College Football recruiting is uniquely different from that of College Basketball. While both are definitely influenced by the success (or lack thereof) from NIL and the Portal, the differential in the roster numbers alone makes it necessary for Football recruiting to identify potential talent that can contribute beyond those 3, 4 and 5 Star kids that attract so much attention. Morrow is recognized as having the capacity to do that as effectively as anyone in America.
Stoops has received a lot of credit for the ability of UK Football to raise its position within the SEC, before this more recent decline. However, those years of improvement, and even these last two years of disappointment; UK’s roster has been filled with talented depth, which explains their more competitive position inside the SEC. Most of those close to UK’s football program credit Morrow, and not Stoops for being able to identify and attract kids capable of playing at that level, despite not all of those players being recognized as highly coveted.
Jeff’s decision to continue pursuing Morrow at such a significant cost in light of the advent of NIL and the Portal is no accident; it is predicated on the confidence this ROI will be more than justified by the value Vince will bring to UL football.