Kentucky fan support makes big impression on recruits and their parents

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Vince Marrow believes UK has some of the best fans in college football. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky has had a lot of big-time recruits at its last two football games, including the disappointing 24-14 loss to South Carolina on October 8th.

The Cats bounced back to beat Mississippi State 27-17 Saturday in a game recruits should have enjoyed a lot more than the loss to the Gamecocks.

“The way we played last week (against South Carolina) there was no excuse for that,” said UK associate coach/recruiting director Vince Marrow on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports. “The way the fans showed up this week, it was like a 12th man on defense. We have some of the best fans in college football. We have die-hard college football fans.”

So how much does that atmosphere impact recruiting?

“We had a really important guy in the (transfer) portal visit this weekend,” Marrow said. “His parents could not believe the atmosphere.”

That player might have been former South Warren star Jacob Lacey, a defensive tackle who recently left Notre Dame. He was the third-rated prospect in Kentucky in the 2019 recruiting class and picked Notre Dame over UK, Tennessee, Penn State, Michigan State, Clemson and Michigan.

He had 80 tackles, including 34 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, his senior year when South Warren won the Class 5A state championship.

The 280-pound Lacey played in 38 games at Notre Dame and had 35 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss.

“We had a ton of recruits in for South Carolina and a bunch in this week also. A lot of guys committed to other places were here,” Marrow said. “The atmosphere, the Cat Walk, just the crowd… what a great fanbase.”

Marrow said recruits’ parents are as impressed, or maybe more impressed, than the players. He says recruits/parents making their first trip to Kroger Field are often overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

“Fans come out here and support us. Recruits notice,” Marrow said. “Now we are going to finish this (the season) the right way for them. We are very appreciative of their support and want to show them we can do that.”

Kentucky has games left at Tennessee and then Missouri before finishing with three straight home games — Vanderbilt, Georgia and Louisville.

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