Jordan Dingle is what his father calls an “analytical thinker” with a grade-point average above 4.0. Jordan Dingle is what college football coaches call a rising star. The 6-5, 235-pound Bowling Green tight end is one of the players expected to sign with Kentucky Wednesday after verbally committing to the Cats over Purdue, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech.
“He wrote down all the pros and cons for all the places recruiting him,” said Justice Dingle Sr., Jordan’s father. “Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Purdue, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech were the ones he honed in on above Ohio State and others where he also had offers.
“A lot of folks thought he would go to Purdue. A lot were banking on Vanderbilt because of his high academics. Some thought Purdue because of his relationship with (assistant coach) Ryan Wallace who is from Bowling Green.”
Arkansas, South Carolina, Louisville and others had also offered Dingle, who ranks among the top 20 tight ends in the 2021 recruiting class. He had 35 catches for 474 yards and five scores in 2019 and has 36 catches for 473 yards and two scores in 11 games this year and is one of six Purples with 10 or more catches on a team that averages only about 20 passes per game. Bowling Green plays unbeaten Owensboro Saturday at 2 p.m. EST at Kroger Field in Lexington for the Class 5A state title.
Kentucky is not known for featuring tight ends in the passing game under coach Mark Stoops but has recently, including when Dingle was watching which helped convince him what could happen in future with the offense.
“He sees how the program has continued to grow year after year. He has a good relationship with Stoops and (recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Vince) Marrow. They recruited him harder than any other coaches,” Justice Dingle said.
“One of the things coach Stoops talked to us about was that he wanted really good athletic tight ends on the team so he can throw more. He has not really had the tight ends that can run routes like Jordan and has the athletic ability that he has.
“Coach Stoops also told us he would take care of our son and that UK had everything he wanted academically and athletically. They were very persistent with their recruiting.
Academics mattered, too. Jordan Dingle plans to major in health care administration.
“UK has a great program and has both an undergrad and Masters program in his major. Nobody else on his list had anything like that,” Dingle’s father said.
Dingle can also look like a hybrid receiver on the field and sometimes his athleticism makes it easy to not realize how big he is.
“When he comes off that line he puts his mind on he is a receiver with how well he runs routes,” his father said. “He uses his hands well and has good footwork. He’s a very balanced kid, very smart. He knows all the positions because of how he studies the game.
“He can block but he’s also really able to go catch the ball. You will be really impressed after he catches the ball. Normally in high school it will take four or five guys to drag him down. He drags people with him. A lot of college coaches really like that he would get five to 10 yards after catching the ball every time. I don’t think you will ever see one guy pull him down in high school.”
Dingle is a three-sport athlete who also plays basketball and runs track. In track, he threw the shot put but also ran the hurdles — an event few his size even attempt. He also played baseball at one time.
“He did the hurdles to help with the flexibility of his hips. That’s one thing coaches told us really helped him. He did that to help with his agility in football and basketball and it worked,” Justice Dingle Sr. said.
Dingle will not be an early enrollee at UK in January because Bowling Green High School does not allow early graduation.
“He would love to enroll in January but he will be fine. He is a very humble, low key kind of kid. He’s not one to make a lot of noise about anything,” Dingle Sr. said. “He is self driven. You never have to talk to him about academics or staying on top of things. He’s a good kid and a really good football player. We’re very proud of him.”
