Cali juco DE heading to Bluegrass

California’s Saddleback College has provided the Kentucky program with a top wide receiver the last two years in Chris Bernard.

On Wednesday, the Wildcats went back to the West Coast school in hopes of adding another impact player and may have done so in signing defensive endB.Jay Parsons.

Parsons (6-5, 250, 4.6) recorded 76 tackles, 15 ½ sacks, eight pass deflections and two forced fumbles this season. He was an All-Mission Conference selection, and was also being recruited by Colorado State, New Mexico and UCLA.

"I took my official visit to Kentucky last weekend," he said. "When I got off the plane into Lexington -- everybody had told me you'll know right away when you're in the right place -- and I knew it the second I got to Kentucky. That's where I was meant to be.

"I loved the coaches and players. Justin Haydock was my host. I felt like I fit in really well with them. They have the personality of the guys I hang around back here at home. I also loved the facilities. They were the best I've seen. I was pretty shocked by that. You can tell they really put a lot into wanting their football program to succeed."

Parsons was recruited by UK's Ron Hudson.

"He did a great job recruiting me," he said. "I really enjoyed his honesty and overall knowledge of the game and what I needed from an education standpoint."

Parsons is originally from Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif. He has three years to play two at Kentucky, and plans to enroll in January.