Mark Stoops Provides Timetable on Decision for "Lightning Bolt" Jamarion Wilcox

Signing Day came and went. Jamarion Wilcox never faxed a letter of intent to the University of Kentucky. Mark Stoops’ confidence has not wavered.

Thursday morning Kentucky’s head football coach called into Kentucky Sports Radio to debrief all the events from Wednesday’s Signing Day. Even though at times Kentucky’s recruiting efforts appeared suspect, Mark Stoops’ staff finished strong in the class of 2023.

“I love the way we closed. I really felt like, obviously with the addition of transfers, but at the high school level, the way we closed was about as good as we can,” Stoops said. “We have one more big-time guy out there that’s a lightning bolt that can go. He’s a playmaker, an offensive playmaker that I believe we still have a good chance to still get in the boat and that would really be a home run for us.”

Jamarion Wilcox is the lightning bolt Stoops is referring to. The ninth-ranked running back in America according to Rivals, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns this year at South Paulding High School outside of Atlanta. When could we hear a final decision on Wilcox?

“I’m not sure,” said Stoops. “We’re still working on that daily. It might be here in the next 48 hours but it may be in January.”

Prospects can submit their National Letters of Intent through Friday, or they must wait until National Signing Day on Feb. 1.

Mark Stoops sounds confident Kentucky can land the elusive running back. Clemson was the team to beat early, but Kentucky appeared to surge ahead. Auburn also made a late push, but instead of officially visiting the Plains last weekend, he hosted Jay Boulware for an in-home visit. If Kentucky can seal the deal with a signature from Jamarion Wilcox, the Cats will land an immediate impact playmaker.

For analysis on all of the new Wildcats, check out KSR’s 2023 Signing Day Show.