Kentucky adds fifth juco signee

Coming on the heels of NCAA probation that left some big gaps in the depth chart, Kentucky is taking the juco route harder than ever in the Class of 2004.

The Wildcats added a fifth juco signee on Wednesday in the form of Chula Vista (Calif.) Southwestern College offensive lineman Ernie Pelayo.

A 6-foot-6, 290-pound tackle, Pelayo is expected to compete for immediate playing time after Kentucky lost three starters and a top reserve from this year’s line.

“That was a big factor in my decision,” Pelayo said. “Coach Brooks and coach Hudson were real up-front and honest with me about needing some O-Line help. They didn’t promise me a starting job or anything – they said I’d have to earn it just like anybody else – but they also said they were confident in my ability to come in and do that.”

Pelayo was a two-year starter at Southwestern, earning honorable mention All-America honors. He was also named first-team All-Foothill Conference and first-team All-California.

He said he chose the Wildcats over UCLA, Arizona State, Arizona and Oregon.

“Kentucky was in on me early,” he said. “Coach Hudson was talking to me last spring and told me he wanted me then. There were several schools recruiting me at that time and all during this season, but I hurt my knee in the last game, and a lot of them started backing off. Kentucky stuck with me.”

He'll join fellow California jucos Jamir Davis (TE), Scott Mitchell (WR) and B.Jay Parsons on the UK campus in January. The Cats also signed Kansas DE Cedric Koger.