The Bluegrass State’s top running back has given a verbal commitment to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Paducah Tilghman standout Joe Casey (6-2, 210, 4.45) decided to jump on the early offer from the home state school.

“Kentucky was the first team to offer Joe, and he’s grown pretty close to Joker Phillips and their new coaching staff,” Paducah Tilghman coach Perry Thomas said. “They’ve shown him a lot of interest from the minute they were hired.

“It’s funny, though, the way things pick up when you have a kid commit. We’ve been receiving letters and calls from just about every big-time school in the country, but even more now that they’ve heard he committed. Tennessee called today after they heard about it. Coach Fulmer said he wanted me to have Joe call him. The coaches aren’t allowed to make contact now, but the players can call the school. He wants a chance to make his pitch to Joe, but I think it’s probably too late. He really loves UK.”

Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisville, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Ole Miss had been showing the most interest early in the recruiting process.

Casey’s national profile isn’t as large as some other top backs due to playing in Kentucky, but his stats speak volumes. As a junior, he carried the ball 316 times for 2,358 yards and 34 touchdowns against a very good schedule. His season was highlighted by a 417-yard, five-touchdown performance in the Class 3A playoffs.

“He’s a kid with big-time potential,” Thomas said. “He’s a very powerful running back, a tremendous combination of strength and speed and vision. He has the ability to run over people and break tackles or run away from people. Not too many of your top running backs can do both like Joe can.

“He’s also very versatile in catching passes out of the backfield. He has nice, soft hands. He reminds me a lot of Ricky Williams or Shaun Alexander. He probably hits the holes harder than Alexander did at this stage in his career, though, and he doesn’t have nearly as good an offensive line as Boone County did back then. Of course, Shaun Alexander has proven himself to be an incredible player at the top level of this sport. We can only hope Joe goes that far, but he has the potential. A lot of Kentucky fans will probably see a little bit of George Adams in him.”

Academics will reportedly be a big key for Casey. He'll have to make some strides in that area in order to get eligible at Kentucky, but says he'll wind up back with the Wildcats even if he has to take the Juco or prep school route.

Casey is the second player to commit to new UK coach Rich Brooks for 2004. He joins Louisville Fern Creek receiver Mario Urrutia on the short list.