---

2016 Kentucky Football Recruiting Class: Remember when Kentucky was growing into the hot program with a few good recruiting classes? This isn’t one of those classes – but it was still an okay recruiting season by any standards outside of the SEC.

---

Follow, or just provide your love to @PeteFiutak 

Kentucky Football Recruiting Class Overview

The Wildcats dipped into the JUCO waters more than any other SEC program, but it got its share of three-star talents, too. Unfortunately, being in the SEC is a problem when it comes to the overall rankings – UK just can’t compete for most of the same players the other programs get – but overall, and nationally, this is a good haul with good balance for both sides.

The Class Is Heavy On …

Cornerbacks. The Wildcats literally went heavy on the defensive line, getting three 300+ pounders, and the offensive backfield was addressed with QBs Gunnar Hoak and Stephen Johnson, but it was the secondary that got the stars with three highly-ranked defenders. Devonte Robinson, Jordan Griffin, and Tobias Gilliam are all very tall, very fast SEC-caliber options for the secondary.

The Star of the Class Is …

C Drake Jackson, 6-2, 284 – So it’s not sexy to sell a top center to the fan base – or one of the nation’s top punters in Grant McKinniss – but Jackson might be the nation’s best anchor for the interior. While Jackson isn’t as tall or as big as the NFL types are going to like, he’s a tough, talented center who got Alabama and Ohio State pushing for him.

The Team’s Biggest 2016 Depth Chart Hole Is …

The defensive front seven. The offensive side isn’t really a problem with almost everyone back – losing left tackle Jordan Swindle stinks, though – but the defense needs a lot of work. Three starters return to the secondary, but five starters are gone from the defensive front seven including Cory Johnson at tackle and Josh Forrest at middle linebacker.

2016 Kentucky Football Recruiting Class

Jordan Bonner LB 6-5 220 So.-JC Lyndhurst, Ohio (Brush/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College)
Jaylin Bannerman LB 6-5 220 Fr.-HS Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington Central)
T.J. Carter DE 6-4 245 Fr.-HS Mableton, Ga. (Whitefield Academy)
Ja’Quize Cross DL 6-3 315 Fr.-HS New Market, Ala. (Buckhorn)
Kash Daniel LB 6-1 235 Fr.-HS Paintsville, Ky. (Paintsville)
Luke Fortner OT 6-6 305 Fr.-HS Sylvania, Ohio (Sylvania Northview)
Tobias Gilliam DB 5-11 190 Fr.-HS Dayton, Ohio (Wayne)
Jordan Griffin DB 6-0 175 Fr.-HS Jonesboro, Ga. (Jonesboro)
Gunnar Hoak QB 6-4 190 Fr.-HS Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Coffman)
Dakota Holtzclaw WR 6-7 215 Fr.-HS Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne)
Zy’Aire Hughes Athlete 6-1 190 Fr.-HS Paducah, Ky. (McCracken County)
Drake Jackson C 6-2 302 Fr.-HS Versailles, Ky. (Woodford County)
Stephen Johnson II QB 6-3 190 Jr.-JC Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Los Osos/Grambling/College of the Desert)
Tate Leavitt OT 6-6 310 Jr.-JC Thornville, Ohio (Sheridan/Hutchinson CC)
Kordell Looney DT 6-3 285 Fr.-HS Springfield, Ohio (Springfield)
Grant McKinniss P 6-1 210 Fr.-HS Findlay, Ohio (Findlay)
Naquez Pringle DL 6-2 330 Jr.-JC Georgetown, S.C. (Carvers Bay/Itawamba CC)
Justin Rigg TE 6-6 245 Fr.-HS Springboro, Ohio (Springboro)
Davonte Robinson CB 6-2 180 Fr.-HS Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay)
Asim “A.J.” Rose RB 6-1 200 Fr.-HS Cleveland, Ohio (Garfield Heights)
Kayaune Ross WR 6-6 225 So.-JC West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West/Phoenix College)
Benny Snell RB 5-11 220 Fr.-HS Westerville, Ohio (Westerville Central)
Roland Walder LB 6-3 215 Fr.-HS Dayton, Ohio (Trotwood-Madison)
Jamar Watson LB 6-3 225 Fr.-HS Forestville, Md. (Bishop McNamara)
Landon Young OL 6-7 305 Fr.-HS Lexington, Ky. (Lafayette)

MORE: Ranking No. 1 Recruiting Classes Since 2002