NSD Profile: A.J. Rose
A.J. Rose was coveted by the Kentucky coaches for his explosiveness. He'll give the Cats' backfield more speed and game-breaking ability.
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6-foot-2, 199 pounds
Garfield Heights (Ohio)
Rank: Three stars (5.6), No. 25 running back nationally, No. 27 player in Ohio
Recruiting Rewind
Rose was low drama and low maintenance as a recruit. Kentucky was one of the first Power Five schools to show interest in him and as soon as Rose became comfortable enough with the Wildcats he committed, never to look back.
The Garfield Heights running back did camp at Ohio State, but the Buckeyes recruited Rose as a defensive player, primarily. They did start to hint that they could look at him as a running back, but Kentucky's coaches were steadfast in their support of him as an offensive player. Previously Rose's coach had predicted, to Cats Illustrated, that schools would hurt their chances if they recruited him to play a position other than running back.
Rose and Snell actually committed to Kentucky on the same day.
Scout Speak
Ironically, given the above, Rose wasn't a running back for much of his high school career. He's got an extensive track record as a quarterback, actually. But even as a quarterback Rose was primarily a rushing threat.
He's a player who is built more upright and taller than most prototypical running backs. We've made the comparison, at least in terms of his build, to former Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon. For a taller back Rose does have impressive footwork and in drills at the Rivals Camp in Cleveland he impressed Cats Illustrated. Those events are typically built for smaller all-purpose backs.
Rose isn't exactly a bruiser so much as a big slasher who could thrive in a zone running scheme, and he hits the hole very hard and with a full head of steam. He should be solid as a pass catcher out of the backfield and splitting out.
Setting the Bar
Stanley Williams, Mikel Horton and Jojo Kemp probably aren't going anywhere and they should be the top three backs this year, barring something unforeseen. But it's not uncommon at all to see true freshmen running backs sneak onto the field. Depth at the position is frequently tested. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Rose get on the field as a true freshman, especially if there's an injury or two. It's tough to see him not being a significant contributor down the road because of his speed, work ethic and the way the depth chart is likely to thin out in the next one or two years.