The University of Kentucky has added some defensive line help for its 2009 recruiting class. Mark Crawford, a 6-foot-1, 305-pound defensive tackle from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, has committed to UK and is expected to sign and enroll in January.

Crawford selected UK over offers from Louisville, South Florida, Kansas and Illinois. He visited the UK campus the weekend of Dec. 19. Crawford is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com as expected to help fill the void at tackle that will be left with the departure of senior Myron Pryor.

Crawford redshirted his first year at Coffeyville and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

The University of Kentucky hosted a handful of prospects this weekend for the basketball game with Indiana. The visitors included a pair of teammates from Los Angeles Harbor Community College, wide receiver Chris Matthews and defensive end DeQuin Evans.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Matthews is listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 9 junior college recruit in the country by Rivals.com. Evans, a 6-foot-2, 275-pounder, is also a four-star recruit.

Also expected in town for a visit was Brian Adams, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound athlete from Cumming, Ga. who committed to Kentucky in June; and Jared Pickett, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound athlete Marshall High School in Missouri City, Tex. Pickett, a two-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, has committed to Houston.

According to Scout.com, the University of Kentucky has lost of one its prized commitments for its 2009 recruiting class. Calhoun County (S.C.) athlete David Sims told the web site that he is now committed to Georgia Tech. Sims visited Tech for its 41-23 win over Miami on Thursday.

Sims’ loss is a big one, considering the Wildcats had planned on using him at tailback, one of its most glaring needs. Sims is listed as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com and is expected to play quarterback at Georgia Tech.

University of Kentucky recruit David Sims had a huge game for Calhoun County (S.C.) last week. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Sims ran for 253 yards and three TD’s, returned a interception for a TD, and passed for 200 yards and 4 TD’s in Calhoun County’s 63-14 win over Blacksburg 63-14.

UK might have to work to hold on to Sims, though. Sims told Jeff Drummond of the Cats’ Pause that while he remains committed to Kentucky, he plans on visiting North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

Kentucky picked up a verbal commitment this week when LaGrange (Ga.) linebacker Demetri Merritt chose the Wildcats. Merritt, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, is listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com and is the third player from LaGrange to commit to UK, joining linebacker Qua Huzzie and defensive end Tristan Johnson.

It looks as if a win over Louisville has had another major impact with a University of Kentucky recruit. Central linebacker Ridge Wilson, a three-star prospect, is expected to announce his college choice this week, and high school coach Ty Scroggins said on Monday that’s it’s “99 percent certain” that Wilson will commit to the Wildcats. Wilson also has offers from Indiana, Arkansas and Louisville.

Wilson was in attendance as a guest of U of L as UK beat the Cards 27-2 on Sunday. Morgan Newton, a five-star QB from Carmel, Ind. who committed to Kentucky earlier this month, cited Kentucky’s win over Louisville in 2007 as what sparked his interest in becoming a Wildcat.

And back in 2002, Kentucky got a commitment from Andre’ Woodson after he attended UK’s 22-17 win over Louisville as a guest of the Cardinals.