Thaddeus Snodgrass was a fan of UK long before committing to Wildcats

[William F Hansford]

“I didn’t know about that ranking until I read it a few times. It’s an honor, but records mean nothing. You still have to work hard to get your position and play,” he said. “That’s why I am shutting down my recruiting and focusing on my senior year, and that also lets me start recruiting other guys now, too. There are going to be a lot more guys committing to Kentucky soon. There will be three or four more in the next couple of weeks, including maybe a few surprises.

“It’s a program on the rise that players want to be part of and want to help build it back. They see how the Kentucky fans are hungry for success. And they have great coaches.”

He’s obviously sold on the package that offensive coordinator Neal Brown ran at Texas Tech and will use at UK.

“I watched a lot of Texas Tech football last year. I love that offense and it had a major impact on my decision to come to Kentucky. It’s a great way for a receiver to get exposure and get a lot of chances t make plays,” the 6-1, 184-pound Snodgrass, who has been timed in 4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said.

nodgrass said he had “never heard from Kentucky” before coach Mark Stoops and Brown arrived.

“Stoops is an Ohio guy and we know we can put our trust in him. Same with (UK assistant) coach (Vince) Marrow. He’s an Ohio guy we trust and like. That has made a big impact for UK here. But there are really a bunch of UK fans up this way, too. They are all excited over the way UK is recruiting Ohio now,” Snodgrass, who is running track now, said. “It’s just hard not to believe in what he does.”

Snodgrass believed even more after more than 50,000 UK fans attended the Blue-White Game to end spring practice.

“That just made me feel even better about my decision. I think it opened the eyes of a lot of other recruits, too. Plus, you got to see the offense score points. Recruits like that,” he said. “The Kentucky fan base is just ridiculous, though. Everybody is behind the football team and now you have a great offensive coordinator coaching you. What’s not to like?”

That’s the message he’s telling Conner’s Drew Barker, UK’s top quarterback target in the 2014 recruiting class.

He’ll announce his college choice May 10 at 3:30 p.m. in a ceremony in his high school gym.

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