[LeeCoUKFan]

Cats set sights on big WR from Florida

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Kendrick Holland has early offers from Kentucky, Clemson, Rutgers and Virginia Tech with more certainly on the way. The Wildcats are in good shape early.

That's due in large part to the early efforts of Chad Scott and Neal Brown.

While receivers coach Tommy Mainord will likely get involved at some point, Winter Haven (Fla.) is Scott's turf and Brown often has a say in UK's recruitment of skill position players.

Holland, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound receiver, is an outstanding athlete with the ability to stretch the field. He likes Kentucky early.

"I would have to say Kentucky and probably Virginia Tech are (standing out)," Holland said.

He has never visited Kentucky but said that will change in the months ahead.

"Coach Scott and the new offensive coordinator came by the school. I had seen Chad Scott before. He came back with the new offensive coordinator to see my highlights," Holland said.

"Chad Scott has hit me up on Facebook saying (Kentucky) is a good place. He's a real cool person that I talk to the most. He's telling me they throw the ball a lot and would be able to get me the ball. He said I'm one of the top receivers they're after and he's told me (Lexington) would be a real good place to live.

"I'm going to take (a visit) up there this summer."

Of the schools that have offered Holland has only visited Clemson.

Tony Elliott, the TIgers' running backs coach, watched a Winter Haven practice last year and was impressed.

"I went up there in the summertime and they took me around and toured the campus. I competed up there. They let me see the players lounge and I really liked Clemson," he said.

But again, Clemson apparently trails Kentucky and Virginia Tech.

One of the Hokies' assistants, Torrian Gray, has attended two of Holland's basketball games.

Last fall Holland caught 52 passes for more than 850 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He also returned two punts for touchdowns and returned two interceptions for scores.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1474375