VAUGHT: Fields ready to be a Wildcat

With national signing day less than a month away, Frankfort’s E.J. Fields remains one of the top in-state prospects who will sign with the Wildcats. “He’s still very excited. Everything is good to go with him,” said Frankfort coach Craig Foley.

“He’s still very excited. Everything is good to go with him,” said Frankfort coach Craig Foley.

“(Assistant coach) Chuck Smith and I talked about E.J. recently and E.J. got a big smile on his face when I told him. He can’t wait to be there.”

Foley says Fields is “pretty much all basketball right now” even though on his off days he still comes into the weight room to lift.

Fields will be given a chance to play receiver. However, Foley thinks it will be hard on Fields, a high school quarterback and defensive back, to make a quick transition to SEC-caliber receiver despite his enormous athletic ability.

“I think it would be tough on a normal receiver to do that let alone someone who never played the position. He’s never played there, never read a route, never read coverage, never caught a ball from quarterback that will be throws like they will at UK,” Foley said. “I think he would be more suited to play in the secondary next year.

“However, (UK offensive coordinator) Joker Phillips assures me he can teach him to catch the ball, something he’s never really had to do. It will be a big transition, but they are confident E.J. can do and so is he.”

Foley says he expects Fields to enroll at Kentucky for summer school as soon as his track season ends.

“It will certainly be to his advantage, as well as Kentucky’s advantage, for him to do that and get a jump start on learning how to play receiver,” Foley said.

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* * * For a more in-depth look at Fields, see the February Kentucky Sports Report magazine.