Kiyaunta Goodwin explains why he remains committed to Kentucky

Kiyaunta Goodwin is one of the top 20 players in the class of 2022, meaning that it was always going to be a race to the very end of his recruitment.

He remains committed to Kentucky after picking the Wildcats in mid-April, but fans would be lying if they said that Goodwin potentially visiting the likes of Alabama and Ohio State didn’t make them a bit worried. After all, Nick Saban is still Nick Saban, and I sure wouldn’t blame Goodwin for taking a free visit to the nation’s premier football powerhouses.

But players like Goodwin don’t come around Lexington all that often. The 6-foot-8, 315-pounder playing out of Charlestown High School (IN) is a five-star prospect according to On3 and the top offensive tackle from the class of 2022. His long-standing relationship with associate head coach Vince Marrow has played a massive role in staying firm with Kentucky, although other schools remain in pursuit. Goodwin initially chose Kentucky over Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Michigan State.

Make no mistake though, Kiyaunta Goodwin is rock solid with Kentucky right now. The Louisville native spoke with On3’s Chad Simmons about why the Wildcats are the program for him. Goodwin mentioned his relationships with the coaches, the home atmosphere, and the fan dedication as a few of the main reasons why he’s holding firm with UK.

And of course, he gave big credit to head coach Mark Stoops for what he’s built in Lexington over the years.

“He’s building a program that players want to believe in and that’s something I want to be a part of,” Goodwin told Simmons. “I want to be a part of building the program, changing the program, being that missing piece to help change a program. And that’s what I feel like can do. I can help make the Big Blue Wall even better.”

The Kentucky coaching staff has been in contact with Goodwin since he was in middle school. Even for schools like Alabama and Clemson, it can be tough to overcome that connection. Over the years, the relationships have only continued to grow, but the message has stayed the same.

“Since day one it’s always been the same. It’s been constant recruitment,” Goodwin said about how Kentucky has recruited him. “We don’t even talk about football anymore. We stopped talking about football years ago. Of course we talk about the game and watch film and stuff like that. Obviously, we talk football but that’s not the most important thing. Developing the player, the man, the mind, that’s what I really care for because one day football is going to end and you’d rather have the options and I feel like they’re going to do their best at developing the man more than just the betterment of the player.”

Until Goodwin officially puts pen to paper and signs with Kentucky, other programs are going to continue to reach out. But if the coaching staff continues to do what they’ve done for years, that shouldn’t be much of an issue.