If some of you recall, I once used Western Kentucky as an example of a team that has improved its program by recruiting Tampa Bay area players. Below is a list of current WKU players from the TB area.
1 Dowling, Jonathan Bradenton, Fla. (Florida)
2 Brand, Boe Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast HS)
4 Jackson, Andrew Lakeland, Fla. (Kathleen HS)
10 McNeal, Willie Bradenton, Fla. (Braden River HS)
13 Boyd, Xavius St. Petersburg, Fla. (Lakewood HS)
17 Randall, Daqual Palmetto, Fla. (Palmetto HS)
18 Hazley, Caleb Tampa, Fla. (Plant HS)
19 Higbee, Tyler Clearwater, Fla. (East Lake HS)
22 Robinson, Tyree Dundee, Fla. (Haines City HS)
31 Williams, Terran Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast HS)
32 Jones, Kadeem Dundee, Fla. (Haines City HS)
33 Allen, Leon Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee HS)
38 Singh, Ricardo Auburndale, Fla. (Auburndale HS)
40 Boyd, Bar'ee St. Petersburg, Fla. (Lakewood HS)
50 Vaughn, Blair Clearwater, Fla. (Central Catholic HS)
63 Polanco, Luis Tampa, Fla. (Middleton HS)
64 Sweetland, Tyler Largo, Fla. (St. Petersburg HS)
77 Lamp, Forrest Venice, Fla. (Venice HS)
79 Wilson, Delryn Tampa, Fla. (Jefferson HS)
85 Aikens, Austin Tampa, Fla. (Plant HS)
98 Terrell, Devante Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson HS)
?? Axon, Ben Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee HS)
?? Evans, Jon Sarasota, Fla. (Riverview HS)
Left the team
Ty Scott (Palmetto HS), Dyron Speight (Southeast HS), Tevin Bryant (Braden River HS)
Looking at the roster numbers (and with a few exceptions), it looks like most of the Florida players are skill guys so it is fair to say WKU likes to recruit Florida because of the speed that the kids offer.
This is only Willie Taggart's 3rd season as WKU's head coach but he has been able to show dramatic improvement. The Hilltoppers went from 9th in the Sunbelt to 2nd last year and if not for politics would have earned WKU's 1st bowl bid.
They gave Kentucky a good game last year in the first game of the season and might have defeated the Wildcats had they played them at the end of the year. The Hilltoppers played LSU a very solid first half (14-7) but the lack of depth compared to the Tigers was too much to overcome.
Every coach loves speed but WKU is looking for football players who work hard and can get it done. Like most mid-major programs, WKU recruits 2-star and 3-star blue collar types but the Hilltoppers have had a couple of 4-star kids on campus which was unheard of before Taggart got there. The way that I see it, if WKU can recruit the Tampa Bay area well, then KSU should be able to get its share of Florida players.
On a side note, when the Flashes go to Lexington for their second game of the season, I hope they go down there with the belief that they can win. Just because Kentucky plays in the SEC, doesn't mean they are that much better. Take a look at the video below to see how unimpressed the Hilltoppers are of Kentucky's talent.
Andrew Jackson WKU not impressed by SEC Players
1 Dowling, Jonathan Bradenton, Fla. (Florida)
2 Brand, Boe Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast HS)
4 Jackson, Andrew Lakeland, Fla. (Kathleen HS)
10 McNeal, Willie Bradenton, Fla. (Braden River HS)
13 Boyd, Xavius St. Petersburg, Fla. (Lakewood HS)
17 Randall, Daqual Palmetto, Fla. (Palmetto HS)
18 Hazley, Caleb Tampa, Fla. (Plant HS)
19 Higbee, Tyler Clearwater, Fla. (East Lake HS)
22 Robinson, Tyree Dundee, Fla. (Haines City HS)
31 Williams, Terran Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast HS)
32 Jones, Kadeem Dundee, Fla. (Haines City HS)
33 Allen, Leon Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee HS)
38 Singh, Ricardo Auburndale, Fla. (Auburndale HS)
40 Boyd, Bar'ee St. Petersburg, Fla. (Lakewood HS)
50 Vaughn, Blair Clearwater, Fla. (Central Catholic HS)
63 Polanco, Luis Tampa, Fla. (Middleton HS)
64 Sweetland, Tyler Largo, Fla. (St. Petersburg HS)
77 Lamp, Forrest Venice, Fla. (Venice HS)
79 Wilson, Delryn Tampa, Fla. (Jefferson HS)
85 Aikens, Austin Tampa, Fla. (Plant HS)
98 Terrell, Devante Lakeland, Fla. (Lake Gibson HS)
?? Axon, Ben Bradenton, Fla. (Manatee HS)
?? Evans, Jon Sarasota, Fla. (Riverview HS)
Left the team
Ty Scott (Palmetto HS), Dyron Speight (Southeast HS), Tevin Bryant (Braden River HS)
Looking at the roster numbers (and with a few exceptions), it looks like most of the Florida players are skill guys so it is fair to say WKU likes to recruit Florida because of the speed that the kids offer.
This is only Willie Taggart's 3rd season as WKU's head coach but he has been able to show dramatic improvement. The Hilltoppers went from 9th in the Sunbelt to 2nd last year and if not for politics would have earned WKU's 1st bowl bid.
They gave Kentucky a good game last year in the first game of the season and might have defeated the Wildcats had they played them at the end of the year. The Hilltoppers played LSU a very solid first half (14-7) but the lack of depth compared to the Tigers was too much to overcome.
Every coach loves speed but WKU is looking for football players who work hard and can get it done. Like most mid-major programs, WKU recruits 2-star and 3-star blue collar types but the Hilltoppers have had a couple of 4-star kids on campus which was unheard of before Taggart got there. The way that I see it, if WKU can recruit the Tampa Bay area well, then KSU should be able to get its share of Florida players.
On a side note, when the Flashes go to Lexington for their second game of the season, I hope they go down there with the belief that they can win. Just because Kentucky plays in the SEC, doesn't mean they are that much better. Take a look at the video below to see how unimpressed the Hilltoppers are of Kentucky's talent.
Andrew Jackson WKU not impressed by SEC Players
