[LeeCoUKFan]

Offensive lineman LaRubbio likes UK 'a lot'

Justin Rowland
Special to CatsIllustrated.com

Kentucky is poised to sign more prospects from the Buckeye State than anyone imagined they would in this year's class. Now another top recruit from Ohio favors the Wildcats.

Immediately after the Kentucky spring game Liberty Township (Ohio) Lakota East offensive guard Jarrett LaRubbio recapped his weekend trips to Vanderbilt and Kentucky. When he did he seemed to imply that the Commodores were standing out.

However, when Cats Illustrated caught up with him this week LaRubbio was singing a different tune. Since returning to Ohio from Vanderbilt and Kentucky, LaRubbio has also visited North Carolina, NC State and Duke.

All of those schools have offered.

"They were all real good," LaRubbio said. "I saw the spring games at N.C. State and Kentucky.

"It's tough to say but I really like Kentucky a lot. I like the coaches they've got there."

Vince Marrow, UK's primary recruiter in the state of Ohio, is the coach with the responsibility of selling Kentucky to LaRubbio. He's made a great impression so far.

"He's a good coach and we're from the same area. He's from Youngstown, Ohio, and so am I," LaRubbio said.

The near four-star lineman has now been to Kentucky twice since Mark Stoops and his new staff took over in Lexington.

The most recent trip for the spring game was special because it gave him clear evidence that the fan support for the program and the coaches is there.

"It was real cool seeing that many people show up and like I said, I really like their coaches," he said.

LaRubbio said he "knows of" some of the other Ohio recruits that the Wildcats have made a top priority. He added that he's not sure when he will be making his decision.

With other offers from Arizona State, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Nebraska, North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, Vanderbilt, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin, LaRubbio is ranked the No. 16 offensive guard in the nation.

http://kentucky.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1500655