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Topic: Holtzclaw says picking UK was a easy choice
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 03-04-2015 02:29 PM
Good to hear and mean we are doing the right things to attract recruits.
He’s 6-7 and enjoyed getting to meet some of the University of Kentucky basketball players during his recent visit to UK, but Dakota Holtzclaw has always been a football player and never a basketball player.
“No, football has always been my sport,” said Holtzclaw. “I’ve always been tall, but did hit a growth spurt around age 13. But I was just never really interested in basketball. Meeting the Kentucky players was kind of a big deal. I don’t watch a lot of games, but that was pretty cool and exciting because I know how good they are.”
However, it was an even bigger deal when he decided to give his verbal commit to UK football coach Mark Stoops. The three-star wide receiver got a scholarship offer while visiting UK over the weekend with his parents and decided to accept the offer almost immediately
“I had an idea based on schools that I had been to about what I wanted and it had always been in the back of my mind that I would like to go to Kentucky,” Holtzclaw said. “When they offered, I knew it was a great opportunity to play in one of the best conferences and go against the best teams in college football. I also just loved the coaches and the whole atmosphere was great. The school and everything else combined just made it feel right, so why not commit.”
Recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow, an Ohio native along with Stoops, was the receiver’s primary recruiter.
“He had me talking all day. He’s very persuasive,” Holtzclaw said. “It was not one or two things he said. It was just the entire day and experience that sold me. I really enjoyed him and the other coaches.”
While he’s tall for a receiver, he’s also faster than many might perceive.
“Usually taller guys are not as fast but last year at one combine I ran a 4.5 (second 40-yard dash) and I am getting faster. I am hoping to run a 4.4 this summer,” he said. “I can go up and get the ball, but I am faster than most players. I think I have a good combination of skills for an outside receiver. I know I will be able to add weight (he’s at 215 pounds now) and keep my speed in college. I will gain muscle and hopefully get even faster. That will not be an issue at all.”
He watched the UK offense during his visit with new offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson. He saw both the UK offense under Neal Brown last year as well as clips of teams where Dawson had coached before coming to UK when Brown left to become head coach at Troy.
“I loved the offense. They showed me what receivers can do in this offense. They throw it a lot, and to me that was great,” Holtzclaw said. “The Air Raid approach suits me. I wanted to go somewhere where I would get the opportunity to get my hands on the football.”
“It’s pretty cool how coach Marrow comes to Ohio and gets all these players,” Holtzclaw, who said his parents and friends were all happy with his commitment, said. “It’s not too far from Kentucky and it is an amazing program. It’s super close to home for most of us and makes it easy to play in the SEC.”
He plans to attend some skill camps this summer to “work on stuff and go against competition to get better” and does not expect to entertain other recruiting options.
“I can’t see a better fit than Kentucky with the conference, coaches, facilities,” he said. “I cannot imagine a better scenario for me. But I can’t tell the future and what would happen if somebody left or something else happened. But personally, I think this is the end of recruiting for me.”
Link
[ 03-04-2015, 02:29 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
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http://www.ukfightsong.com/
Posts: 186362 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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boomdaddy
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Member # 2644
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posted 03-05-2015 07:44 AM
This young man would be hard to keep out of the red zone. Missouri killed the Cats with tall receivers.
The Cats have to put up some big numbers this season on offense, to keep these types of players on board.
[ 03-05-2015, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: boomdaddy ]
Posts: 8791 | From: paris, ky | Registered: Mar 2006
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m hamilton
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Member # 127
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posted 03-05-2015 09:46 AM
A 6'7" receiver verses a 5'9 DB. I like the odds!
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 124002 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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