SIGNING DAY PREVIEW: Running back Bryant Koback
Cats Illustrated isn't waiting until National Signing Day to get you ready for all the action. We're rolling out Signing Day content all week.
In our new Signing Day Preview series we'll profile every single one of Kentucky's 2017 early enrollees as well as those who won't be signing until Wednesday.
STATUS: Already enrolled.
RESUME: Bryant Koback was ranked and regarded as one of the top running backs in Ohio and the Midwest. He rushed for roughly 1,100 yards in the first few games of 2016,and that amounted to 1,100 yards in roughly five quarters of playing time. Simply put, his start to the 2016 season was one of the best for any running back in the entire nation, and in the history of Ohio prep football. His broken fibula and tibia ended his season and his run at some impressive records.
RECRUITING HISTORY: Koback became a widely-known prospect in recruiting circles when he started running the 40-yard dash in the 4.3-second range at places like Kentucky and Ohio State during summer camps season before his junior season. While he picked up offers from plenty of schools besides Kentucky — including Cincinnati, Boston College, Purdue, Virginia, Northwestern and others — he never seemed to waver after committing to the Cats early. It's interesting that Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was at Koback's high school earlier on the day he was injured. Koback signed with Kentucky and enrolled this semester.
SCOUTING REPORT: Koback has a very rare combination of size and speed but it's the latter attribute that really makes him an intriguing player. It's not that he's been timed at 4.3 seconds that's so impressive. It's that he's consistently timed in the 4.3's and that's as a player who is close to 200 pounds. He has impressive body control, vision and will beat almost every linebacker to the edge. He's a home run threat out of the backfield and is also dangerous as a pass-catcher and on kickoff returns. Koback will be the first to tell you he can still improve his downhill running ability. The only real concern, though, is how he recovers from that injury he suffered last year. It looks like Koback will sit out spring ball as a precautionary measure.
CATS ILLUSTRATED PROJECTION: It looks like Koback will sit out spring ball as a precautionary measure. If he's 100-percent then Koback has the kind of talent, work ethic and football intelligence to compete for the number two spot behind Benny Snell. More than likely he'll either redshirt, playing it safe with the injury, or compete for the number three spot behind Snell and A.J. Rose as the season wears on. But this guy has the makings of a big-time contributor in the SEC who should log lots of carries as an every-down back.
MORE BRYANT KOBACK COVERAGE AT CATS ILLUSTRATED
SCOUTING THE COMMITS: Bryant Koback
THE LONG JOURNEY: Koback's ups, downs and the bright future ahead
| Size | Speed | Vision | Cutting | Balance | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7.5/10 |
10/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
7/10 |