Peach State DB commits to Cats

Kentucky has picked up a verbal commitment from a sleeper defensive back in the Peach State.

Hiram (Ga.) cornerback Trevard Lindley missed most of his senior season after dislocating a knee cap in the third game, but several top programs knew enough about him from his junior season to stay in contact.

“He was getting recruited pretty hard by Southern Miss, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Cincinnati and Marshall,” Hiram coach Lynn Rowe said. “LSU had started contacting him, too, so that kind of gives you an idea of what kind of athlete he is.

“He’s a 6-1, 190-pound kid with 4.45 speed. People don’t realize just how fast he is because it’s so effortless. He just glides out there.”

Rowe compared Lindley to another one of his players, Antonio Sims, who has committed to Georgia.

“They’re pretty much carbon copies of each other,” he said. “They’re very similar type athletes.”

Through the first three games, Lindley led Hiram with three interceptions as well as its longest rushing and receiving plays from scrimmage.

Kentucky had an edge in the recruitment, according to Rowe, due to the presence of former Hiram linebacker Jamie Saylor on the Wildcats’ roster. The walk-on had very favorable comments about his experience at UK, which helped persuade Lindley to go ahead and make his decision. He plans to make an official visit to Lexington on Jan. 9.

Rowe said Lindley has fully recovered from his knee injury and is currently playing basketball for Hiram.

"He didn't tear anything," Rowe said. "It just stretched some of the tendons in that area and made the knee cap vulnerable. He may have been able to come back, but we didn't want to risk his future. He's fine now."