Signing Day Profile: Linebacker DeAndre Square
There have never been any doubts about DeAndre Square's status with Kentucky since he made his college decision over the summer.
Square is up next in Cats Illustrated's Signing Day Profile series, and he's as excited to be a Wildcat as anyone in Kentucky's class.
Bio in Brief
Linebacker DeAndre Square
6'1, 196 pounds
Rating: Three-stars (5.7 Rivals Rating)
Other offers: Arizona, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Pitt, Syracuse, Wisconsin and others
Recruiting Overview
A lot of observers were amazed when Kentucky reached into Michigan and landed elite line prospect Marquan McCall, but the Wildcats did just as well to pull Square away from his home state Spartans and even programs across the country. When Square committed to Kentucky, he never looked back.
Square did take an unofficial visit to Ohio State in September but he made it clear that he was not wavering in his commitment to Kentucky.
When Square released his initial list of ten favorites he included Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Kentucky, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Wisconsin. Even then, while Michigan State was widely perceived to be a frontrunner, Square told Rivals.com's Josh Helmholdt that Kentucky was the school that everyone was sleeping on.
Scouting Report
Several things really stand out on tape and watching Square in person, as Cats Illustrated had the opportunity to do during Kentucky's summer camp season.
First, while Square has a lean physique and must gain weight, he has a very good wing span. He's never going to be an imposing linebacker but he makes a lot of tackles because he plays fast, closes very aggressively on the ball, and covers a wide range of territory with his arms.
He's also much better in coverage than most of the high school linebackers you're going to come across, even most of those with higher ratings. He's able to run with the most athletic tight ends and even some wide receivers and has the hips to adjust to the ball. Coupled with his wing span, he should be a great asset against spread offenses Kentucky will face.
Square played linebacker, safety, cornerback and wide receiver for powerhouse Cass Tech in Detroit.
Forecast for 2018 & Beyond
Because Square is strictly an outside linebacker prospect it might be tough for him to crack the rotation as a true freshman, even with the extra semester he will get when he enrolls early next month. That's because, like Eli Brown and Jamin Davis before him, Square's athleticism and explosiveness are matched by his need to gain weight and make strides in the weight room. He could conceivably become a special teams warrior right off the bat, and with several of the defense's better linebackers leaving the program after 2019 there's a great opportunity for Square to play early in his career.
Quotable
"I love how he coaches. He's a great coach and after the camp he told me I did a great job and would love to have me be a part of Kentucky football."
- Square on Kentucky assistant coach Matt House after camping in Lexington
