New UK commit Marc Nave, right, with Vince Marrow and UK commit Brian Robinson. (X Photo)
It seemed like a logical move when 6-5, 320-pound four-star offensive lineman Marc Nave of Toledo Central Catholic verbally committed to home-state Ohio State over Kentucky and Auburn in March.
However, Kentucky recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow and offensive line coach Zach Yenser stayed in touch and Thursday Nave flipped his commitment to Kentucky only about a month away from the national signing date.
He made an official visit to Kentucky last week when the Cats lost to Alabama after taking an unofficial visit in October after he re-opened his recruitment.
“Coach Marrow and coach Yenser are the people that have sold me the most with it,” Nave told Allen Trieu of 247Sports Thursday. “Coach Yenser is a former NFL offensive line coach and he develops guys.”
Nave has developed well at Toledo Central Catholic. He started as a 355-pound sophomore and had terrific power, balance and athleticism. But he went to work in the weight room and dropped 30 pounds, added speed and still had the same power as a blocker as a junior.
His high school coach called him a “punishing” run blocker when he committed to Ohio State and that certainly is the kind of lineman that UK coach Mark Stoops loves with his philosophy of playing physical football.
“The offensive scheme of just running the ball but also playing an NFL offense fits right for me,” Nave told Trieu. “Coach Yenser plans to use my versatility all across the line.
“Coach Stoops told me they need me to come in and play early. It is a great opportunity for me to get on the field early in the best conference in the world.”
His team is 13-0 going into Friday’s playoff game and he’s ranked as the No. 44 interior offensive lineman nationally by 247Sports in his recruiting class and 25th best senior in Ohio.
