Kentucky Making "Crazy" Impression on 4-Star Quarterback Drew Barker

Kentucky first-year head coach Mark Stoops is looking for a signature recruit to help him resurrect the Wildcat football team. That signature recruit could come in the form of Drew Barker (Hebron, Ky. Conner), who just received 115 handwritten letters from the school today.

Barker posted a picture of all the letters to his Instagram account Monday evening with the caption, “This is crazy….UK sent 115 handwritten letters today #BBN.”

The 6’4’’, 210-pound recruit is the top prospect in the state of Kentucky and the sixth ranked pro-style quarterback in 247Sports.com composite rankings. He would be a significant addition to any school, but especially at Kentucky where he could be the face of the program and rejuvenate the team under Stoops.

Barker was at Kentucky’s Junior Days in February after taking an unofficial visit in January and getting his scholarship offer four days later when Neal Brown visited his home. Stoops would visit on Jan. 25 and has made Barker his first priority since he took over the job in Lexington.

South Carolina hosted Barker this past weekend and said he had an awesome time on his twitter account.

 

Sorry, I’ve been off twitter for a little bit but I had an awesome time down in South Carolina! #GoGamecocks

— -Drew Barker- (@D_Barker7) March 25, 2013

 

Tennessee will be the next SEC program to host him, but while he’s away in Knoxville this weekend he may be thinking about the 115 letters and the messages contained within about how badly the Wildcats would love to have him be a part of the program.

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones used a similar recruiting tactic earlier this month on Stanton Truitt when he sent him a barrage of recruiting letters in the hope that would send him the message how much he is wanted. Some may scoff at this tactic, but it is a great way to get the attention of a recruit and let him know he’s getting shown a lot of love and attention from the program.

Big Blue Nation would have the biggest recruit in recent history if Stoops is able to secure a commitment from Barker, but as you can imagine he has a host of suitors that want to get him on campus. Vanderbilt, Louisville and North Carolina among others are also pursuing Barker who is coming off a junior season that saw him throw for 2,072 yards and 22 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,455 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Barker was selected to play in the 2014 Army All-American Game and Stoops would love nothing more than him to don a Wildcats hat if he decides to make his decision at the game. He could have the type of impact that Robert Nkemdiche had when he committed to Ole Miss and bring a number of other recruits with him that want to play with the talented signal-caller.

It’s a long way to go in the recruiting process, but Stoops is going to make sure Barker’s mailbox is stuffed and the Wildcats are always on his mind. Big Blue Nation should be encouraged with Stoops at the helm and if he can get one letter in return from Barker–his letter of intent–Big Blue Nation will have its best quarterback in more than 15 years when Tim Couch was on campus.

If that happens, then the cost of 115 stamps will be well worth it.

Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter and add him to your Google network.