Kentucky loves tall, long cornerbacks. For that reason it's no surprise that Stanley Garner was a coveted recruit all year long for the Wildcats.
Bio in Brief
Cornerback Stanley Garner
6'3, 180 pounds
Rating: Four-stars (5.8)
Other offers: Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oregon State, Pitt, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and others
Recruiting Overview
Garner began the recruiting process as a three-star recruit with recognized talent but after a strong performance on the 7-on-7 circuit early in the 2017, and stellar play through the summer, he landed a fourth star and his recruiting profile really took off with schools all over the country.
Alabama, Clemson, Louisville and Michigan were some of the other schools that Garner kept in mind throughout the process as he narrowed his list. Kentucky was a constant.
Over the summer, Garner visited Kentucky twice for extended visits, once with former coach Lorenzo Davis and some Class of 2019 recruits from his area. He also visited Alabama multiple times and stopped off at Louisville, too.
Garner ultimately committed to Kentucky, but that didn't stop Clemson from continuing to recruit him. He plans to enroll early at Kentucky.
Scouting Report
Garner's measurables tell you a lot about his game. He's cut from the same cloth as Kentucky cornerbacks Chris Westry and Derrick Baity in terms of his long build. He's wiry at this point and so will need to continue to put in work in the weight room and add more weight. But he has length that cannot be taught and his long wingspan allows him to disrupt passing lanes and cover a lot of the field.
At the camp Garner participated in at Kentucky, extensively, he faced off against some of the better receivers that were present and more than held his own, showing solid footwork and hips for a 6-foot-3 corner, which is essential for such a long player aspiring to play the position in the SEC. He also showed impressive tenacity and competitiveness in close coverage situations.
Forecast for 2018 & Beyond
Kentucky's top cornerbacks are probably set for 2018 with Westry, Baity, Lonnie Johnson and Jordan Griffin sure to see the field a lot. Garner will enter the mix, with that extra semester, alongside redshirting freshmen like Yusuf Corker, Michael Nesbitt, Cedrick Dort and Tobias Gilliam in the battle for spot duty and ultimately a spot in line to compete for a starting position later in his career.
Because Kentucky loses Westry, Baity and Johnson after the 2018 season there will be a wide open competition for playing time. Ideally, Kentucky would work several younger defensive backs onto the field in preparation for that significant turnover.
Quotable
"Garner is incredibly long and has improved greatly over the last year. He covers well enough to use his massive size at corner but he could also play safety if he adds more muscle. We bumped him up to four-stars this summer because he's finally comfortable in his massive frame and his coverage skills have taken a step forward."
- Rivals.com analyst Rob Cassidy to Cats Illustrated after Garner's commitment
