ILB Chase Monroe feels strongly about UK after second visit

Chase Monroe is one of the top remaining linebacker recruits on Kentucky's board and the 2017 North Carolinian recently visited Lexington for the second time this year.

He spoke with Cats Illustrated in a follow up interview while traveling back home to North Carolina.

Monroe said he was at Kentucky for the Cats' weekend scrimmage, calling the experience "awesome," and noting that this trip was much different than his previous visit to the school.

"I really got to see them in live action," Monroe said. "The defense dominated and did some things really well. Both (the offense and defense) obviously have some stuff to work on overall and they'll get better.

"I got to see the academic side of the campus as well, the whole student center, the business building ... the business building is really new. I think it's the second year or maybe even the first year with the renovation and it looks really nice. It definitely looks like something I'd probably major in if I come in there. It's really impressive," he continued.

"I got to sit down with Coach (D.J.) Eliot once again and we talked about my future at Kentucky if I end up there," he said. "I think he's a great defensive coordinator and I think he's doing something really well with the inside linebackers and the defense overall. I'm excited to see what they do next season and how it's going to shape my commitment. But I really like (Eliot)."

Does that mean that Monroe's decision will be based on Kentucky's success in 2016?

Not necessarily.

"It's not huge (as a factor)," Monroe said. "Obviously I'd like to go to a team that's winning but that's not going to be the biggest part of the decision for me. The biggest part will be finding out where I feel best and where I want to be for the next four or five years. I would love to see the team doing well, coming in, but I wouldn't mind being part of building something either.

"I know they've got something coming up at Kentucky," he added. "I know they've got a good 2017 class. I think it's ranked No. 9 or No. 10 in the country. They've got a good thing going. I know good things are going to happen this year or the next."

Where would Monroe rank Kentucky on his overall list following the visit?

"I'd say they're definitely top three," he said. "I don't want to name any favorites or go into it beyond that, but Kentucky's definitely very high up there."