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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 11-17-2009, 11:23 AM:

UK head recruiter Chuck Smith likes what he has so far and looking for more talent.

Question: Why have there been so many verbal commitments in recent weeks after a period where they were very few?

Smith: “It is just the time of year. Usually guys will do it in the summer after they have had a chance to visit schools or next phase will be midseason when they have had a chance to come to school or have seen other schools and know how to compare them. Then they make a decision. The next phase will be during the official visit time in December and January.”

Question: How many signees do you anticipate having this year?

Smith: “I think we are talking around 22. It just depends on how some things unfold with players currently on the team and academics and some other things. But 22 will be close.”

Question: So you don’t have a lot of openings left, do you?

Smith: “No we don’t and we feel good about some of the guys we are on right now, too, that we have been after for a long time. I think everything is going according to plan so far. We just have to finish it right.”

Question: Are you holding spots for specific positions now or simply for the best players possible?

Smith: “We will take the best available athletes. Position will come into play if you get so many commitments at a particular position. You are not going to overflow one spot. Right now we are at the point we are being selective and taking the best possible player.”

Question: Are you surprised you do not have more in-state commitments?

Smith: “I don’t know if surprising or not. We evaluated the state of Kentucky thoroughly and always do because that is a priority for us. I think the guys that we really liked initially we are still in on and are still waiting on them to make a decision.”

Question: Are you emphasizing strong academics even more than usual this year in recruiting?

Smith: “It is just the way it has worked out. Academics always part of the evaluation reason, but for whatever reason it just seems to have worked out that a lot of kids we have talked to are strong academically.”

Question: Has there been a bigger emphasis on recruiting in the south based on the commitments you have or does it have more to do with going to three straight bowl games?

Smith: “I think it has a lot to do with our past success. We are pretty thorough with our areas. The south — Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida — we have a lot of our staff there and work that area hard.”

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