Manchester’s Jerquavion Mahone commits to Kentucky

Manchester defensive lineman Jerquavion Mahone will be going from the Blue Devils to the Bluegrass State next year.

Mahone committed to Kentucky on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3, 299-pound senior chose the Wildcats over Tennessee and Jacksonville State.

Mahone visited Kentucky over the weekend and came away impressed with what he saw. After officially receiving his offer Tuesday, Mahone announced his decision via Twitter later that evening.

Mahone said academics was what ultimately put Kentucky ahead of his other options. His trip to Lexington sure didn’t hurt, either.

“I love the atmosphere and the bond they have,” Mahone said. “It was a great experience. I loved it.”

Mahone’s commitment to Kentucky was the culmination of a wild few weeks for Mahone. One month ago, Mahone’s only offer was Jacksonville State, but then his senior film found its way to several prominent schools. That led to a considerable peak in interest as well as new offers.

Mahone was a key piece in a dominant Manchester defense in 2017. The Blue Devils surrendered just under 14 points per game this past season, which included three shutouts. Manchester won its first 11 games before falling to Mount Zion in the Class A-Public quarterfinals.

Mahone is the 20th commit in the Wildcats’ Class of 2018.

This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Manchester’s Jerquavion Mahone commits to Kentucky."