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Sources: Former SEC assistant will interview

Cats Illustrated has learned that an assistant coach formerly on the staff of one of Kentucky's rival SEC programs will interview for the defensive backs coaching position left vacant following Derrick Ansley's departure for Alabama.

Sources have confirmed that former South Carolina assistant coach Grady Brown is interviewing for the position coach job related to the Wildcats' secondary. Derrick Ansley had previously held the same job. Ansley was initially the cornerbacks coach but the shuffling of responsibilities during Mark Stoops' tenure resulted in Ansley coaching both the corners and the safeties.

Brown has experience in a similar role in the SEC.

In 2012 he was hired by former Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier to be South Carolina's defensive backs coach. He was also tabbed as South Carolina's assistant special teams coordinator.

Prior to his stint in Columbia the alum of Alabama A&M was an assistant at Southern Miss. Before that he was part of the strength and conditioning staff at LSU. Stints at Alabama State and Texas State preceded his arrival as an assistant coach in the SEC.

Before the 2015 season Brown saw his role shift on South Carolina's staff. The one-time defensive backs coach was moved away from his on-field coaching position and was named a quality control coordinator for the defense. The university specified that he would continue his specialized work with the secondary.

Brown was an active recruiter for South Carolina during the past several seasons. He was the lead recruiter for some players that Kentucky also recruited, such as four-star cornerback D.J. Smith, who considered the Cats well into the 2014 recruiting class, as well as others such as linebacker Skal Moore and cornerback Chris Lammons.

Most of Brown's recruiting responsibilities were in the Southeast when he was with the Gamecocks, and he secured commitments from players (mostly defensive athletes) from both Florida and Georgia. Until the staffing change at South Carolina with Will Muschamp's arrival, which marked Brown's exit, he was also the lead recruiter for a number of elite Gamecock targets from the Class of 2017 and 2018, including some players already offered by Kentucky. Most of those players are from Florida and other southern states as well.

Furthermore, sources have confirmed that Brown is in Lexington and is set to interview "soon" with Mark Stoops.

-- Premium inside scoop on the Brown interview can be found at the link below --

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE: Cats Illustrated premium members can read the inside scoop on what to make of the Brown interview. How serious a candidate is he? How far along are the two parties and might a decision come soon? Are there any other candidates?

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