Ansley reaches out to Riep
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Cincinnati isn't one of the parts of Ohio that the Wildcats have tapped into most frequently in the Mark Stoops' era, but the city is home to a 2017 defensive back that the coaching staff will take a closer look at.
Amir Riep heard from Kentucky defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley on Tuesday, the first day that coaches could directly reach out to players and their guardians via social media and various other forms of communication.
It was a simple gesture on Ansley's part, but one that signified there could be some interest on UK's end.
"It was a DM on Twitter," Riep told Cats Illustrated. "It was a picture from the DB's coach."
Riep, a 6-foot, 180-pound corner from Colerain in Cincinnati, said Kentucky and other schools are recruiting him as a cornerback. Ansley's interest could be a good sign for Riep, because it's not like the coach is unfamiliar with him. Riep attended camps at Kentucky following both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
At the camp in Lexington that Riep attended this summer Ansley asked the player, just as he did the previous year, to stay after the main group had finished.
"There were a select few players that he wanted to see a little more of," Riep said. "I think he was probably impressed with how I did in the ones (one-on-ones). He said he would watch me during the year. I liked working with him. He seems like he's a good person."
Riep was able to tour around UK, the school and the facilities, and see what life in Lexington would be all about.
"I like it a lot. It's real cool down there," said Riep, who has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and has a 32-inch vertical leap.
Although he's listed at 6-feet and 180 pounds, Riep told Cats Illustrated that he's 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds.
Pitt and Michigan State also reached out to Riep on Tuesday, and while he was at school Maryland's coaches requested his transcript.
Riep is in his second year as a varsity starter at Colerain. Before that, he was a freshman varsity starter at Roger Bacon. He camped at Ohio State in addition to Kentucky over the summer. That was the Friday Night Lights camp in Columbus.
No schools stand out to the Cincinnati prospect.
"I'm still looking at all of them to see which one best fits me," he said.
