By Larry Vaught
(Photo Courtesy of UK Athletics)
(LEXINGTON, Ky.)Michigan four-star tight end Lincoln Watkins is the first addition to his position group since Vince Marrow left Kentucky and Derek Shay took over as tight ends coach.
Watkins, who had over 30 scholarship offers, liked Shay immediately.
“If I were to describe him I would say he’s a very down to earth person and a very humble person,” Watkins said. “He has coached at some great places and what he has done is very impressive to me but he doesn’t make a big deal out of him which is very admirable.”
Shay was already on the Kentucky staff as a senior offensive assistant run game specialist when Marrow left UK for Louisville. His first recruiting call was to Watkins.
“He’s about letting his players succeed and not making it about him. He’s very vulnerable with us. He’s completely open and honest and tells it like it is. He’s not trying to make something look better than it is.”
He told Watkins exactly how he would be used at Kentucky and offered insights on other coaches that Watkins appreciated.
“He’s not one of those recruiters where you get to campus and it’s like what the heck did I get myself into because he was not honest with me. I loved that about him. He’s all about relationships like the rest of the staff. He feels more like an uncle rather than a coach,” Watkins said.
“That’s important when you’re going to be together every single day for four or five years. It can get old and there will be some hard times, so you need to have people like that in your program, especially position coaches, to take care of players.”