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Did You Know: Drew Brees was “almost” a Kentucky Wildcat

Sports Illustrated

The NFL’s all-time leading passer was almost a Kentucky Wildcat.

Frankly, I’m disappointed I did not know that until this week. The eureka moment happened when Drew Brees joined our friends at Pardon My Take. An unheralded recruit who suffered an ACL injury as a junior, he caught the Cats’ attention after he led Westlake High School to an undefeated 5A Texas State Championship in the fall of 1996.

Despite his success as a senior, Brees only had two options: Kentucky or Purdue. Hal Mumme and Joe Tiller each implemented high-flying spread offenses ahead of their first seasons on campus in 1997.