Defensive end Daniel commits to UK
Three-star defensive end Kengera Daniel of Raleigh, N.C., committed to the University of Kentucky on Wednesday night, becoming the Wildcats' 16th pledge in the 2015 class.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound player for Millbrook High School picked the Wildcats over Louisville, Alabama, Virginia and hometown North Carolina State. UK was seen as the favorite to land him. He took his only official visit to Lexington the weekend of the Cats' victory over South Carolina this month.
"I feel like they've had a quick turnaround with their most recent recruiting class, and I feel like they've done pretty well recruiting some good guys," Daniel said Tuesday night in explaining his interest in the Cats. "Of course, having (defensive end) Bud Dupree doesn't hurt. He's a great guy; I got to meet him. I feel like the guys there are coaching those guys up, and they're making plays to the best of their ability."
Daniel is rated that nation's No. 16 weakside defensive end and No. 15 prospect overall in North Carolina in the 2015 class by Rivals.com. He's No. 28 at his position nationally and No. 25 in his state, according to 247Sports.com. UK's class - four four-star players and 12 three-stars - is now ranked No. 20 nationally by Rivals.
He's the first player from North Carolina to commit to UK under coach Mark Stoops.
He said UK would like him to play the end position Dupree, a similarly sized player, occupies this year.
Daniel said he can run a 4.79-second 40-yard dash but feels he's a quicker player on the field than in a straight-line, timed sprint, and he believes he has the strength and length to be a disruptive player on the edge of the line of scrimmage.
"I feel like I'm a great leader," he said. "'m the kind of guy who can help turn a program around or boost a program that's already good and can become even better. I feel like I can basically take over an entire game."
You can watch Daniel's commitment announcement on this segment he recorded with Bleacher Report.