Jaleel Hytchye

[beetlemania74]

So, I was watching the very end of the Kentucky game tonight and thought about the CB a few years ago who chose those Wildcats (the blue ones) over Northwestern. Looked him up, his name is Jaleel Hytchye. Checked to see if he's on the Kentucky two-deep, but no, not there. Not even on the roster. Googled him, found that he left Kentucky this past summer and is now at Georgia State. Here's an article about the transfer.

I remember he chose Kentucky because he was excited about being part of the new coach's plan to turn around that long struggling program. He was going to be part of something special there. Once committed, he was recruiting other guys to Kentucky and talking about how great it would be. He played some as a true freshman, then less as a sophomore. Then, apparently, he was passed up on the depth chart by younger guys and effectively pushed out of the program, SEC style. The fan comments to the story I linked are revealing. SEC football - the cream rise to the top, and the bottom guys are expected to leave. Like getting cut in the pros, I guess.

Maybe the guy's happy now at Georgia State, but I wonder if he regrets not accepting the NU offer. Even if he didn't contribute on the field at NU, he would have been encouraged to stay and graduate, which apparently wasn't the case at Kentucky.

 

[EvanstonCat]

If he can't play for UK, then he likely wouldn't play for NU, who has some of the best corners in the country now. But, yeah, you're right that he at least could stay and get an NU degree, which probably would do him far better than one from Georgia State (or UK for that matter).

I think it's self-selecting. Kids who decline an NU offer to join a program like UK are probably not a good fit for us to begin with. Not the case always, but more or less true.

This said, kids are prone to make stupid decisions when they are 17 and would perhaps select differently in hindsight when they are a bit wiser.

 

[catcrazy]

Was wondering how/what happened to him.he is a good friend of Keith Watkins from I recall

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Nice find Beetle...I remember being disappointed when Hytchye chose Kentucky. He went to La Salle - the same high school as Jordan Thompson (our 4* frosh DT) and 2016 RB Jeremy Larkin (who chose Cincinnati over the Cats). Will be interesting to see how Larkin's career pans out as a Bearcat.

 

[nycat33]

Jordan Thomas who decommitted late and went to Oklahoma has been playing really well for the Sooners. I saw him have a pick early in the season. Not that we are hurting without him, but always interesting to see how players turn out.

 

[shakes3858]

If he can't play for UK, then he likely wouldn't play for NU, who has some of the best corners in the country now. But, yeah, you're right that he at least could stay and get an NU degree, which probably would do him far better than one from Georgia State (or UK for that matter).

I think it's self-selecting. Kids who decline an NU offer to join a program like UK are probably not a good fit for us to begin with. Not the case always, but more or less true.

This said, kids are prone to make stupid decisions when they are 17 and would perhaps select differently in hindsight when they are a bit wiser.

I thin our great DB coaches Hankwitz and Brown could've done wonders with Hytchye and he would've been a great member of our secondary. It's possible too that his presence could have brough him or one of the other DBs to WR where we could use him. 5'11 (self reported) 4.38. Seems to have good hands in his Hudl tape, but I don't recall seeing anyone drop a pass on a highlight tape.

Turk, on the other hand, would've butchered his name so maybe it wouldn't have been worth it.