |
Miami, Fla. (Southridge) |
| Aaron Boyd |
WR |
6-3 |
210 |
Fr-HS |
Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay) |
| Chandler Burden |
OL |
6-5 |
280 |
Fr-HS |
Oxford, Ohio (LaSalle) |
| Randall Cobb |
QB/ATH |
5-11 |
180 |
Fr-HS |
Alcoa, Tenn. (Alcoa)TD>
|
| E.J. Fields |
WR/DB |
6-2 |
190 |
Fr-HS |
Frankfort, Ky. (Frankfort) |
| Winston Guy |
DB |
6-1 |
190 |
Fr-HS |
Lexington, Ky. (Lexington Catholic) |
| Osaze Idumwonyi |
OL/DL |
6-1 |
275 |
Fr-HS |
Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill) |
| William Johnson |
LB |
6-3 |
195 |
Fr-HS |
Nashville, Tenn. (Pearl-Cohen) |
| DeAunte Mason |
QB/ATH |
6-3 |
215 |
Fr-HS |
Nashville, Tenn. (Pearl-Cohen) |
| Gene McCaskill |
WR |
6-0 |
175 |
Fr-HS |
Chester, S.C. (Chester) |
| Cartier Rice |
DB |
5-10 |
180 |
Fr-HS |
Duncan, S.C. (Byrnes) |
| Matt Roark |
QB/ATH |
6-6 |
190 |
Fr-HS |
Acworth, Ga. (North Cobb) |
| Donte Rumph |
DL |
6-3 |
260 |
Fr-HS |
St. Matthews, S.C. (Calhoun County) |
| Matt Smith |
DL/OL |
6-4 |
270 |
Fr-HS |
Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier) |
| Sean Stackhouse |
TE |
6-4 |
250 |
Fr-HS |
Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin) |
| Danny Trevathan |
LB |
6-1 |
210 |
Fr-HS |
Leesburg, Fla. (Leesburg) |
| Dave Ulinski |
OL |
6-4 |
280 |
Fr-HS |
Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual) |
| Collins Ukwu |
DE |
6-4 |
210 |
Fr-HS |
La Vergne, Tenn. (La Vergne) |
| Trevino Woods |
OL |
6-5 |
280 |
Fr-HS |
Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central) |
| Taylor Wyndham |
LB/DL |
6-4 |
205 |
Fr-HS |
Swansea, S.C. (Swansea) |
Note: Class is eligibility for the 2008 season.
Pronunciation Guide
Eric Adeyemi ad-uh-YEM-ee
Osaze Idumwonyi o-SAH-zay id-oo-WAH-ee
Cartier Rice car-TEE-ay
Matt Roark RORK
Donte Rumph RUMF
Danny Trevathan trev-A-than
Dave Ulinski u-LIN-skee
Collins Ukwu OOK-woo
Player Bios
Eric Adeyemi, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 165, Fr-HS, Miami, Fla. (Southridge) Swift wide receiver prospect
Has been timed below 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash
As a senior, caught 31 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns for Southridge HS in Miami, Fla.
Rushed 24 times for 246 yards, a 10.3-yard average, and five TDs
Also returned kickoffs and punts, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown
Two-way player as a senior and had two interceptions on defense
Named to the All-Dade County team, a talent-rich area
According to a story in the Miami Herald, Eric was the only player this season who caught a pass against heralded Miami defensive back prospect Brandon Harris
Credited with 16 receptions for 353 yards, an impressive 22.1-yard average, and four TDs as a junior
Rushed for 206 yards on 28 carries, a 7.4 average, and three TDs
Coached by Rodney Hunter
Also a track standout
Second in the state in the 300-meter hurdles as a junior
Fourth in the state in the 110-meter hurdles as a junior
Name is pronounced ad-uh-YEM-ee.
Back to top
Aaron Boyd, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 210, Fr-HS, Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay) Highly regarded wide receiver
The No. 1 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.com and Scout.com
One of the nations top-40 wide receivers by both services, and rated the No. 18 player in the Midwest by Scout.com
Caught 55 passes as a senior, good for 1,157 yards and 15 touchdowns
First-team all-state by The Associated Press
Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader Class of the Commonwealth and Kentucky Tremendous 26 listing of the top seniors in the state
Named to the all-city team as a junior, snagging 39 balls for 730 yards and five touchdowns
Also saw action as a defensive back
Helped lead Henry Clay HS to a 35-6 record over the last three seasons, including trips to the state semifinals as a sophomore and junior
Coached by Sam Simpson
Also a member of the basketball squad and played for the Henry Clay team that advanced to the Kentucky Sweet 16 state tournament as a freshman
Brother of former Wildcat quarterback Shane Boyd (UK 2001-04), who is now with the NFLs Houston Texans.
Back to top
Chandler Burden, Offensive Lineman, 6-5, 280, Fr-HS, Oxford, Ohio (LaSalle) Athletic lineman who played both offense and defense at LaSalle HS in Cincinnati, Ohio
Projects as an offensive lineman in the collegiate ranks
Played nose tackle and end while on defense
Two-year member of the highly competitive Greater Catholic League in the Cincinnati area
Honorable-mention All-Southwest Ohio as a senior
Has been timed below 5.0 in the 40-yard dash, an excellent clocking for a lineman
Named to an All-Combine Team in Cincinnati, an event which featured players from multiple states
Coached by Tom Grippa
Throws the shot and the discus for the track and field team
Advanced to the state meet and finished in the top 10 in both events as a junior
Has several relatives who live in the Lexington area and already were Kentucky fans.
Back to top
Randall Cobb, Quarterback/Athlete, 5-11, 180, Fr-HS, Alcoa, Tenn. (Alcoa) Named Mr. Football for Class AA in Tennessee
Dual-threat quarterback from perennial power Alcoa HS
Alcoa has won four-consecutive state championships, the last two with Cobb at the offensive controls as the starting QB
Team posted a 27-3 mark during his two campaigns as a starter
As a senior, completed 89 of 139 passes (64.0 percent) for 1,765 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only two interceptions
Rushed for 793 yards, a 9.0-yard average per carry, and 13 touchdowns
During his junior season, threw for 1,893 yards, 25 TDs, and just four interceptions
All-state as a junior and senior
Coached by Gary Rankin
At Kentucky, will be reunited with current Wildcat wide receiver Kyrus Lanxter
One of the top-11 prospects in Tennessee by the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
One of the top-20 prospects in Tennessee, according to Rivals.com
Projected as a defensive back by Scout.com, he is listed as one of the nations top-100 DBs by that service
Also a member of the track team.
Back to top
E. J. Fields, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back, 6-2, 190, Fr-HS, Frankfort, Ky. (Frankfort) Highly regarded athlete
Played quarterback and cornerback at Frankfort (Ky.) HS and has been projected as a wide receiver or DB on the collegiate level
Led team to an 11-3 record and a spot in the state semifinals his senior season
Had eight interceptions as a senior, adding eight pass breakups, 59 tackles, and five tackles for loss
At quarterback, he ran for 1,023 yards and 19 touchdowns
Also passed for 373 yards and five scores
First-team all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal
Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader Class of the Commonwealth and the Kentucky Tremendous 26 listings of the top seniors in the state
Ran for 1,147 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, earning all-county and all-district honors
Career totals feature 2,677 rushing yards and 39 TDs
On defense, he totaled nine interceptions and 190 tackles
Coached by Craig Foley
Has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash
The No. 4 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.com, which also lists him as the nations No. 63 all-purpose athlete
The nations No. 45 safety according to Scout.com
Also has participated in basketball and track
Won the state championship in the 400-meter dash as a junior and also competes in the 100 and 200 meters
Best times include 10.7 seconds in the 100, 22.2 in the 200, and 48.7 in the 400
Considering running track while at Kentucky.
Back to top
Winston Guy, Defensive Back, 6-1, 190, Fr-HS, Lexington, Ky. (Catholic) First-team all-state defensive back as chosen 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 the state
Helped lead Lexington Catholic HS to a 13-2 record and Class AAAA state championship as a senior
Earned a reputation as a great cover corner and his athletic ability enabled him to be a devastating blitzer
Senior defensive statistics featured 75 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 quarterback sacks, 10 QB hurries, two caused fumbles, and two blocked kicks
Offensive stats included 24 carries for 267 yards and six touchdowns, along with 16 pass receptions for 215 yards and two TDs
Also had two kick returns for touchdowns
Set a school career record with 19.5 sacks
Team also won the state title in Class AAA his sophomore season
Has turned in a 4.35 clocking in the 40-yard dash
Coached by Bill Letton
Projected as a safety by Scout.com and listed as the No. 12 safety in the nation
The No. 3 prospect in Kentucky and one of the top-30 safeties in the country as selected by Rivals.com.
Back to top
Osaze Idumwonyi, Offensive Lineman/Defensive Lineman, 6-1, 275, Fr-HS, Cedar Hill, Tex. Athletic lineman who excelled on both sides of the ball at Cedar Hill (Tex.) HS
Could end up on offense or defense at Kentucky
Started in the offensive line his junior year when his team went 16-0 and won the Class AAAAA state championship
Chosen for the all-district team as a senior
Noted for his quickness and explosion at the snap
Has run the 40-yard dash under 5.0 seconds, according to Cedar Hill Coach Joey McGuire, an outstanding time for a lineman
Originally played tight end but became a lineman as he matured
Top lifts include 650 pounds in the squat and 330 in the bench press
Listed as the No. 12 center in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 62 player in the talent-rich state of Texas
Scout.com tabs him among the nations top-125 offensive guards
Name is pronounced o-SAH-zay id-oo-WAH-ee.
Back to top
William Johnson, Linebacker, 6-3, 195, Fr-HS, Nashville, Tenn. (Pearl-Cohn) Versatile athlete who performed at multiple positions at Pearl-Cohn HS in Nashville, Tenn.
At various times he played free safety and linebacker on defense and played wide receiver and tailback on offense
Also excelled at returning punts and kickoffs
Has a frame that will enable him to continue to gain size and strength while in college
His speed enabled him to be an effective blitzer, as he had 12 quarterback sacks as a senior, along with 80 tackles and a pair of interceptions
On offense he had 37 catches for 689 yards and 12 touchdowns
Rushed 21 times for 350 yards and four TDs
Averaged a phenomenal 35 yards per punt return
Helped Pearl-Cohn advance to the Class AAA state semifinals as a junior and senior
All-city, all-region, and second-team all-state as a senior
Has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash
Coached by Tony Brunetti
Teammate of fellow UK signee DeAunte Mason
His athletic versatility also shows in other sports
Plays basketball and baseball in addition to football
Plays catcher and center field in baseball, another unique combination.
Back to top
DeAunte Mason, Quarterback/Athlete, 6-3, 215, Fr-HS, Nashville, Tenn. (Pearl-Cohn) Named Mr. Football for Class AAA in Tennessee
Dual-threat quarterback with good size
Began starting at quarterback midway through his freshman season at Pearl-Cohn HS in Nashville, Tenn.
Helped Pearl-Cohn advance to the Class AAA state semifinals as a junior and senior
Threw for 2,375 yards as a senior, also rushing for 1,052 yards, and accounted for 35 total touchdowns
Also the teams punter and placekicker
Passed for almost 2,000 yards an 19 touchdowns as a junior, to go along with 906 rushing yards and 15 TDs
All-state as a junior and senior
Regional Most Valuable Player and also Nashville Metro MVP as a senior
Coached by Tony Brunetti
One of the top-11 prospects in Tennessee by the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
One of the top-20 prospects in the state by Rivals.com
Among the nations top 100 QBs by Scout.com
Teammate of fellow UK signee William Johnson
Plays basketball and runs track
Member of the 4x200-meter relay team that won the state championship his junior year
President of his schools chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Currently a finalist for the Admiral Lawrence Scholarship Award given by the Nashville chapter of the National Football Foundation
Name is pronounced dee-AUN-tay.
Back to top
Gene McCaskill, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 175, Fr-HS, Chester, S. C. (Chester) Named first-team all-state as an all-purpose athlete by the Columbia State newspaper and the High School Sports Report
Talented playmaker performed at quarterback and wide receiver in high school
Expected to get a first look at wide receiver in college
Helped lead Chester HS to the Class AAA state championship game as a senior
Accounted for more than 2,500 passing, rushing, and receiving yards, to go along with 30 touchdowns in those categories
Played in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game
Has been clocked under 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash
One of the top-11 prospects in South Carolina by the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel
Coached by Vic Floyd
An all-region track and basketball player.
Back to top
Cartier Rice, Defensive Back, 5-10, 180, Fr-HS, Duncan, S. C. (Byrnes) First-team all-state selection as a senior by The Associated Press, the Columbia State newspaper and the High School Sports Report
Outstanding cover cornerback with noteworthy quickness
Helped lead Byrnes HS of Duncan, S. C., to three state championships of the largest classification during his four years on the varsity
Had three interceptions as a senior, and capped the campaign by playing in the South Carolina vs. North Carolina Shrine Bowl
Had an interception for the winning South Carolina team in the Shrine Bowl
Rice took on the challenge all week of covering a very talented group of receivers and came up aces, wrote recruiting analyst Barton Simmons, who covered the Shrine Bowl game and practices for Rivals.com
Also had three interceptions as a junior, to go along with eight pass breakups
Coached by Chris Miller
Name is pronounced car-TEE-ay.
Back to top
Matt Roark, Quarterback/Athlete, 6-6, 190, Fr-HS, Acworth, Ga. (North Cobb) Combines excellent height and good speed
Originally a free safety, he moved to quarterback early in his junior year when the teams starting QB was hurt; blossomed at the new position as he developed into a top-notch quarterback
Honorable-mention all-state as a senior by the Georgia Sportswriters Association and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two-time Cobb County Player of the Year
In 18 career starts he totaled 54 rushing and passing touchdowns
As a senior, he completed 98 of 136 passes (72.1 percent) for 1,552 yards and 15 touchdowns
Rushed for 1,010 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 7.3 yards per carry
Rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior, scoring 18 touchdowns
Also had five interceptions
Led North Cobb HS to state playoff berths as a junior and senior
Coached by Shane Queen
Also plays basketball
Has Kentucky connections, as he was born in Lexington and still has relatives living in Hazard
Name is pronounced RORK
His father, Ray Gover, was a UK football letterman from 1985-88 as a defensive back and wide receiver.
Back to top
Donte Rumph, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 260, Fr-HS, St. Matthews, S. C. (Calhoun County) Talented lineman with the size and strength to play tackle and also the quickness needed to play at end
As a 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, to go along with 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 has won three consecutive state championships and has an active winning streak of more than 70 games
An uncle, Chris Rumph, is an assistant coach at Clemson
Cousin of Clemson defensive lineman Philip Merling.
Back to top
Matt Smith, Defensive Lineman/Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 270, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (St. Xavier) First-team all-state as a senior by the Louisville Courier-Journal
Named to the Class of the Commonwealth listing of the top 22 seniors in Kentucky by the Lexington Herald-Leader
Also tabbed for the Kentucky Tremendous 26
Played primarily in the defensive line for perennial power St. Xavier HS in Louisville
Helped St. Xavier reach the state finals in his senior and sophomore seasons, going 14-1 in each campaign
Known for his upper-body strength and playing savvy
Although he played mostly on defense in high school, he is usually projected as an offensive lineman in college
Scout.com lists him as the No. 63 offensive guard in the country
Coached by Mike Glaser
Also a competitive swimmer
Grew up as a Kentucky fan.
Back to top
Sean Stackhouse, Tight End, 6-4, 250, Fr-HS, Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin) Big, athletic tight end
Four-year starter for Mandarin HS in Jacksonville, Fla.
As a senior, caught 32 passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns
Snagged 33 passes his junior season, good for 333 yards
Two-year member of the all-conference team
Team captain as a junior and senior
Listed as the nations No. 31 tight end by Scout.com
Selected to play in the Florida North-South All-Star Game but was unable to participate because of an injury
Nominated for the U. S. Army All-America Game
Coached by Luther Price and the late J. D. Hall
Also participated in track and field and played basketball in high school.
Back to top
Danny Trevathan, Linebacker, 6-1, 210, Fr-HS, Leesburg, Fla. (Leesburg) Athletic linebacker whose speed and playing intensity have drawn comparisons to UK All-SEC linebacker Wesley Woodyard
Three-year starter for Leesburg (Fla.) HS
Third-team all-state, covering all classifications, by the Florida Sportswriters Association
Named first-team All-Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel
Also the Area Defensive Player of the Year for Lake and Sumter counties by the Sentinel
Also the Area Defensive Player of the Year by the Leesburg Daily Commercial
Senior statistics included 117 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown), and three caused fumbles
Played quarterback and running back on offense
Rushed 56 times for 427 yards, a 7.6-yard average, and three touchdowns
Notched 98 tackles, including 17 for loss, along with five caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and six sacks as a junior
Has been timed as fast as 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash
Coached by Charles Nassar
Also a member of the schools weightlifting team.
Back to top
Dave Ulinski, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 280, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manual) Co-winner of the Paul Hornung Award as the best player in Kentucky
Played center his senior season at duPont Manual HS in Louisville
Helped the Crimsons average 33.9 points and 172 rushing yards per game
Team went 10-2, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs
Named first-team all-state by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal
Chosen for the Lexington Herald-Leader Class of the Commonwealth and the Kentucky Tremendous 26 listings of the top seniors in the state
Prior to his senior year, he played in the defensive line at Manual
Has the ability and athleticism to play either side of the ball in college
The No. 7 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.com and the nations No. 67 offensive tackle
Scout.com lists him as the No. 46 offensive tackle in the country
Coached by Joe Nichols
Daves grandfather, Harry, was a center/linebacker at Kentucky from 1946-49
Harry was an All-SEC player, honorable-mention All-American, captain of the 1949 Orange Bowl team, played six years in the National Football League, and is one of UKs retired-jersey honorees
Name is pronounced u-LIN-skee.
Back to top
Collins Ukwu, Defensive End, 6-4, 210, Fr-HS, La Vergne, Tenn. (La Vergne) Defensive end noted for his speed and quickness
Outstanding mobility indicated by the fact that he set a school career record with 43 tackles for loss at La Vergne (Tenn.) HS
Played only seven games his senior season because of injury, but totaled 86 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, seven quarterback sacks, three fumbles caused, and one fumble recovery
All-region as a junior and senior
Named to the all-area team as a senior by the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal
Honorable-mention all-state
Three-year starter who helped lead La Vergne to state playoff appearances his sophomore and junior seasons
Has run the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds
Coached by Will Hester
Member of schools basketball team that has won four consecutive district championships and two regional titles
Competes in the shot put and discus throw for the track and field team
Name is pronounced OOK-woo.
Back to top
Trevino Woods, Offensive Lineman, 6-5, 280, Fr-HS, Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central) Sizeable offensive line prospect
Played two seasons in the offensive line at Clarke Central HS in Athens, Ga.
Graded at 82 percent for his senior season, including 45 pancake blocks
Team went 7-3-1 as a senior, advancing to the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs
Known for good quickness in addition to his noteworthy size
Has tremendous upside as he did not begin playing football until his junior year of high school
The nations No. 48 offensive guard by Scout.com
Coached by Leroy Ryals
The first commitment of Kentuckys 2008 signing class
Also on the track and field team, competing in the shot put and discus throw.
Back to top
Taylor Wyndham, Linebacker/Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 205, Fr-HS, Swansea, S. C. (Swansea) Tall linebacker who has tremendous speed and range, and also plays with great leverage
First-team all-state for Class AAA by the High School Sports Report and SCVarsity.com
Second-team all-state selection, covering all classifications, by the Columbia State newspaper
Played outside linebacker as a senior, making 86 tackles along with five quarterback sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, one interception, three fumbles caused, and three fumbles recoveries for Swansea HS
Also scored three touchdowns on offense
Was an inside linebacker as a junior, making 130 tackles with three caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback sacks, and one interception
Named all-region as a junior and senior
Totaled more than 300 tackles at Swansea
Also played defensive end early in his high school career
Could possibly return to defensive end in the collegiate ranks as he continues to mature physically
Played in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game after his senior season
Ranked as the nations No. 47 strongside linebacker by Scout.com
Coached by Van Lewis
Also played soccer and basketball.
Back to top
|