Vince Marrow heavily recruited Christian Conyer, second from right, but the cornerback committed to Tennessee Sunday. (Twitter Photo)
Three-star defensive back Christian Conyer of South Warren High School, one of the top rated players in Kentucky, made his college choice Sunday and picked Tennessee over UK.
The 6-1, 170-pound Conyer is the No. 4 ranked recruit in Kentucky and No. 56 cornerback in the 2023 recruiting class based on the 247Sports Composite.
South Warren coach Brandon Smith sensed his star player might pick Tennessee based on conversations he had with the player and his father.
“It’s one of the more interesting recruiting processes we have had. Really it’s basically been two schools all along with him but he never really tipped his hand until he announced his decision,” Smith said.
Conyer had visited both Kentucky and Tennessee twice recently and Smith doesn’t think UK did anything wrong in its recruitment.
“It came down to relationships. Him and (Tennessee assistant coach) Willie Martinez really had a good relationship,” Smith said. “He and his family just really liked coach Martinez. He made the best choice for him and his family and I think it is the right move for him.”
Tennessee now has 14 verbal commitments in its 2023 recruiting class but Conyer is the only cornerback in the group.
“He is a special player who has the potential to be really good. Sometimes a kid out of high school is close to maxed out (ability-wise). He’s not. His best football is still ahead of him. I really think he has the skill set and athleticism to be a star (in college).”
Smith uses Conyer not only in the secondary but also at receiver. It’s the same philosophy his father, former Boyle County High School/UK linebacker coach Chuck Smith, had about using his best players both ways in high school.
“At our level, he’s really a good receiver,” Smith said. “He’s a special talent, so we use him on offense, defense, and special teams. He runs really well and has great instincts. He’s great with the ball in his hands, too.”
7 Responses
That one hurts. Maybe if we start beating the Vols more than once every 25 years, we will win some of those in-state recruiting battles.
He is one of the few in state kids that we have lost the last few yrs that marrow has really recruited hard and wanted ding dong if more positive comments were left by true fans we might win all the recruiting battles but only the negative fans post stuff . Why cant it be if dont have something nice to say dont post anything but morons just have to get their opinion’s out because what they think is so much more important.
You are right Shawn and Stoops/Marrow have gone into Tennessee and got some terrific players
Wow Larry. You seem to condone that vicious personal attack. Are people like Shawn so fragile in their support for the Cats that they can’t hear criticism about the reality of our inability to beat Tennessee or is this a site where the right to voice opinions is only for those who have only good things to say about negative realities?
I just agreed that Stoops and Marrow have not lost many top in-state kids
I suspect UT probably got this kid through a NIL deal. NIL deals are going to hurt UK football recruiting I do believe. It will change college football recruiting success, or lack thereof, for a lot of colleges too. I hate it.
Careful Pup, you’ll get on Shawn’s poo poo list.