Kiyaunta Goodwin was all smiles after committing to UK in April but admitted Wednesday signing with UK over Michigan State was a hard decision. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Never doubt Vince Marrow. Five-star offensive lineman Kiyaunta Goodwin of Charlestown, Indiana, continued to waiver on the verbal commitment to Kentucky he made in April before finally confirming Wednesday night that he was going to sign with UK and not Michigan State. However, as of Thursday morning UK still had not released information that he had signed (he did sign with Kentucky late about 1:30 p.m. Thursday)
Marrow, UK’s recruiting coordinator, has spent five years recruiting Goodwin, who is ranked 13th overall nationally and the No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2022 recruiting class by 247Sports.
The 6-8, 335-pound Goodwin announced at 8 :15 a.m. Wednesday that he wasn’t sure if he would sign with Kentucky or Michigan State, one of the schools who had been heavily pursuing him along with Alabama and Texas A&M. Then he announced he would make his choice at 3:30 p.m. before pushing it back again to 5 p.m. before finally confirming on CBS Sports HQ that he would sign with Kentucky after posting on Twitter he was sorry for needing “more time” to make the toughest decision of his life.
“I’ve had a chance to meet a lot of people I didn’t know I’d ever be able to meet. Been able to talk to a lot of great coaches and learn a lot of great things.But with that being said, I’m staying home and playing football for the University of Kentucky,” Goodwin, a Louisville native, said.
The star offensive lineman said “relationships” with the coaches were what made his final decision. He had made about 30 unofficial visits to UK, including one last week for a UK basketball game just a few hours after Texas A&M finished a home visit with Goodwin.
According to 247Sports, Goodwin is the top-rated player to ever sign with Kentucky. Before him, defensive lineman Justin Rogers was the highest-rated when he signed with the 2020 recruiting class.
8 Responses
According to KSR this morning they stated that he will sign today. Hopefully that becomes a reality.
I sure hope. Stoops starting press conference in 5 minutes, hope that is first announcement he makes
He has now signed!
This was a great piece of news. Looking forward to watching him dominate the LOS for the Big Blue!
Just read cats game against the Buckeyes has been canceled.
It’s too bad Vince Marrow and his elite recruiting is wasted at a school like Kentucky. They are the welfare stepchild of the SEC. That kid should have gone someplace where he could actually win something.
Matt, sounds like your jealous that Kentucky got him your team didn’t. Some schools are not meant to be for a 5 star recruit Stoops has built a culture to the program that most top schools don’t have and i that’s why our talent level has gone up. Go Cats!!
Hey,
Be careful of what you wish for. It may come back and bite you in the ass!
A UK football alum.