YOU ARE HERE: Central Kentucky Home→Collections→Kentucky

UK Basketball: Jarmon coming back to Wildcats

January 13, 2009|LARRY VAUGHT

LEXINGTON - Kentucky will have another key defensive player back next year when it tries to earn a fourth straight bowl bid.

Junior defensive end Jeremy Jarmon announced Monday that he was following advice from his parents and high school coach and coming back to UK after being projected as a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick in the NFL draft.

Jarmon had 38 tackles, including 10 for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks, in 12 games last season. He also broke up six passes and caused two fumbles.

He now ranks third in school history with 17.5 quarterback sacks.

"It's exciting to get Jeremy back," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. "It's great to have an experienced leader back to help our young players improve. Much like (linebacker) Micah Johnson, he has first- or second-round draft potential. Jeremy can really improve his game in the coming year, and with he and Micah coming back, we can be more competitive in the SEC."

Jarmon's parents suggested after UK's Liberty Bowl win in his hometown of Memphis that finishing his political science degree was best for him.

"I talked to coach Brooks and my high school coach, Tim Haney, and got some good advice from them. They felt I have more upside as a player and can get bigger and stronger," Jarmon said in a release from Kentucky.

Several weeks ago Jarmon admitted that his close ties to Lexington would make it difficult for him to leave for the NFL.

"I have family here now and some very close friends here. My girlfriend is here. My best friend (Sebastian Metzger), who is my roommate, is still here for now. He is an international student from Germany and he is like a brother to me," Jarmon said.

"Once you make a decision to jump into the next road, then things will never be the same. That is one of the things I have been told by a lot of people. I realize that once I make the decision not to come back or my girlfriend or roommate decides to go to grad school somewhere, then college life is over and things are going to change a lot."

|

|

|