Blast from the past Curtis Pulley recruitment

Jun 23, 2026
112
234
43
When talking about Curtis the phrase "what could have been' always pops up. Curtis one on one was a good dude but seemed to gravitate towards people that didn't always have his best interests. Coulda...shoulda have been an NFL CB. Every single scout and coach would tell him that, but Curtis's camp would hear none of it. He is also why I kinda role my eyes when people rake "insiders" over the coals. I as well as plenty of people in his inner circle thought it was UL up to the day of his decision. 17-18yr old kids have always been fickle even without the NIL.

The Louisville side of recruitment'

They recruited him hard for defense and switched once they realized it wasn't happening. Once they went all in at QB Brohm and Paul Petrino were his main recruiters. The only thing that stuck out from that was the race angle was used a lot. He was told several times that UK would never start a black QB.

Kentucky recruitment.

First of all, Joker is easily the most charismatic person ive ever met. Think of him what you will but that guy loves UK and sold it very well. They sold him on the fact that they would use him all over the field. The Cobb/Bowden role. Of course, we know that didn't come to fruition

Best story from that was Brook's last call in show of the season. They were in Hoptown recruiting Curtis and staying at the Holiday Inn which shared a parking lot with a rundown Econo Lodge. Under the Econo Lodge was a dark, dank smokey bar where they took the Hoptown coaches to grab a drink and Brooks did his show. During the commercial breaks Brooks would cross the parking lot, walk in the door, down a bourbon and walk back to continue the show. Feels like he did that 10 times. Beyond being a great storyteller, that man could hold his liquor.
 
Jun 23, 2026
112
234
43
After he scored a TD against Florida as a freshman I thought he was the next big thing. Could've worked in that Cobb/Bowden type offense, but alas.

Was he the same class as Lionel DeWalt?
I believe youre right. Man the coaching staff had to salivating over coaching those 2 athletic freaks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: krlambert6
Aug 4, 2025
430
579
93
Curtis Pulley was a unique talent a bit before his time. Which kind of describes UK football late 90s early 2000s.

Everything that took off and is popular today UK had elements of at some point in that decade give or take.

Two of the founding fathers essentially of modern creative passing in Mumme and Leach.

We had some QBs who could move around. Jlo, Boyd, Pulley.

We had the TE as a key piece in passing game. Tamme

We had the multi use scat/utility back with Rafy little and Cobb.
 

CD1974

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2026
929
1,768
93
I remember watching Pulley and the Hoptown Tigers play Joe Casey & Hunter Cantwell's Paducah Tilghman team. Both sides had elite athleticism and plenty of guys who would go on and play college football. Pulley was easily the best football player on the field that night.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LongliveWildcatDon
Jun 23, 2026
112
234
43
I remember watching Pulley and the Hoptown Tigers play Joe Casey & Hunter Cantwell's Paducah Tilghman team. Both sides had elite athleticism and plenty of guys who would go on and play college football. Pulley was easily the best football player on the field that night.
Forgot about Joe Casey. I thought that dude was going to be a star in college. Guess I dont have the best eye for talent.
 

CD1974

All-Conference
Jan 12, 2026
929
1,768
93
Forgot about Joe Casey. I thought that dude was going to be a star in college. Guess I dont have the best eye for talent.
Him not making it had NOTHING to do with talent. The two best RBs in the country that year were Adrian Peterson and Joe Casey...and lots of people thought Casey was the better back. There were off the field things that kept him from ever succeeding on the field at the next level...some of his doing but also some he had no control over.
 

Littlecreek10

Senior
Jul 6, 2025
210
418
63
Curtis Pulley was a unique talent a bit before his time. Which kind of describes UK football late 90s early 2000s.

Everything that took off and is popular today UK had elements of at some point in that decade give or take.

Two of the founding fathers essentially of modern creative passing in Mumme and Leach.

We had some QBs who could move around. Jlo, Boyd, Pulley.

We had the TE as a key piece in passing game. Tamme

We had the multi use scat/utility back with Rafy little and Cobb.
Derrick Ramsey was born about 30 years too early. Just imagine him in a RPO offense?
 
  • Like
Reactions: LongliveWildcatDon