Notebook: Phillips looking ahead to 2012 class

Now that Kentucky's 2011 class is signed, sealed and scheduled to be delivered this summer, Coach Joker Phillips and his staff can put their full focus on the 2012 class.

The Bluegrass state produced several blue-chippers last fall. Lamar Dawson, DaMarcus Smith, Jon Davis, DeVante Parker and Darrian Miller were rated as four-star prospects by one or more recruiting services. That figures to be the case again in 2012. Several Kentuckians figure to be listed in the recruiting rankings that come out after the camp circuit winds up in the summer.

That includes one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Dixie Heights' Zeke Pike. UK has offered Pike a scholarship but could be fighting an uphill battle. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Pike has already received more than 30 offers from such schools as Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Penn State, Southern Cal, LSU and Auburn.

Another Northern Kentucky quarterback who will be highly sought after is Patrick Towles, a 6-4, 230-pounder from Highlands. Towles is being tutored by former UK quarterback Jared Lorenzen, who is the quarterbacks coach at Highlands.

"He's farther along than I was at this point," Lorenzen said. "He's legit. He's got all the tools: a strong arm, speed; he can run a 4.6 or 4.7 40. All he needs to work on now is consistency. I'm putting big goals out there for him because I really want him to challenge himself."

Samantha Mathis Samantha Morton Grace Park Jill Wagner Susie Castillo