Rich Scangarello feels confident in Kentucky's recruiting operation

Over at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility, all of the attention is on No. 3 Tennessee as Kentucky football gets prepared for a gigantic SEC East showdown on Rocky Top. However, recruiting never stops in college football.

On this week’s episode of 11 Personnel, we made the bye week episode a mailbag edition and numerous questions about recruiting and the transfer portal rolled into KSR’s inbox. Everyone is always ready to take a look at the future.

On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was asked how recruiting was going, and the new addition to the staff is not pumping the brakes on some of the success that Kentucky could have on the trail down the road.

“Well, I know we had a running back here this weekend and he loved what he saw I’m sure,” Scangarello said. “I like our approach in the building and the way coach [Mark Stoops] has always recruited and I think we’re recruiting the best men, the right kind of makeup with grit and with football IQ that has talent. I think when you do that, people see how they fit into this type of offense. So far, it’s been great.”

“The great thing for me is I had a lot of relationships. I don’t want to get into too much of that stuff, but I know a lot of the guys from the time they were 12 years old. There’s a lot of guys in the country that I’ve been able to have relationships with when I was in the NFL that I used to work with. Those things will always help you down the road.”

Douglasville (Ga.) South Paulding tailback Jamarion Wilcox was that expected visitor as the three-star prospect received a scholarship offer from Clemson in September and took an unofficial visit to Kansas earlier this month. The Cats could be close to landing a commitment from the Peach State native.

However, what folks want to know about is quarterback. Kentucky must go into the transfer portal after the season to find a player that can replace Will Levis after he heads to the NFL. Scangarello seems to feel very confident about Kentucky’s chances in the free agent market.

The former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator has worked in the past with the QB Collective which is a prominent quarterback camp run by numerous NFL coaches. Star quarterbacks have attended that event, and there should be many that have relationships with Kentucky’s first-year offensive coordinator.

Kentucky is banking on those ties leading a solid win on the recruiting trail once this season ends.