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University of Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops continued to stockpile talent for the future with the commitments of two more high-profile players Tuesday.
Demitrious and Chris Davis announced that they will leave the University of Pittsburgh and transfer to UK. The twin brothers from Ohio must sit out the 2013 season as transfers after redshirting in 2012.
The Davis twins will have three seasons of eligibility starting in 2014.
Both players were standouts for Austintown Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio, a suburb of Stoops' hometown of Youngstown.
Rivals.com considered the Davis twins to be the No. 32 and 33 "athletes" in the class of 2012 and the No. 39 and 40 overall prospects from the state of Ohio.
Austintown Fitch head coach Phil Annarella said the Cats are getting two exceptional athletes.
"They're just absolutely terrific athletes," Annarella told the Herald-Leader. "In a spread offense, they can do numerous things. And that's what we did when we had them with us in high school."
Annarella said that Demitrious was a first-team all-state quarterback during his senior season, while Chris played both wide receiver and defensive back.
Former Pitt head coach Todd Graham recruited the twins, but he left for the top job at Arizona State before they arrived on campus.
They redshirted last season, and there were questions about what roles they would play under the new coaching staff.
"They were big-time recruits," Annarella said. "And obviously with the coaching change at Pitt, I know that the family was just concerned that it wasn't as good a fit as it was when Graham had recruited them, because of the offensive philosophy."
Demitrious — at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds — will likely line up as a slot receiver and running back.
Chris — 5-9, 180 pounds — was listed as a wide receiver at Pitt, but Annarella said he could also be used as a defensive back.
One thing is certain: The Davis twins are fast.
Both players regularly turned in sub-4.4 times in the 40-yard dash, according to Annarella. The coach said they were usually clocked in about 4.35 while in high school.
Rivals.com had Kentucky at No. 2 in its team recruiting rankings Tuesday evening, one spot behind top-ranked Texas. The addition of the Davis twins will not affect that ranking, since transfers do not factor into the recruiting-class grades, but their commitment is another sign that UK's profile is on the rise.
Annarella, who was a close friend of Stoops' father, isn't surprised by the UK coach's immediate success on the recruiting trail.
"I think there's a lot of enthusiasm on his staff," he said. "And I think, rightfully so, they know that Kentucky could be a very, very big player in the SEC. And I think he's got the kids believing that.
"And that's the first thing — you've got to make the kids believe and you go from there."
Cats add another for '13
Florida offensive lineman Derrick Kelly committed to Kentucky on Tuesday, according to a report by KentuckyScout.com.
Kelly, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman, was one of more than 300 recruits who visited UK for the Saturday Night Prime Time Camp earlier this month at Commonwealth Stadium. He is unranked by Rivals, Scout and ESPN but is considered a three-star prospect by 24/7 Sports.
24/7 ranks Kelly as the No. 82 offensive tackle in the class of 2014.
The East Gadsden High standout is UK's 19th commitment for the class.
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