Kentucky assistant coach Frank Buffano operated “by the book” while recruiting Alabama four-star defensive back Avery Stuart. (Twitter Photo)
Alabama four-star defensive back Avery Stuart is one of the higher rated recruits that coach Mark Stoops has landed at UK and currently the highest ranked player in UK’s 2023 recruiting class. He picked UK over Florida State, Auburn, Penn State, Oklahoma and others.
With all the focus on how name, image and likeness (NIL) and the impact it is having on recruiting, I asked Alabama Christian Academy coach Michael Summers if any NIL incentives influenced Stuart’s decision.
“Not that I know of,” Summers said. “I think some other schools… (UK assistant) coach (Frank) Buffano said he could not talk about that kind of stuff right now.
“I respect that. That is being by the book. I am sure if he gets there and does his job, that stuff will take care of itself. But they (UK) had enough integrity not to break the rules.”
Stuart is the No. 20 highest rated commitment all-time at UK according to 247Sports and raved about receiver Dane Key and linebacker Keaten Wade, two stars in the 2022 recruiting class, and 2023 receiver Shamar Porter. He is regarded as the nation’s 12th best safety by 247Sports and 197th best player.
Stuart also plays receiver because Alabama Christian is a 1A school enrollment-wise playing up in 3A against schools with more numbers.
“He obviously plays safety but we also need him at receiver,” Summers said. “That’s not his natural spot but we beat our city rival who was state runner-up and he had a big interception but also a really big touchdown catch.
“We are a run team but our quarterback is pretty good at getting him the ball. We are hoping people double team him and we can run it down their throat. If not and they don’t double team him, we are going to throw it up and let him go get it.”
Summers said he’s known Stuart was special for several years and has tried to help promote him as much as possible.
“We got information out on him but he also plays a lot of 7-on-7 ball to get his name out there. He went to a lot of camps to get a lot of tape out. A combination of all that and his special talent made a lot of schools notice him and Kentucky is getting a really, really good player,” Summer said.
3 Responses
Good for Stuart, glad he is a wildcat. By the book? What does that even mean in this era of pay for play NIL crap? UK better get NIL figured out quick or drop in the recruiting wars like a rock. Just look at who UT is signing these days, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, etc. Are they recruiting by the book? I don’t think so, no way! They are buying players and doing it openly. Look at Miami.
UT ought to be hit with penalty’s right now due to past recruiting violations, but the NCAA is AWOL, quiet as a church mouse. By the book? That is laughable and that approach will see UK lose out on many a good 4* and 5* football player in the future if they don’t put some dollars on the table to entice top football talent to Lexington like all the big dogs in the SEC are doing right now to solidify their rosters with the best players available. By the book will get you beat these days, especially in the years ahead. NIL has ruined, or at least made UK’s future football hopes very shaky unless they can pay for the services of the best athletes just like it appears everybody who is somebody in college football universe seems to be doing these days. Nice job Jimbo, Nick, Kirby, Kelly,etc. Is it fair, no way, but it is apparently being allowed. If I am wrong help me out here.
OB’s seem to be the high dollar recipients – maybe that’s why we don’t have committed as yet.
Come on Coach Portal – save us again !!!!
Future for UK at the QB position is 6’6" Cutter Boley, QB, LCA. Stay on him coaches. He has lots of college options. Couch is high on him. Put some money on the table when the time is right, like everybody else will be doing to sign him. Don’t let UT steal this young man for sure.