[LeeCoUKFan]

Linebacker Brown looking ahead to official visits

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

The summer hasn't even arrived but one Florida linebacker is already looking well beyond that and into the fall and winter.

Juwuan Brown is one of Kentucky's top linebacker targets and the 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect from Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson is an emerging recruit whose profile is getting bigger and more attractive each week.

Kentucky, Louisville, USF and Indiana are the BCS conference schools that have offered Brown so far. This week Brown admitted to Cats Illustrated that one is standing out.

"I want to say USF is kinda standing out," Brown said. "They're showing a lot of love. I've been there and I just loved the atmosphere of (the school). I like the school a lot.

But there's plenty of time left and Brown doesn't plan to shut down the recruiting process any time soon.

Indiana was the first school to offer and both Kentucky and Louisville have offered since. The Wildcats and Cardinals seem to go head to head for recruits all over the country nowadays, whether they are in Ohio, Florida or anywhere in between.

"I'm going to take one of my (official) visits to Kentucky," Brown said. "I do like Kentucky. I just don't know much about them yet. Coach (Chad) Scott is recruiting me and he's been telling me about how the head coach wants me bad.

"Louisville, I like Charlie Strong, so yeah, I have some thoughts on them too."

Though the spring evaluation period is in full swing Brown said not many assistant coaches have stopped by his school yet. That should change next week as Kentucky will be making the rounds in Florida.

Brown said he plans on "taking advantage of" all of his official visits before making his ultimate college decision.

Last year at Jefferson he led his team with eight sacks in only six games of action. He missed four games because of a sprained ankle and minor lower back issues.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1500659