Kentucky football has landed a commitment from Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett linebacker Grant Godfrey (6-foot-3, 215). Godfrey chose the Wildcats over offers from Tennessee, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and TCU.
“Kentucky felt like the place I can develop the most at and be coached by an amazing staff that can get me to the next level,” Godfrey told CatsPause.com.
Defensive backs coach Chris Collins was the primary recruiter for the Georgia native with defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Brad White also putting in time. Collins had been recruiting the linebacker for years and his persistence paid off.
“We have been cool for awhile since he was at Georgia State. When he moved, he started pushing harder because he knows he has a chance to get me now at Kentucky,” Godfrey laughed. “He is just a cool guy. He is down to earth.”
After taking an unofficial visit to Lexington in June, Godfrey called UK’s coaching staff one of his favorites.
“(White) and coach (Mark) Stoops, creating so many good linebackers and with coach White coaching in the NFL, that is a great opportunity for me to learn and become a way better player,” Godfrey said. “He said he loves my instincts. He thinks I could play inside and outside linebacker. I sat down with him and coach Stoops and they told me their plan where I would play inside and outside; that’s what I love about going there because I love playing both.”
In addition to the coaches, Godfrey was probably drawn to Lexington by the presence of his friend and former teammate, wide receiver Dylan Gary, who recently joined the team as a walk-on.
Godfrey is rated a 90 on a scale to 100 by 247Sports, which equates to the nation’s No. 23 linebacker. As a junior, he totaled 68 tackles, four fumble recoveries, one interception and six sacks for a North Gwinnett program that competed in Peach State’s second-highest classification.
He is the first commitment from the state of Georgia in the 2023 recruiting class. He is also the first linebacker. With the pledge, Kentucky moves up eight spots in the 247Sports Team Rankings to No. 37 overall. They are ninth in the SEC with 14 commitments.
More is potentially on the way with Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy offensive tackle Naquil Betrand scheduled to announce Aug. 6 and Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral defensive lineman Kendrick Gilbert presumably nearing a decision.
