By LARRY VAUGHT

He barely played at Trinity his sophomore year and then was injured his junior season after he transferred to Ballard. However, Jared Casey’s talent still made him a four-star recruit who originally committed to Oregon before a change of heart brought him to Kentucky.

“I am looking at the next level. That is why I came here to get coached by coach (Brad) White, one of the best coaches around,” said Casey, a freshman outside linebacker. “Everybody knows Kentucky is known for linebackers and I want to make it to the league (NFL) just like they did. This was just the obvious choice for me.”

Casey had 70 tackles, including 15.5 tackles for loss, as a senior. His workout/camp performances between his junior and senior years let his stock rise to where he was regarded as one of the nation’s top 20 outside linebackers despite his lack of playing time as a sophomore and junior.

“I think honestly if I would have played my sophomore and junior years I probably would not have ended up at Kentucky. I feel like I would have had a bigger status and more exposure and I would have had film. Coaches wanted to see my film from junior year and a lot didn’t offer me when I didn’t have film,” Casey said. 

“It was really a blessing (not playing as a sophomore and junior) or I probably would not have ended up at Kentucky. I love it here. It was more than I expected. I have learned a lot and getting coached by one of the best coaches around is just what I needed.”