UK coaches showed Wandale Robinson lots of love on his visit Saturday
It's no stretch to say that Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills athlete Wandale Robinson is one of Kentucky's top in-state recruiting priorities from the 2019 class. His film is dynamic, he turned in a strong camp performance when Cats Illustrated was able to observe over the summer, and just over the weekend he turned in a six-touchdown performance for his high school team.
The UK-EKU game wasn't a big recruiting event, so far as Saturdays in the fall sometimes go, but Robinson was a big name, important recruit at Kroger Field.
He spoke with Cats Illustrated following his trip to Lexington.
"I loved it," Robinson told Cats Illustrated. "It was actually really nice. As soon as I got in there basically all the coaches talked to me. I talked to every offensive coach. I was just showed a lot of love. They brought me in and I talked to Coach (Mark) Stoops as soon as I got there. It was just really, really nice. He just said they've been keeping up with me, he was glad I was there and he said, 'I want you here.'"
Kentucky hasn't told Robinson what position they want him to play.
At Kentucky's camp over the summer he worked out exclusively as a slot receiver, but Robinson suspects that's because he already had so much film available from his work as a running back they didn't need to see what he could do out of the backfield.
"I've talked to Coach (Lamar) Thomas and Coach (Eddie) Gran and they both know I can play wide receiver and running back," Robinson said. "I'm fine with either one. I was told that I would probably have a better chance of playing my freshman year if I played slot. But I feel like I'm equally good at both. Either way they can get the ball in my hands in space."
Robinson said he also feels like Kentucky's offense would suit him and showcase him well.
"Definitely," he said. "I talked to Coach Thomas after the game and he said, 'If you were out there we'd be able to throw you some screens and get you the ball real fast in space.' So I feel like they would use me well."
There's no question Robinson is a priority for Kentucky. He has the offer from the Cats, and Robinson also keeps in contact with area recruiter John Schlarman "three or four times a week," he said.
"We text all the time," he noted. "We're still in contact just about every day."
Ryan Timmons was Robinson's main connection to the team but he doesn't know any of the players since he exhausted his eligibility after last season.
However, some of Kentucky's commitments from the 2018 class have reached out on social media. Class of 2018 slot Akeem Hayes recently implored Robinson to join him in Lexington one day. Robinson's response hinted that was a strong possibility.
Duke, Arizona State and Toledo are the other schools that have reached out to the Frankfort prospect since September 1st, when college coaches could start to reach out directly to 2019 prospects. He has also received graphics and well wishes from Cincinnati, Louisville and Virginia.
Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Virginia, Syracuse and Cincinnati have all offered Robinson.
Robinson said he wants to visit all of the schools that have offered. He told Cats Illustrated that he plans to announce his college decision sometime around next August, just less than a year from now, so he can focus exclusively on his senior season.
In Western Hills' game on Friday Robinson accounted for six touchdowns, four on the ground and two receiving.
