Chip Cosby on UK football

Thanks to six signatures that arrived at the University of Kentucky on Wednesday, Joker Phillips’ first national signing day as the head coach at UK turned out to be a good one.

Phillips hinted at some surprises early in the week, and he delivered. He got a signature from Miami tailback Brandon Gainer, rated as the No. 15 back in the country by ESPN.com. Central linebacker Tim Patterson picked the Cats over Louisville, and Simon Kenton tailback Miles Simpson chose UK over Ilinois and Indiana.

Also, defensive lineman Donte Rumph signed with UK for the third straight year, and Phillips said that he expects Rumph to be eligible to play in 2010.

UK’s class, which had been ranked as low as 77th in the nation, ended up being ranked 46th by Scout.com and 49th by Rivals.com.

Here’s a list of bios on Kentucky’s 25 signees:

Mychal Bailey, Defensive Back, 6-0, 185, Jr-JC, LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange/Southwest Mississippi Community College) – Originally signed with Kentucky in Feb. 2007, he now joins the Wildcats from Southwest Mississippi Community College … Second-team All-America during his sophomore season, also first-team all-state and all-region … Two-year totals include 161 tackles, two fumbles caused, two fumble recoveries, two pass breakups, three interceptions, 7.5 quarterback sacks and four tackles for loss … Played linebacker at SW Mississippi … Having been timed as fast as 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, should have no trouble making the physical adjustment to the UK secondary … His speed also is reflected in the fact that he returned kickoffs in junior college, including an 84-yard return for a touchdown … Coached by Charles Anthony … “Mychal was, by far, our best player this year,” Anthony said.  “He was our fastest and most explosive player.  He has outstanding intensity, competitiveness and work ethic.” … First-team all-state as a high-school senior as selected by the Georgia coaches association and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Played linebacker on defense and also saw action as a wingback on offense … Four-year letterman and two-year starter for LaGrange (Ga.) High School … Continues the tradition of Grangers at UK, joining current Wildcats Randall Burden, Qua Huzzie, Tristian Johnson and Pat Simmons, along with new signee Joe Mansour … Is a cousin of Braxton Kelley, former Granger and Wildcat who is now with the Denver Broncos … Totaled 118 tackles as a senior, 19 tackles for loss, including 11 quarterback sacks, two caused fumbles, and three fumble recoveries … Also returned eight kickoffs for a sparkling 44.4-yard average, including two runbacks for touchdowns … Won the “Golden Helmet Award” as his team’s most valuable player his senior year … Part of the LaGrange juggernaut that won two state championships during his four years on the varsity and lost to the eventual state champ the other two seasons … Coached by Steve Pardue … “Mychal is a game-changer on offense, defense or special teams,” Pardue said.  “He has tremendous speed and big-play ability.”  … Joined the track team his junior and senior years … Competed in the long jump, triple jump, 100- and 200-meter dashes and two relays … Won the regional in the long jump and was second in the triple jump as a junior … Name is pronounced the same as “Michael.”

Tyler Brause, Athlete, 6-4, 220, Fr-HS, Sycamore, Ohio (Wynford) – Big quarterback who has the size and athletic ability to play multiple positions … First-team all-state in Division VI by The Associated Press … Second-team all-state by OhioVarsity.com … Led Wynford HS to a 12-1 record and the third round of the state playoffs as a senior … Dual-threat quarterback completed 57.7 percent of his passes for passed for approximately 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior while rushing for about 1,300 yards and 26 TDs … Threw for 1,795 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior while running for 698 yards and 13 scores … Listed as the nation’s No. 34 tight end by Scout.com … The No. 119 overall prospect in the six-state Midwest area by SuperPrep … “A terrific all-around athlete with a live arm, great feet and good leadership skills,” wrote recruiting analyst Tom Lemming on MaxPreps.com … Coached by Travis Moyer … Teammate of current Wildcat signee Teven Eatmon … Also played basketball in high school … Name is pronounced “BROW-zee.”

Alvin Davis, Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 228, Fr-HS, Jesup, Ga. (Wayne County) – Defensive end prospect best known for his athleticism … Has been timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash … Played as a standup defensive end/outside linebacker at Wayne County HS … Also saw action as a tight end … Projects to play on the defensive side of the ball as a collegian … All-region as a junior and senior … Collected nearly 100 tackles as a junior … The nation’s No. 134 defensive end by Scout.com … Coached by Mark Daniel … “Alvin has size, range and long arms and legs,” Daniel said.  “He also has very good agility for a player with his height.  He has a good frame and the potential to add a lot of strength in college.  He’s also very aggressive and loves contact.” … Also a standout basketball player.

Nermin Delic, Defensive Lineman, 6-5, 259, Fr-HS, Dalton, Ga. (Northwest Whitfield) – First-team all-state defensive lineman in Georgia Class AAAA by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution … Collected 79 tackles, eight quarterback sacks, seven additional tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and two blocked punts, one of which was returned for a touchdown during his senior season at Northwest Whitfield HS … Caught four passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns … Graded out at 86 percent as a blocker, an outstanding mark … Region 7 Defensive Player of the Year … Named All-North Georgia by the Chattanooga Times-Free Press … Helped team to a winning record each season and a pair of state playoff appearances … Team captain who received the Bruin Award as the team’s most valuable player … Has noteworthy athletic ability, could end up as a defensive end or tight end at Kentucky … Listed as the nation’s No. 26 tight end by ESPN.com and one of the nation’s top-50 tight ends by Scout.com … “Shows good hands,” according to MaxPreps.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, “and has already developed into an outstanding blocker.” … Coached by Mike Falleur … “What separates Nermin is his toughness,” Falleur said.  “He’s very tough, does whatever he needs to do on the field.  He runs well and changes directions well for a big kid.  The sky will be the limit for him when he concentrates on football.” … Also has played basketball … Born in Bosnia, his family moved to the United States … Last name is pronounced “DELL-ic.”

Teven Eatmon, Tight End, 6-7, 280, Fr-HS, Bucyrus, Ohio (Wynford) – First-team all-state tight end for Ohio Division VI as selected by The Associated Press … Has the athletic ability to play tight end and the size to be an offensive lineman in the collegiate ranks … Also saw action as a defensive tackle at Wynford HS … Helped lead Wynford to a 12-1 record and third round of the state playoffs as a senior … Coached by Travis Moyer … Teammate of current Wildcat signee Tyler Brause … The No. 128 overall prospect in the six-state Midwest region by SuperPrep … Listed as the nation’s No. 62 offensive tackle prospect by ESPN.com … Also participated on the track and field team in the shot put and discus throw … Last name is pronounced “TEV-en” (rhymes with seven).

Mike Evans-Douglas, Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 225, Fr-HS, Clearwater, Fla. (Largo) – Defensive line prospect with good athleticism … Played defensive end, middle linebacker, tight end and fullback at Largo (Fla.) HS … Has been timed as fast as 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Made 75 tackles his senior season with five quarterback sacks … Also caught 17 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns  … Named all-conference and all-district his senior season … Helped Largo to Class AAAA state playoff appearances each year … Team reached the state semifinals his sophomore and junior seasons, winning 12 and 13 games, respectively … Played in the Pinellas County North-South All-Star Game and was called “the top prospect in this game, and the recent Kentucky commitment had a strong performance.  He gets off the ball well and has good speed off the edge,” wrote recruiting analyst Jamie Newburg of Rivals.com … The nation’s No. 70 defensive end as rated by Scout.com … Coached by Rick Rodriguez … “Mike has a great football demeanor,” Rodriguez said.  “He’s an intense player, plays with a lot of passion, and is physical.”

Brandon Gainer, Running Back, 5-11, 200, Fr-HS, Miami, Fla. (Central) – The nation’s No. 15 running back as evaluated by ESPN.com … Also a national top-40 back by Rivals.com and Scout.com … Rivals also lists him as the No. 52 player in Florida … Rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a senior, helping Central High to a 12-2 record and the semifinals of the ultra-tough Florida Class 6A ranks … Ran for 1,644 yards and 17 touchdowns during breakout junior season … Earned second-team all-state honors for Class 6A … “Combines good size with quickness and durability,” wrote Tom Lemming of MaxPreps.com … Coached by Telly Lockette.

Josh Gibbs, Defensive Back, 5-10, 190, Jr-JC, Long Beach, Calif. (Valencia/College of the Canyons) – Displayed great instincts during his two seasons at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. … Beat out a returning starter at safety during his freshman season … Totaled 45 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery during the Cougars’ undefeated 10-game regular season … Returned one of the pickoffs for a touchdown … Canyons went on to a 12-1 final record, reaching the championship game of the 2008 Southern California playoffs … Sophomore season featured three more interceptions, along with four pass breakups and 27 tackles … Coached by Garett Tujague (pronounced TOO-jay) … “Josh is a great player and has an uncanny ability to get to the football,” Tujague said.  “He has the will to prepare and the pride to finish, which will help him succeed academically and athletically.” … Played his senior season of high-school football at Valencia HS … Actually played as an undersized defensive end at Valencia, earning all-conference honors and helping his team advance to the state playoffs … Coached by Larry Muir … Was a safety and a quarterback at Redondo Beach HS before moving to Valencia … Born in Germany, both of his parents were in the United States Army … Brother of Darlron Spead, who played defensive back at Vanderbilt from 2006-08.

Justin Henderson, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 231, Fr-HS, Bamberg, S.C. (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) – The first  commitment of the 2010 recruiting class … Having graduated in December, enrolling in January gives him an extra semester to begin his strength development and on-field progress … First-team all-state as a senior by the High School Sports Report … Four-year starter at tight end for Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School … On defense he started at outside linebacker as a sophomore, then moved to defensive end in his final two campaigns … Made 84 tackles as a senior, including seven quarterback sacks and 18 additional tackles for loss … Notched 67 tackles, featuring 10 sacks and 12 additional TFL his junior year … At tight end, he totaled 27 catches for 424 yards and three touchdowns over his final two seasons … Chosen for the all-area and all-region teams as a junior … BEHS went to the state playoffs each season, reaching the third round his sophomore and junior years … Head coach was Kevin Crosby … “Justin is a hard-working kid whose motor is non-stop,” said assistant coach Corey Crosby.  “He’s a strong kid who won an area weightlifting championship.” … Played in the prestigious North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star Shrine Game following his senior season … One of the nation’s top-100 defensive ends by Scout.com and the No. 45 weakside end as tabbed by Rivals.com … Also participated in wrestling, baseball and track in high school … Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … His father, Allen, played college football at Wofford.

Farrington Huguenin, Linebacker, 6-4, 235, Fr-HS, Columbia, S.C. (Dreher) – Combines excellent size and noteworthy speed … Has moved his 6-4 frame as fast as 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has notched consistent times below 4.7 … Played linebacker and defensive end as a senior at Dreher High School in Columbia, S.C. … Totaled 121 tackles and four sacks as a senior, along with three caused fumbles and two recoveries … Notched 82 tackles and 11 sacks as a junior … Turned in an impressive performance last summer at the Elite 100 Camp in Charlotte, N.C. … “Has a great first step and is explosive,” wrote Mike Farrell, a recruiting analyst for Rivals.com … Coached by Bill Bacon … Last name is pronounced “HUE-guh-nin.”

Jabari Johnson, Linebacker, 6-2, 220, Fr-HS, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson) – Very athletic linebacker prospect … Could grow into a defensive end in college … “ May be the best-looking kid on the hoof on a team with over 25 DI (Division I) prospects,” wrote recruiting analyst Barry Every of Rivals.com, who also tabbed Johnson as a “big-time sleeper” … Has been clocked as fast as 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, a terrific time for a linebacker … Helped Stephenson HS to an 11-1 record as a senior in Class AAAAA, the largest classification in Georgia … Coached by Ron Gartrell … Teammate of current Wildcat signees Raymond Sanders and Ronnie Shields … Listed as the nation’s No. 64 outside linebacker prospect by ESPN.com … Name is pronounced “jah-BAR-ee.”

Brice Laughlin, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 280, Fr-HS, Summerville, S.C. (Summerville) – First-team all-state defensive lineman for Class AAAA as chosen by the High School Sports Report … Class AAAA is the largest classification in South Carolina … Also named to the all-area squad by the Charleston Post and Courier … Helped Summerville to the state playoffs both seasons he played there, totaling a record of 20-5 …Talented lineman with the size to play tackle and the athleticism needed for an end … Has run the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, an impressive time for a player his size … “Shows a big-time future, plays the game with great heart, quick hands, strength, and determination,” wrote recruiting analyst Tom Lemming on MaxPreps.com … Projected as the nation’s No. 41 defensive tackle by ESPN.com … One of the top 30 prospects in South Carolina by Rivals.com … Coached by John McKissick … Played at Pinewood Prep in Summerville his sophomore season before transferring to Summerville HS … Also wrestled in high school and was a member of the track and field team … State champion in the discus as a sophomore at Pinewood, competing in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association … Name is pronounced “LOFF-lin.”

Joe Mansour, Kicker/Punter, 6-2, 181, Fr-HS, LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange) – First-team All-America kicker among medium-sized high schools as selected by MaxPreps.com … Also named first team on the Georgia “All-Decade” Team by MaxPreps … Long-range kicker had six field goals over 50 yards during his career … Made field goals of 59, 56 and 52 yards during his senior season at LaGrange High School … The 59-yarder is the third-longest in Georgia high school history … Had touchbacks on 84 percent of his kickoffs … Punted for a 42.7-yard average … First-team all-state by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association for Class AAA … The nation’s No. 2 punter prospect by Scout.com and the No. 15 kicker as evaluated by Rivals.com … Averaged 41.4 yards per punt as a junior, with 83 percent of his kickoffs in the end zone … Four-year starter also hit field goals of 55 yards as a junior, 53 yards as a sophomore and 50 yards as a freshman … LaGrange, a perennial power, advanced to the state playoffs each season, with a best finish of 11-3 in the state semifinals his junior year … Continues the tradition of Grangers at UK, joining current Wildcats Randall Burden, Qua Huzzie, Tristian Johnson and Pat Simmons, along with new signee Mychal Bailey … Coached by Steve Pardue … Played for the winning South team in the Georgia North-South All-Star Game, nailing a pair of field goals and all three extra points in a 27-20 victory … Very good athlete in addition to his kicking skills … Plays for the basketball and baseball teams … “Joe is a tremendous talent,” Pardue said.  “He’s a great athlete and could have played another position for us but he was just too valuable in the kicking game.  His accuracy consistently improved over the years.  He came in a good punter and left a great one.” … Name is pronounced “man-SUR.”

Tim McAdoo, Defensive Lineman, 6-1, 310, Fr-HS, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Oakland) – Two-year first-team all-state performer in Class 6A, the largest classification in Tennessee … Also a two-year finalist for “Mr. Football” honors … Totaled 62 tackles, including 23 for loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks, as a senior … Area Player of the Year by the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal … Also the Regional Player of the Year his junior season while helping lead Oakland to a 14-1 record and the 6A state championship … Collected 87 tackles, 15 for loss, during junior campaign … Also played some tight end in high school … “A defensive tackle that can help collapse the pocket on the next level,” wrote recruiting analyst Chad Simmons of Scout.com … “Dominates at the point of attack,” noted Tom Lemming of MaxPreps.com … One of the top-10 prospects in Tennessee by SuperPrep … Played in the Tennessee East-West All-Star Classic following his senior season.

Malcolm McDuffen, Linebacker, 6-3, 205, Fr-HS, Hopkinsville, Ky. (Christian County) – Combines excellent athletic ability with good football instincts and sound technique … First-team all-state as a senior by The Associated Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal … Named to the “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top seniors in Kentucky by the Lexington Herald-Leader … Made 58 tackles, including 10 sacks … Played linebacker and defensive end while also seeing action on offense at quarterback, fullback and tight end … Top statistical year came as a junior when he amassed 106 tackles, including 16 for loss … Helped lead Christian County HS to a 13-2 record and state runner-up finish in Class AAAAA his junior campaign … One of the nation’s top-50 outside linebackers by ESPN.com … The No. 8 prospect in Kentucky by Rivals.com and SuperPrep … Coached by Steve Lovelace … “Malcolm’s work ethic and dedication as a student-athlete will help him succeed at Kentucky,” Lovelace said.  “He can dominate a game.  He’s very coachable and will do whatever it takes to help the team win.” … A standout basketball player who helped take his team to the Sweet 16 state tournament … Also participated in track.

Tim Patterson, Linebacker, 6-4, 220, Fr-HS, Louisville, Ky. (Central) – The top prospect in Kentucky as named by Rivals.com and SuperPrep … Rangy linebacker with outstanding height and sub-4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash … First-team all-state as a senior by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal … Named to the Lexington Herald-Leader “Class of the Commonwealth” listing of the top seniors in the state … Made 92 tackles as a senior but missed the state playoffs because of injury … Also the top prospect in Kentucky by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who wrote, “This guy can really deliver a blow, always seems to be in the right position at the right time, takes great angles to the ball, and once he gets there, look out.” … Helped lead Central HS to consecutive state championships his sophomore and junior seasons … Made 91 tackles his junior year, with 12 for loss and two interceptions … Coached by Ty Scroggins … Not surprising with his skill set, is also an outstanding basketball player; helped Central to the state finals of the 2009 state tournament.

Jerrell Priester, Athlete, 5-9, 170, Fr-HS, Ulmer, S.C. (Allendale Fairfax) – Speedster running back/defensive back posted some eye-popping numbers … Timed at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the best time at the Elite 100 Camp in Charlotte, N.C., in the summer of 2009 … Rushed for approximately 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior, averaging more than 10 yards per carry … First-team all-state for Class A by the High School Sports Report … Zipped for 1,194 yards and 12 TDs as a junior while averaging an incredible 12.1 yards per rush … Also saw playing time in the defensive backfield … Helped team to three consecutive state playoff appearances, winning 10 games his senior and sophomore seasons … The No. 17 prospect in South Carolina and the nation’s No. 59 all-purpose athlete by Rivals.com … Coached by Wayne Farmer … Named is pronounced “PREES-ter.”

Tyler Robinson, Tight End, 6-3, 250, Fr-HS, Friendsville, Tenn. (Alcoa) – “Mr. Football” lineman in the state of Tennessee as a junior … First-team all-state tight end/defensive end for perennial power Alcoa High School, which has won six consecutive state championships in Class AAA … Considered to have exceptional hands … Caught 32 passes for 536 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior … Snagged 26 balls for 477 yards and seven TDs as a sophomore … “Tyler catches everything in sight and impresses you with his surprising speed,” wrote recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of MaxPreps.com … Also a defensive standout with 89 tackles, 21 for loss, as a junior … Had 66 tackles, 16 for loss as a sophomore … One of the nation’s top-25 tight ends as assessed by ESPN.com … The No. 13 prospect in Tennessee by SuperPrep … Coached by Gary Rankin.

Donte Rumph, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 265, Fr-HS, St. Matthews, S.C. (Calhoun County/Fork Union Military Academy) – Talented lineman with the size and strength to play tackle and also the quickness needed to play at end … Originally signed with Kentucky in 2007, he played the last two seasons at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy … His 2008 prep season included a game against the Kentucky junior varsity, in which he made two tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack … Coached at Fork Union by John Shuman … As a high-school 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, including 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 won three consecutive state championships and had a winning streak of more than 70 games … An uncle, Chris Rumph, is an assistant coach at Clemson … Cousin of Philip Merling, former Clemson star who is now a defensive end with the Miami Dolphins … Name is pronounced “RUMP.”

Raymond Sanders, Running Back, 5-8, 184, Fr-HS, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson) – Shifty running back showed all-around skills at Stephenson High School, with the ability to run from scrimmage, catch passes and return kicks … The nation’s No. 15 all-purpose back by Rivals.com and the No. 41 overall prospect in the talent-rich state of Georgia … “Very quick, has good vision, catches the ball well and runs like a 210-pound back,” wrote recruiting analystBarry Every of Rivals, who also noted that Sanders “Reminds me of Rafael Little … has the uncanny ability to break tackles and make plays.” … Honorable-mention all-state by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution following senior season … Was the star of the show in a nationally televised game on ESPN, rushing for more than 130 yards and two touchdowns in Stephenson’s 20-0 win over Martin Luther King HS … Helped lead Stephenson to an 11-1 mark and the second round of the state playoffs … Rushed for approximately 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior … Coached by Ron Gartrell … Teammate of current Wildcat signees Jabari Johnson and Ronnie Shields.

Ronnie Shields, Athlete, 6-5, 220, Fr-HS, Stone Mountain, Ga. (Stephenson) – Combines good size with notable athletic ability … Has been timed as fast as 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Played tight end, although his athleticism could make him a possible slot receiver as well … Has good hands, although he played in a run-based offense and did not have a large number of receptions … Helped lead Stephenson to an 11-1 record and the second round of the state playoffs … Coached by Ron Gartrell … Teammate of current Wildcat signees Jabari Johnson and Raymond Sanders … The nation’s No. 70 tight end prospect.

Eric Simmons, Defensive Back, 6-0, 185, Fr-HS, Atlanta, Ga. (Westlake) – Versatile defensive back has the size to play safety and the speed and athleticism to play cornerback … Has been timed as fast as 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has a 36-inch vertical jump … Has good upside as he gains experience … Only began playing football as a high-school junior … Earned all-region honors as a senior … Helped Westlake HS advance to the Class AAAAA state playoffs during his senior season … Coached by Gregory Minnis … “Eric has lightning speed,” Minnis said.  “He’s like a sponge, soaking it all in and improving every day.  He’s also a great kid with a great personality.” … Also has played for the basketball team.

Miles Simpson, Running Back, 6-2, 210, Fr-HS, Independence, Ky. (Simon Kenton) – Smooth, powerful runner who rushed for more than 2,000 yards his junior and senior seasons at Simon Kenton HS … Notched 2,227 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior … Garnered 2,309 yards and 37 scores his junior season, leading Simon Kenton to a state runner-up finish in Class 6A, the largest classification in Kentucky … First-team all-state as a junior and senior by The Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal … “He is a dominating high school back whose talent screams big time,” penned recruiting analyst Tom Lemming … The No. 2 prospect in Kentucky by SuperPrep … Rated among the nation’s top-100 running backs by all services … Coached by Jeff Marksberry.

Alex Smith, Tight End, 6-5, 255, Fr-HS, Cincinnati, Ohio (Lakota West) – Highly regarded prospect is the nation’s No. 11 tight end by Rivals.com … “An exceptionally athletic tight end who can go deep down field,” wrote recruiting analyst Tom Lemming on MaxPreps.com … Second-team all-state, covering all classifications, as a senior by OhioVarsity.com … Noted for his combination of size, outstanding hands and speed, could be a flex tight end in the collegiate ranks … The No. 13 prospect in Ohio by Rivals.com and is the No. 43 overall player in the six-state Midwest Region by SuperPrep … Caught 27 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns his junior year … Coached by Larry Cox … Also competes in basketball.

Dale Trimble, Defensive Back, 5-10, 165, Fr-HS, Gadsden, Ala. (Gadsden City) – One of the nation’s  top-20 corners as evaluated by ESPN.com … Combines good speed with excellent ball skills … Helped lead Gadsden City HS to the semifinals of the highly competitive Alabama Class 6A ranks, the largest classification in the state … Amassed 66 tackles and two interceptions … Most Valuable Player of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game following his senior season … Returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown and had two pass breakups … Part of a defensive unit that limited Mississippi to 44 total yards in a 21-13 Alabama victory … “Trimble was probably the second-biggest surprise on the Alabama squad (with) excellent height, speed, change of direction and ball skills,” wrote Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every … Made 48 tackles with six interceptions his junior year … Coached by Joe Billingsley.

Avery Williamson, Linebacker, 6-1, 220, Fr-HS, Milan, Tenn. (Milan) – First-team all-state linebacker in Class AAA as tabbed by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association … West Tennessee Player of the Year as a senior by the Jackson Sun … Led Milan HS to consecutive 14-1 records as a junior and senior, losing only in the state championship finals each year to perennial power Alcoa HS … Made 125 tackles with one interception during the regular season in his senior year … Also rushed for 416 yards and seven touchdowns at fullback … Collected 119 tackles as a junior, including 21 for loss … Set a Tennessee state championship game record with 22 tackles in the title contest … One of the top-15 players in Tennessee by Rivals.com … Coached by Jeff Morris.

-Check with my blog for live updates on University of Kentucky’s 2010 recruiting class as the signees start rolling in.

-Simon Kenton running back Miles Simpson is expected to announce his college decision at 8:30.

-UPDATE: Word out of Northern Kentucky is that Simpson has committed to UK and will send in his letter-of-intent this afternoon.

-Stone Mountain (Ga.) defensive tackle Mike Thornton is expected to announce his college choice at the top of the hour. It’s down to Georgia, Penn State and UK, with Georgia viewed as the favorite for his services.

UPDATE: I reported on Tuesday that Bryan Station running back Tevin McCaden would walk-on at UK next year, but there may be a change of plans as McCaden is waiting on a possible late scholarship offer.

UPDATE: UK reports that letters from Cincinnati TE Alex Smith and RB Miles Simpson have been received.

UPDATE: UK reports receiving a letter from Brandon Gainer, nation’s No. 15 running back according to ESPN.com, has signed with the Cats

UPDATE: Signatures from Tyler Brause, Alvin Davis, Brice Laughlin, Jabari Johnson, and Mike Evans-Douglas have arrived.

UPDATE: Joker Phillips promised a surprise or two, and Gainer definitely qualifies as that. He’s 6-foot, 200 pounds, is listed as a three-star recruit by Scout and Rivals and had offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas Tech among others. ESPN.com has Gainer ranked a little higher than Rivals and Scout, as he’s their No. 15 back in the country.

UPDATE: Miami Central coach Greg Lockett told the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week that Gainer had committed to Central Florida before retracting that statement. Gainer apparently had a last minute change of mind and picked UK over UCF, South Florida and North Carolina. He was ranked No. 28 on the Orlando Sentinel’s list of the Top 100 players in Florida.

UPDATE: LaGrange kicker Joe Mansour is now officially a Wildcat

UPDATE: Malcolm McDuffen, Eric Simmons and Nermin Delic are now on board.

UPDATE: Kentucky has received letters from 14 members of its 2010 signing class.

UPDATE: Avery Williamson has now become the 15th player to sign with UK this morning.

UPDATE: Stone Mountain (Ga.) defensive end Mike Thornton will sign with Georgia.  His three teammates, Jabari Johnson, Raymond Sanders and Ronnie Shields, will all sign with Kentucky. Johnson’s letter is already in.

UPDATE: As expected, one-time UK commit Ryan Smith, a three-star safety from Alabama, reneges on the Cats and signs with Auburn.

-Will be interesting to see how the pickup of Gainer affects UK in the recruiting rankings. Its class was ranked 55th by Rivals and 54th by Scout.com at the start of the day.

-UK now all of a sudden looks stocked at running back for 2010. Veterans Derrick Locke and Moncell Allen return, along with sophomores Donald Russell and Coshik Williams, redshirt freshmen Jonathan George and Dakotah Tyler and now Raymond Sanders, Gainer and Simpson.

UPDATE: Give an assist to former UK running back Mark Higgs on Gainer. Higgs is the running backs coach at Miami Central and apparently helped steer Gainer to Lexington.

UPDATE: There are reports that South Carolina athlete Jerrell Priester will sign with Kentucky, but UK has not confirmed his signature yet.

-Now awaiting a decision from Central linebacker Tim Patterson, who will pick between U of L and UK.

UPDATE: In somewhat of a surprise, Tim Patterson has committed to UK. A lot of folks around Louisville had him pegged for the Cards after the hiring of Charlie Strong.  Kentucky has not received Patterson’s letter-of-intent just yet.

UPDATE-Jerrell Priester’s letter-of-intent has arrived at UK.

UPDATE-Defensive end Donte Rumph, who signed with UK the past two years but has not qualified for eligibility, has once again inked with the Cats.

UPDATE-Letters of intent from defensive linemen Tim McAdoo and Farrington Huguenin have also arrived.

UPDATE-Tim Patterson is signed, sealed and delivered to the Cats.

UPDATE-As of noon, UK has 20 signees. Kentucky still has not received letters from commitments Raymond Sanders, Ronnie Shields, Tyler Robinson, Dale Trimble, Teven Eatmon and Mychal Bailey. UK said its expects a few more signees to arrive during the day.

Here is a list of bios on the signees as they are released by UK:

Josh Gibbs, Defensive Back, 5-10, 190, Jr-JC, Long Beach, Calif. (Valencia/College of the Canyons) - Displayed great playing instincts during his two seasons at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif. … Beat out a returning starter at safety during his freshman season … Totaled 45 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery during the Cougars’ undefeated 10-game regular season … Returned one of the pickoffs for a touchdown … Canyons went on to a 12-1 final record, reaching the championship game of the 2008 Southern California playoffs … Sophomore season featured three more interceptions, along with four pass breakups and 27 tackles … Coached by Garett Tujague (pronounced TOO-jay) … “Josh is a great player and has an uncanny ability to get to the football,” Tujague said. “He has the will to prepare and the pride to finish, which will help him succeed academically and athletically.” … Played his senior season of high-school football at Valencia HS … Actually played as an undersized defensive end at Valencia, earning all-conference honors and helping his team advance to the state playoffs … Coached by Larry Muir … Was a safety and a quarterback at Redondo Beach HS before moving to Valencia … Born in Germany, both of his parents were in the United States Army … Brother of Darlron Spead, who played defensive back at Vanderbilt from 2006-08.

Justin Henderson, Defensive Lineman, 6-3, 231, Fr-HS, Bamberg, S.C. (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) - The first verbal commitment of the 2010 recruiting class also became the first high-school signee of the class … Having graduated in December, enrolling in January gives him an extra semester to begin his strength development and on-field progress … First-team all-state as a senior by the High School Sports Report … Four-year starter at tight end for Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School … On defense he started at outside linebacker as a sophomore, then moved to defensive end in his final two campaigns … Made 84 tackles as a senior, including seven quarterback sacks and 18 additional tackles for loss … Notched 67 tackles, featuring 10 sacks and 12 additional TFL his junior year … At tight end, he totaled 27 catches for 424 yards and three touchdowns over his final two seasons … Chosen for the all-area and all-region teams as a junior … BEHS went to the state playoffs each season, reaching the third round his sophomore and junior years … Head coach was Kevin Crosby … “Justin is a hard-working kid whose motor is non-stop,” said assistant coach Corey Crosby. “He’s a strong kid who won an area weightlifting championship.” … Played in the prestigious North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star Shrine Game following his senior season … One of the nation’s top-100 defensive ends by Scout.com and the No. 45 weakside end as tabbed by Rivals.com … Also participated in wrestling, baseball and track in high school … Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … His father, Allen, played college football at Wofford.

Joe Mansour, Kicker/Punter, 6-2, 181, Fr-HS, LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange) - First-team All-America kicker among medium-sized high schools as selected by MaxPreps.com … Also named first team on the Georgia “All-Decade” Team by MaxPreps … Long-range kicker had six field goals over 50 yards during his career … Made field goals of 59, 56 and 52 yards during his senior season at LaGrange High School … The 59-yarder is the third-longest in Georgia high school history … Had touchbacks on 84 percent of his kickoffs … Punted for a 42.7-yard average … First-team all-state by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association for Class AAA … The nation’s No. 2 punter prospect by Scout.com and the No. 15 kicker as evaluated by Rivals.com … Averaged 41.4 yards per punt as a junior, with 83 percent of his kickoffs in the end zone … Four-year starter also hit field goals of 55 yards as a junior, 53 yards as a sophomore and 50 yards as a freshman … LaGrange, a perennial power, advanced to the state playoffs each season, with a best finish of 11-3 in the state semifinals his junior year … Continues the tradition of Grangers at UK, joining current Wildcats Randall Burden, Qua Huzzie, Tristian Johnson and Pat Simmons … Coached by Steve Pardue … Played for the winning South team in the Georgia North-South All-Star Game, nailing a pair of field goals and all three extra points in a 27-20 victory … Very good athlete in addition to his kicking skills … Plays for the basketball and baseball teams … “Joe is a tremendous talent,” Pardue said. “He’s a great athlete and could have played another position for us but he was just too valuable in the kicking game. His accuracy consistently improved over the years. He came in a good punter and left a great one.”

Bryan Station running back Tevin McCaden will be attending Kentucky as a preferred walk-on, the high school announced on Tuesday. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound McCaden rushed for 2,073 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior.

On the eve of signing day, Kentucky has lost one commitment and could be on the verge of losing another one while potentially adding a four-star tight end at the last minute.

Rivals. com and SuperPreps.com are both reporting that three-star offensive tackle Kenarious Gates (Greenville, Ga.) received a late offer from Georgia and will sign with the Bulldogs instead of UK on Wednesday.  Also, The Birmingham News reported that three-star safety Ryan Smith has called a press conference on Wednesday to announce his signing and that he could possibly make a last-minute switch away from Kentucky.

But not all is gloom and doom on the recruiting trail. Four-star tight Alex Smith (Cincinnati) is likely to back out of his commitment to North Carolina and sign with UK according to his coach, Larry West.

“I think he feels very, very comfortable with Kentucky at this point,” West said. “He’s very strongly tied to Kentucky. Most of his family is from Kentucky, and I always felt that would be a strong tie, plus he’s always gotten along really well with Coach (Joker) Phillips.”

UK could potentially add another player or two late. Simon Kenton running back Miles Simpson, Lincoln (Ala.) tailback D.J. Howard, Central linebacker Tim Patterson and Stone Mountain (Ga.) defensive tackle Mike Thornton will all announce their decisions on Wednesday. Simpson will chose between Indiana, Illinois and UK; Howard between Clemson and UK; Patterson between Louisville and UK, and Thornton between Georgia, Penn State and UK.

Simon Kenton Coach Jeff Marksberry said Simpson has been ‘very tight-lipped’ about his recruiting and said he wasn’t even sure what Simpson was going to do.

Also, Allendale (S.C.) athlete and Vanderbilt commit Jerrell Priester has also been weighing options and is considering UK.

Two of Kentucky’s signees have already enrolled: junior-college safety Josh Gibbs and South Carolina defensive end Justin Henderson.

LaGrange (Ga.) kicker Joseph Mansour is the only four-star recruit in the class, which is currently ranked 55th by Rivals.com and 54th by Scout.com.

Simon Kenton running back Miles Simpson will announce his college choice on Wednesday, national signing day, at a press conference at the school, according to his high school coach Jeff Marksberry. Simpson is reportedly down to Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.

Former University of Kentucky defensive line coach Rick Petri has been hired for the same position at the University of Miami, the Miami Herald reported on Wednesday night. Petri and offensive line coach Jimmy Heggins were not retained by new UK coach Joker Phillips. Petri coached the Miami defensive line from 1993-95.

Petri

Four-star defensive tackle Mike Thornton has narrowed his college choices to Georgia, Penn State and Kentucky and will announce his decision on national signing day, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.

Thornton visited Lexington for the Kentucky-Arkansas basketball game last weekend along with three of his high school teammates who have committed to UK: running back Raymond Sanders, linebacker Jabari Johnson and tight end Ronnie Shields.

Thornton

Former Wildcat Derek Abney was named to the Southeastern Conference “All-Decade Team” selected by Chris Low on ESPN.com. The SEC All-Decade Team covered the 2000-09 seasons with the only rule being that a player had to participate in at least two seasons of the time period.  Abney, who played from 2000-03, was chosen as a kickoff returner.  He averaged 24.4 yards per kickoff return during his career, with touchdown returns of 100 yards vs. Florida and 95 yards vs. Vanderbilt. Abney broke or tied seven NCAA records, 11 SEC records and 14 school records for kickoff returns, punt returns and all-purpose yardage.

Also, UK offensive lineman Zipp Duncan has been added to the roster for the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Game on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. in El Paso, Tex.  Running back Alfonso Smith will also play in the game, which will be televised by the CBS College Sports channel.

Fullback John Conner and cornerback Trevard Lindley will participate in the Senior Bowl on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Mobile, Ala.  The game will be broadcast on the NFL Network.

Former Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks will be autographing copies of ‘Rich Tradition’, the book written by Tom Leach about Brooks’ turnaround of the UK football program, Saturday, Jan. 30 from 1-2:30 at the Kentucky Proud market shops at the Lexington Center. Fans may purchase copies of the book or get Brooks to autograph copies that were previously purchased. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Rich Brooks Foundation and reduced copies of the book will be available.

Kentucky fullback John Conner has received an invitation to the Senior Bowl, said Clif Marshall, who’s training Conner in preparation for the NFL Draft.  UK cornerback Trevard Lindley is also participating in the game, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. EST. The game will be shown on the NFL Network.