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Good stuff.
Good stuff.
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Yeah, this season didn't go as bad as the Wildcats in real life, but still not good.
Side note, I took over Kirby Smart and simmed the Alabama season and followed/played the Kentucky season. So in the off-season, Joker Phillips retired (I changed his age to guarantee he would leave), and I had Kirby Smart take over. I had planned on Smart taking over from the start. I will have more on the coaching staff and players leaving today.Comment
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Kentucky Players Leaving, Graduating
Larry Warford, RG - 90 OVR - Starter, 1st Team All-SEC
La'Rod King, WR - 86 OVR - Starter, Impact
Coshik Williams, RB - 83 OVR - Starter, Off. MVP, Leader in Carries, Rushing Yards, TD
Martavius Neloms, CB - 82 OVR - Starter
Craig McIntosh, K - 82 OVR - Starter
Matt Smith, C - 81 OVR - Starter, Team Captain
Cartier Rice, CB - 79 OVR - Back-Up
Morgan Newton, QB - 78 OVR - Back-Up
Collins Ukwu, DE - 78 OVR - Starter, Impact, Team Captain
Aaron Boyd, WR - 78 OVR - Starter, Leader in Receptions, Receiving Yards
Trevino Woods, RT - 77 OVR - Back-Up
Mike Benton, FS - 77 OVR - Starter, Leader in Interceptions
E.J. Fields, WR - 76 OVR - Back-Up
Taylor Wyndham, DE - 75 OVR - Back-Up
Gene McCaskill, WR - 72 OVR - StarterComment
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Players Leaving Early
Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech
Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee
Leveon Bell, RB, Michigan State
Henry Josey, RB, Missouri
James White, RB, Wisconsin
Spencer Ware, RB, LSU
Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, Michigan
Mike Davis, WR, Texas
Cody Hoffman, WR, BYU
Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
Josh Huff, WR, Oregon
Jordan Reed, TE, Florida
Xavier Grimble, TE, USC
Gabe Linehan, TE, Boise State
Randall Telfer, TE, USC
Dion Sims, TE, Michigan State
Brandon Thomas, LT, Clemson
Malcolm Bunche, LT, Miami
Jack Mewhort, LT, Ohio State
Trey Hopkins, LG, Texas
Ryan Groy, LG, Wisconsin
Travis Frederick, C, Wisconsin
Andrew Miller, C, Virginia Tech
John Martinez, RG, USC
Christian Lombard, RT, Notre Dame
Cornelius Lucas, RT, Kansas State
Dominique Easley, LE, Florida
Tyler Hart, LE, Oregon
Aaron Lynch, RE, South Florida
Dee Ford, RE, Auburn
Jonathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State
Bennie Logan, DT, LSU
Ethan Hemer, DT, Wisconsin
James Morris, MLB, Iowa
C.J. Mosley, MLB, Alabama
Art Laurel, OLB, Hawaii
Tariq Edwards, OLB, Virginia Tech
Jelani Jenkins, OLB, Florida
Carrrington Byndom, CB, Texas
Andrew Green, CB, Nebraska
Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers
Kwaun Williams, CB, Pittsburgh
Osahon Irabor, CB, Arizona State
Eric Reid, FS, LSU
C.J. Barnett, FS, Ohio State
Brian Blechen, SS, Utah
Ibraheim Campbell, SS, Northwestern
Alden Darby, SS, Arizona State
Brad Wing, P, LSU
Players Transferring
Vad Lee, QB, Georgia Tech to N.C. State
Alex Cappellini, QB, Arizona to UNLV
Josh Kern, QB, Arizona to New Mexico
Myles Carr, QB, Fresno State to San Jose State
Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford to Vanderbilt
Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State to Temple
Zach Oliver, QB, Northwestern to North Texas
Gray Crow, QB, Miami to Florida International
C.J. Beathard, QB, Iowa to Troy
Quenshaun Watson, RB, Tennessee to East Carolina
Akeel Lynch, RB, Penn State to Syracuse
Brionte Dunn, RB, Ohio State to Mississippi State
Morgan Stewart, RB, Missouri to Kansas State
Nick Tompkins, RB, Michigan State to Duke
Drake Johnson, RB, Michigan to Western Michigan
Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU to Ole Miss
Dennis Andrews, RB, Georgia Tech to Southern Miss.
Jela Duncan, RB, Duke to Memphis
Kenny Hilliard, RB, LSU to North Texas
Alton Howard, WR, Tennessee to Ole Miss
Gehrig Dieter, WR, SMU to Indiana
Dolapo Macarthy, WR, Purdue to Ohio
Trevor Williams, WR, Penn State to Pittsburgh
Torrance Carr, WR, Oklahoma State to New Mexico
Wesley Leftwich, WR, Missouri to Illinois
Tre Parmalee, WR, Kansas to Air Force
Jeffrey Thomas, WR, Colorado to Rice
Cody Blanc, WR, Tennessee to Vanderbilt
B.J. Kelley, WR, Oregon to Washington State
Travin Dural, WR, LSU to TCU
Arrius Holleman, WR, SMU to Arkansas
Jeremy Moore, WR, Georgia Tech to New Mexico
Kodi Whitfield, WR, N.C. State to Syracuse
Sam Grant, TE, Oklahoma to Western Kentucky
A.J. Williams, TE, Michigan to Toledo
Brandon Fulse, TE, Auburn to Florida International
Andrus Peat, LT, Stanford to Fresno State
Adam Bisnowaty, LT, Pittsburgh to Ohio
Jon Heck, LT, North Carolina to Ole Miss
Alan Posey, LT, Tennessee to Georgia Tech
Justin Bell, LG, Ole Miss to Middle Tennessee State
Gus Lavaka, LG, Hawaii to San Jose State
Jordan Smith, C, San Diego State to Washington
Hunter Long, C, Georgia to Southern Miss.
Ty Darlington, C, Oklahoma to Florida International
Kyler Kerbyson, RT, Tennessee to Missouri
Josh Posley, DE, Cincinnati to Kent State
Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama to Duke
Tyriq McCord, DE, Miami to Clemson
Djwany Mera, DT, Rutgers to South Carolina
Terrell Jackson, DT, Pittsburgh to Indiana
Brian Gaia, DT, Penn State to Virginia
Kevin Williams, DT, Nebraska to Akron
Jelani Hamilton, DT, Miami to Florida International
Pedro Sebiea, DT, Louisville to Western Kentucky
Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State to Marshall
Nile Stample, DT, Florida State to Pittsburgh
Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado to Utah
DeMarcus Hodge, DT, Arkansas to North Texas
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville to Memphis
LaTroy Lewis, OLB, Tennessee to Toledo
Noor Davis, OLB, Stanford to South Carolina
Nyeem Wartman, OLB, Penn State to West Virginia
Dakota Conwell, OLB, Arizona to Temple
Dame Ndiaye, OLB, Arizona to Cal.
Kenny Bynum, MLB, Tennessee to South Carolina
Kris Catlin, MLB, Oklahoma State to New Mexico
LaRon Taylor, MLB, Iowa to Akron
Micah Seau, OLB, San Diego State to Oregon State
Jordan Williams, OLB, Tennessee to Florida International
Nick Conrad, OLB, Kent State to Western Kentucky
Da'Quan Davis, CB, Penn State to Temple
Juston Burris, CB, N.C. State to Vanderbilt
Larry Hope, CB, Miami to Florida International
Ruben Lile, CB, Iowa to Ball State
William Parks, CB, Arizona to Kent State
Bradley Sylve, Alabama to Mississippi State
Jalen Brown, CB, Notre Dame to Louisiana Tech
Larenzo Fisher, CB, Ohio to Western Kentucky
Shelden Dawson, CB, Georgia to Tennessee
LaDarrell McNeil, FS, Tennessee to Houston
Tino Thomas, SS, Tennessee to Vanderbilt
Marcus Maye, SS, Florida to Southern Miss.
Landon Collins, SS, Alabama to Kentucky
Leo Thomas, SS, Arizona to Arkansas State
Austin Hardin, K, Florida to VanderbiltComment
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Smart Works on Staff Before Signing Day
Head Coach Kirby Smart has hit the ground running, after setting up his office on campus, he has reportedly already had multiple late nights and has worked 12-16 hours a day since arriving to Lexington. His wife Mary-Beth is handling the move, looking for a new home while taking care of the couple's three young children. The coaching staff has started to come together, starting with Coach Smart retaining offensive line coach Mike Summers.
Summers has spent the last three years on the Wildcats staff, as the team's o-line coach and running game coordinator. His duties will remain the same, although his focus will be on coaching the line. Summers' coaching career started as a Graduate Assistant at Kentucky, and since then, he followed around Bobby Petrino to stops at Louisville, Atlanta (NFL), and Arkansas.
His recent job coaching Larry Warford and Mike Smith on the line was a big reason he was retained. The line lost three players to graduation including Smith and Warford and now will have to replace those players. A veteran coach who also knows the current roster will definitely be an asset. Besides Summers, the rest of the coaching staff has been let go.
Changes to the staff also signal big changes to the offensive and defensive scheme. Smart will be implementing a 3-4 defense, so the Wildcats will be going away from the multiple base sets that Rick Minter used. Minter did run out of a base 4-3, now fans should expect to see a defense that will look very similar to Alabama. He also has brought in coaches that
As for the offense, the Air Raid is making a return to Lexington. Shannon Dawson was contacted about running the offense at Kentucky. He had been the Offensive Coordinator at West Virginia, but Dana Holgorsen was the team's offensive play caller. Dawson was looking to call an offense, and is also making an upgrade to the SEC while getting a pay increase.
Here is the rundown of the coaching staff, that Smart said is completed, for now, heading into National Signing Day. NSD is Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - and while only weeks away, the Wildcats entered the offseason without a committed recruit.
Offensive Coordinator/Inside Receivers - Shannon Dawson (Former Offensive Coordinator at West Virginia)
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach - Willie Marinez (Former Secondary Coach at Auburn)
Co Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator - Tommy Thigpen (Former Linebacker Coach at Auburn)
Quarterbacks Coach - Andre Woodson (Former Grad Assistant/Kentucky Quarterback)
Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator - Jeff Hammerschmidt (Formerly same position at Colorado State)
Receivers Coach - David Nichols (Former Receiver Coach at Arizona)
Tight Ends/Ast. Offensive Line Coach - Shawn Bostick (Former Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach at Murray State)
Offensive Line Coach - Mike Summers (4th season at Kentucky)
Defensive Line Coach - Chris Rumph (Former Defensive Line Coach at Alabama)
Linebackers Coach - Freddie Roach (Former Defensive Line Coach at Murray State)
Safeties Coach - Al Pogue (Former Auburn Grad Assistant)Comment
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Wildcats Enter Off-Season With Six Recruits
Head Coach Kirby Smart and his staff are currently busy working on the current recruiting class. The team started the off-season without any committed recruit, but six players have since committed. That still leaves 20 scholarships available, although Kentucky plans on bringing in a class close to 20. Part of that is the limited time the staff has had to recruit at all.
Along with recruits, Kirby Smart also had a player follow him from Tuscaloosa to Lexington. Landon Collins, a former consensus five-star recruit and the best safety in the 2012 class, Collins received limited playing time in his freshman season last year at Alabama. Collins is most remembered for his mother's reaction to him picking Alabama over LSU. After arriving on campus, he quickly took to Coach Smart, but he could not beat out the upperclassmen on the roster for playing time.
Collins, who some rumored would transfer to LSU or Arkansas, instead chose to stick with Smart and transferred to Kentucky. He will not be eligible to play in 2013, but will not lose a year of eligibility. He will have three years of eligibility remaining when he is available to play for the 2014 season. Collins could have challenged to start next season at Alabama.
"Getting [Landon] to transfer is great, he is a good kid. We want to start competing for recruits like Landon, right now, we just aren't there yet." said Head Coach Kirby Smart. Smart also said that talking with UK basketball coach John Calipari has given him a "different approach" to recruiting. Calipari has brought in top classes in each of his four seasons at Kentucky. Currently the undefeated Wildcats basketball team are eyeing their second National Championship in as many years.
Smart is relying on his staff to help with this last minute recruiting push. They are focusing on Kentucky and Georgia, seeing as the staff fells comfortable recruiting in both states. Recruiting Coordinator Tommy Thigpen, the highest paid assistant on Kentucky's staff, comes over from Auburn where he was heralded as one of the best recruiters in the SEC. Thigpen targeted Georgia as a state where the Wildcats could pick up SEC-quality players.
As for the six who have already committed, the highest rated is Quarterback Reese Phillips. No relation to the former Head Coach, Phillips comes from Tennessee and will enroll early to compete with the current Quarterbacks. Kentucky was the only SEC school to recruit Phillips; who completed 71% of his passes as a junior and close to 75% in his senior season. His arm strength and leadership set him apart. Phillips becomes the first player from his high school to commit to a Southeastern Conference school and will be the first Chattanooga area quarterback to join a SEC program since B.J. Coleman went to Tennessee in 2007.
Replacing four receivers, the team has brought in two receivers and a tight end. Three-star tight end Darren Dowdell went to Grady High School in Atlanta. A tremendous athlete and pass-catcher, that will still need to improve on his blocking. Dowdell has taken to twitter to say he will help to turn around Kentucky. He was elated when Smart took over and even happier that Kentucky will now be running a pass-oriented offense ran by Shannon Dawson.
Receivers DeAngelo Yancey and JeVontey Smith also add to the class. Yancey is a three-star player that was ranked as a Top 100 player out of the state of Georgia. He is strong, thick-built receiver that some teams projected to be a tight end at the next level. Yancey has a chance to play right away as a reliable big target. Smith, on the other hand, graduated early after an up-and-down senior season that left him as a two-star player. At one point, he garnered interest from Tennessee. An outside receiver with great hands that is an elusive receiver, he is a work in progress with a high ceiling.
The other offensive player to commit so far adds much needed depth to the offensive line. Jake Boynton, a big and physical lineman that projects to be a tackle, he has to work on his technique but has all the physical tools to succeed. Finally, the only defensive recruit is a hybrid type player between positions, Jalen Battle. He played outside linebacker in high school, but could be a safety. His aggressive style and mean-streak made him a feared defensive player in Florida. He wasn't recruited heavy and even considered Florida A&M, but getting to play for an SEC team was enough for Battle.
Now, closing in on National Signing Day, the coaching staff has buckled down on recruiting looking to get at least 12-15 more players.Comment
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Wildcats Add 20-Man 2013 Class
In a short time, the new coaching staff for UK put together a 2013 Recruiting Class that ranked in the top 50 in the nation. Going into "crunch time," the team had only six recruits committed. Adding another 14 players, the Wildcats had a recruiting blitz through their own state and through Georgia. Breaking down the class, it is made up of 15 three-star recruits, four two-stars, and one one-star. Eight are in-state players, seven are from Georgia, two are from Tennessee and one from Illinois, Florida, and Alabama. It is evenly split amongst offense and defense, with 10 on each side of the ball.
Kirby Smart was proud of the class brought in, led by a late recruiting coup to get the to player brought in. Jonathan Hampton is a high-end, three-star player from Tennessee. At six-foot-one and just over 300 lbs., he fits perfectly in the 3-4 scheme Smart will used. Hampton is strong, but needs to condition better to get on the field and stay on the field.
Players from Tennessee make up the top and bottom of the class. Full-back Andrew Gilmore was getting attention during his wrestling season, even a preferred walk-on spot at the University of Tennessee. Instead, he received a scholarship to Kentucky, where he will compete to make the 70 man roster. Smart and his staff have made no promises, not even if the player will make the roster.
Two of the best five recruits brought in are on the offensive line. Along with Jake Boynton, the team brought in two, three-star, in-state lineman. Allen West could play any position on the line and has experience in high school playing every position. His senior year was spent under center at as blindside protector. His footwork and pass blocking issues factor him to move inside. Steven Taylor comes from Bardtown High School where he played basketball and football for the Tigers. He will need to bulk up to compete with pass-rushers in the SEC.
The "raid" on the state of Georgia brought a return of seven players, one less then they pulled from in-state. They even got two from the same school, Griffin Christian. Caleb Flores and Scott Wade come from GCHS where Flores was a start basketball player and the team's top passing target. He played sparingly on defense, but Smart sees him as an end. Wade played in the trenches, mostly as a nose tackle. He will move outside and his experience on the line gives him a chance to play earlier than his teammate and friend Flores.
On National Signing Day, Kentucky received two firm commitments that rounded out the class. Those late commits both came from safety Jason Freeman and running back Phil Miller. Miller is a track star that chose Kentucky over Georgia Tech. He will need to work on his all-around skills to see playing time in a new offense, but is a solid pure runner and is dangerous in open field. Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the Hopkinsville area has produced two of Kentucky's all-time best running backs, Artose Pinner and Moe Williams. They added a running back who looks like a defensive back at the next level in Freeman; who has an offensive skillset that could make him a situational corner/safety.
They even landed a Junior College player in Danny Hurd, who was Bluegrass Community's team captain this last season. A reliable pass-catcher, Hurd comes to Lexington with two years of eligibility remaining. Adding to a position that lacked depth, he could see time right away.
All in all, it is tough to judge Kirby Smart's first class. The short time period made it difficult, forcing the team to look close to home. The SEC always has some of the best recruiting classes in the country, and this year was no different. Florida took home the second best class in the country, with four total teams listed in the top ten. Kentucky hopes to compete on a national level someday, but is focusing on building a winning program, not short success.
Kentucky Wildcats Signing Day 2013 NAME POS CLASS HOMETOWN HT WT CALIBER Jonathan Hampton DT HS Fairview, TN 6'1" 310 
Reese Phillips QB HS Valley Station, KY 6'3" 188 Allen West OG HS Shively, KY 6'6" 309 Darren Dowdell TE HS Columbus, GA 6'4" 224 Steven Taylor OT HS Bardtown, KY 6'4" 304 DeAngelo Yancey WR HS Atlanta, GA 6'2" 200 Caleb Flores DE HS Griffin, GA 6'7" 257 Chris Schmidt CB HS St. Marys, GA 6'1" 185 Jake Boynton OT HS Winder, GA 6'7" 270 Phil Miller RB HS Smyrna, GA 6'1" 200 Aaron Cox SS HS Paducah, KY 6'0" 200 Scott Wade DE HS Griffin, GA 6'3" 265 Chris Henley DE HS Zion, IL 6'0" 259 Jalen Battle ATH HS Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6'3" 180 Jason Freeman FS HS Ft. Campbell, KY 6'1" 205 Christian Davis MLB HS London, KY 6'1" 240 
Danny Hurd WR JUCO Jr Hopkinsville, KY 6'4" 191 Courtney Wright FS HS Covington, KY 5'11" 183 Jevontay Smith WR HS Greensboro, AL 6'2" 193 Andrew Gilmore FB HS Sevierville, TN 6'2" 239 
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Recruiting News and Updates
Top Recruiting Classes - 2013 RK TEAM 5 4 3 2 1 TOTAL 1 Michigan Wolverines 5 7 9 4 0 25 2 Florida Gators 3 7 14 0 1 25 3 Ohio State Buckeyes 2 5 16 1 1 25 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4 5 7 2 0 18 5 Alabama Crimson Tide 2 9 8 0 0 19 6 Georgia Bulldogs 2 6 10 7 0 25 7 Arkansas Razorbacks 0 9 13 2 0 24 8 Clemson Tigers 0 10 10 2 3 25 9 Texas Longhorns 1 7 11 4 2 25 10 Oklahoma Sooners 0 5 20 0 0 25 26 LSU Tigers 1 3 12 7 0 23 28 Missouri Tigers 0 7 10 2 1 20 29 Tennessee Volunteers 0 5 11 7 1 24 37 Auburn Tigers 2 2 10 0 1 15 41 Kentucky Wildcats 0 0 15 4 1 20 45 Mississippi State Bulldogs 0 4 8 8 0 20 47 South Carolina Gamecocks 0 2 13 4 3 22 54 Ole Miss Rebels 0 0 16 5 1 22 59 Texas A&M Aggies 0 2 11 4 0 17 78 Vanderbilt Commodores 0 0 9 9 2 20 Comment
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Create a Player for 2014 Recruiting Class
Name:
Height:
Weight:
Position:
Hometown:
Style of Play:
Appearance:
Equipment:
Star Rating (1-5):Comment
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Name: Oscar Steamboat
Height: 6'1
Weight: 195
Position: WR
Hometown: KENTUCKY!
Style of Play: ?
Appearance: White dude
Equipment: go wild
Star Rating (1-5): 3
Comment
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Style of play would be specific to the position. So receiver it would be Balanced, Speed, or Possession. Quarterback it would be Pocket-passer or scrambler.Comment
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Notes from Spring Practice
Quarterback Battle: Open Competition
Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson has not tipped his hand as to who is the favorite to be the Wildcats' starting Quarterback when they open the 2013 season at home against rival Louisville. Last year, Maxwell Smith started every game with mixed reviews; the passing game was inefficient and one of the worst in the SEC. Now with the focus on the passing game, Smith's tools and familiarity make him the early favorite to start.
Then the junior did not start the spring game, with two redshirt freshman Patrick Towles and Jalen Whitlow being given the chance to start instead. Towles started with the first team (Blue), while Whitlow played a majority of the snaps for the White. Towles completed 9 of 10 passes and threw two touchdowns (both to Ronnie Shields), while Whitlow threw an interception but ran in a touchdown from 35 yards. Smith did see time, although he saw the same amount of snaps as early-enrolled true freshman Reese Phillips.
Towles command of the offense and comfort from the shotgun was evident. The former Mr. Football in Kentucky, he was 38-1 as a starter and won three straight state championships. His uncle, Senator and former MLB pitcher Jim Bunning, was in attendance for the Spring game that was attended by close-to 9,000 fans. Besides Towles, Smith was praised for his poise but his decision making was questioned. The switch to a pass-heavy offense might be affecting him most of all. Whitlow, on the other hand, looks like a change-of-pace player that can beat people with his athleticism. Phillips, who enrolled early to compete, has impressed Head Coach Kirby Smart. "A sponge and true leader," Phillips could be redshirted in favor of two second year freshman at the same position.
Top Recruit Kicked Off Team
In a strange turn of events, Jonathan Hampton has been dismissed from the team. The Tennessee native came to Lexington "out of shape, unmotivated, and with a bad attitude." Head Coach Kirby Smart told Hampton he would most likey redshirt, after some thought he could play right away. He seemed a perfect fit for the 3-4, but came into camp unprepared to play. After a latenight rant on twitter regarding his playing time and way he was being treated, he missed a mandatory morning session and was quickly dismissed from the team. The top recruit of the 2013 class, Hampton could have fought players like Mister Cobble for snaps at nose tackle. Instead, reports now say he will try to enroll in a FBS school right away.
Other Freshman Impress, Draw Comparisons
The class of '13 is still a talented group, with only one other scholarship player not being included on the final 70 man roster. Andrew Gilmore, a wrestling star and potential h-back struggled before an injury kept him sideline for a majority of practice. His return showed that he wasn't ready to compete at the SEC level, in the coaching staff's opinion.
As for the rest of the class, Coach Smart has been quick to throw out players that remind him of former players he has coached. "Jalen Battle has an energy and enthusiasm about this game. His style reminds me of Courtney Upshaw and I think he fills a similar role on this defense in the future." comparing the true freshman outside linebacker for the Alabama product that racked up 16.5 sacks with the Crimson Tide.
DeAngelo Yancey is already pushing for playing time and has reportedly moved up the depth chart. Yancey is a physical receiver with a great blend of size and speed. Receivers coach David Nichols said that if he can max out his potential, he has Julio Jones like tools.
Defense Sees Changes
The switch to the 3-4 that Smart has installed has also brought personnel changes. The biggest being senior Donte Rumph move to end. Slimming down close to 300 lbs., Rumph has been exceptional playing his new role. Rumph, who started last year at tackle was moved outside when Mister Cobble assumed the role inside. The coaching staff the number of players on the defensive line (12) is large because of young players redshirting and the rotation that is planned.
The only change at linebacker was the move Khalid Henderson made up the depth chart. His big spring has pushed him into the a starting spot, something the staff believed he earned. In the secondary, graduation has left the unit (much like the receiving core) lacking proven depth or known starters. Cody Quinn has impressed as a confident player and strong man coverage defender. He could push for a starting spot, although the junior Erics (Simmons and Dixon) are the favorites to start coming out of the spring.
Roster Finalized at 70
Smart has been impressed by the overall young roster, which was recently cut down. After two recruits were dismissed, that left 76 players. Running back Jonathan George, who some thought was under utilized and might compete to start, will seed a transfer and has officially left the team. Anthony Kendrick and Josh Harris left the team, citing playing time as the main reason for leaving. The final three players were cut by the coaching staff: Jordan Swindle, DeMarcus Rancifer, and Jonathan Reed.
Finally, team captains were decided for the offense and defense. It was voted on by players, while the coaching staff will also elect two players each week as captains for that specific week. The offensive captain was close-to-unanimous, with tackle Kevin Mitchell taking the honor. Defensively was a tougher call, with votes split, but Rumph being named captain while fellow senior Avery Williamson will be a captain for the first week. The other has yet to be announced.Comment
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Last day to get in CAPs. I will be posting the Season Preview today or tomorrow.Comment
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2013 Kentucky Football Preview
Lexington is going through some changes, starting at the top. The resignation of Head Coach and former alum Joker Phillips, after three losing seasons and only one bowl appearance (his first year), it left fans anxious for a winning product in the fall. A rabid fan base was becoming impatient with a losing football team with great success in other sports. The Kentucky Wildcats' basketball team has made three straight Final Four appearances, including a National Championship in 2012.
Known as a basketball school, Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart wanted to change that image. Replacing Phillips wasn't easy, but the administration landed on Kirby Smart. The young and energetic Defensive Coordinator for Alabama was constantly coaching a defense that was one of the best in the nation. Learning under Nick Saban, his knowledge of the SEC is as deep as his tiresome work ethic.
Smart understands the troubling history of Kentucky football. No coach since Bear Bryant has had a winning conference record; only one had an above-.500 overall win percentage (Bryant's predecessor Blanton Collier). So winning and Kentucky football have not been in the same sentence often, minus small stretches of limited success.
Now, both sides of the ball are going through a makeover, all with a very young roster. There are only 8 seniors on the roster, and not all are starters. So the team lacks leadership and experience. The coaching staff expects growing pains, with a defense moving to an aggressive 3-4 scheme and the offense going to a prolific passing attack.
The roster does have talent, although Smart was quick to point out it lacks the athletes that appear on other SEC rosters. His plan is to build Kentucky into a SEC power, similar to the way Alabama has done it: Strong recruiting, a disciplined team, and a top-notch defense.
Many questions linger as to if this season with be a success in terms of the record. After last year's dismal three wins, expectations are low. Plus the schedule sets up with a difficult roads for the Wildcats. The season opener at Louisville and a road game against Arizona are the toughest of the non-conference slate. Florida opens SEX play at Commonwealth, but then three straight road games follow suit (Western Kentucky, South Carolina, and Georgia). The year ends easier than it starts, but three wins could be what the team yields this year. As for the future, Big Blue nation is excited about the future behind Kirby Smart.
Offense
Returning Starters: 5
The Scheme: Kirby Smart brought in Shannon Dawson to run the offense. Dawson had spent the last few seasons with West Virginia and will install an offense similar to what Holgorsen's ran with the Mountaineers. A pass-oriented version of the spread, similar to the Air Raid. Dawson will call plays although the offense will rely on audibling by the Quarterback. It is expected the offense will pass at least 70% of the time. It is centered on West Coast passing philosophies, with short passes and mixing routes to keep defenses guessing.
Star Power: An offense that lacked a punch last season plans on delivering one this year. The passing game is the focus, a big difference from last year. In 2012, they averaged 181 yards through the air and only 29 passing attempts per game. A school that has a history of prolific passing attacks (Tim Couch, Jared Lorenzen, & Andre Woodson) picked from the Hal Mumme coaching tree (by way of Mike Leach and Dana Holgorsen). Yet the talent might lie in the running game, which will be mixed in as well. A healthy Josh Clemons figures to carry the bulk of the load and see many touches in the goal line and short yardage. Raymond Sanders, listed at 5'8" is a scatback with tremendous speed and playmaking ability. He factors into the return game as well, as their primary kick returner. Both struggle in pass catching, which is where second year freshman Justin Taylor factors to see some playing time. The running game is full of capable players who have to get used to a new pass-happy offense. All players plan to make the most of each of their touches.
Impact Newcomers: A young offense will only have one senior starting and two others that factor to get playing time (Raymond Sanders and Tyler Robinson). The best chance true freshman have to get playing time is in the receiving core. DeAngelo Yancey starts the season listed as the fifth receiver, but his time will be taken away by another newcomer, junior college transfer Danny Hurd. Hurd is the only true possession receiver of the bunch, as well as the tallest receiver of the bunch. He was played in a "redzone" package during the spring game and could be a target when the team is looking to score. As for the rest of the newcomers, most are will be redshirted, besides another big target Darren Dowdell. The third tight end on the roster, Receivers Coach David Nichols like Dowdell and related his style to a player he coached at Arizona, Rob Gronkowski.
Keep An Eye On: The Quarterback battle, that still seems unsettled. Maxwell Smith was named the starter, but the coaching staff has said he still has lots to prove. A poor spring game and a tough season last year (13 TD, 8 INT, 30 drops), Smith's experience and fit into the new offense gave him the nod in the opener against the rival Cardinals. Patrick Towles impressed many, as the highly touted signal-caller was named the back-up, but was expected to get snaps. The old adage "if you have two Quarterbacks, you don't have one" might apply, although Towles' inexperience in game action might lead to him being brought in slow. As for Jalen Whitlow, a redshirt freshman (like Towles) does not quite fit the offense but could see snaps as an option because of his running ability. Reese Phillips will be redshirted with two young Quarterbacks on the roster ahead of him; but the junior Smith is the one who takes the Wildcats into the '13 season.
Strongest Area: Outside of the backfield, a strength of the offense is the line. Lacking experience last year, now it is the unit with the most experience on the entire team. Starting with the bookends, Darrian Miller is the team's best pass protector and has the job of protecting the QB's blindside. Miller is a second year starter and the junior is expecting a big season. The entire line wants to limit sacks and will be judged on how they do in that regard. Kevin Mitchell is the team captain and the only fifth year senior on the offense (one of three on the roster). Inside, they only return one starter with guard Zach West. West struggled last year in pass coverage, lacking the footwork which he has worked hard on since. He almost lost his spot to Allen West (no relation), who came in and will see time as a back-up interior blocker. Zach Myers did not have experience as center, but the staff saw the potential. Myers moves to the anchor of the line and has impressed. The other starting spot came down to Teven Eatmond-Nared and Shaquille Love. "T-E-N," at 6'7" an just shy of 350 lbs., beat out the more agile Love. The line wants to limit defenses to less than 35 sacks (less than 3 a game), which seems lofty with a line that does struggle with speedy pass rushers and had a history as being better in the running game. Their play could determine the effectiveness of the offense, especially early on.
Biggest Problem: The problem is definitely an untested receiving core. A bad passing game last year lost the best receivers on the roster (King, Boyd, and McCaskill). Replacing them as starters, the team plans to spread receptions around lacking a standout top option. Daryl Collins is small for a #1 receiver, but has all the other intangibles. DeMarco Robinson is a playmaker and much like Raymond Sanders is expected to be a special teams star. A problem for opposing defenses in the open field, he will return punts. The final starting spot at receiver was given to a former All-State long jumper and hurdler A.J. LeGree. LeGree beat out Bookie Cobbins and a group of young players. LeGree has a knack for making impressive catches but is inconsistent in his route running and hands. Much like the rest of the unit, catching passes has been shown to be an issue. That is why the receiving tight ends figure to see lots of targets. Ronnie Shields beat out Tyler Robinson, last year's starter, due mostly to his receiving ability. Shields will see time in four receiver sets and has the athletic ability to stretch the field. If the line holds up and the receiving core plays up to ability and limits mistakes, this could be a special offense.
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Defense
Returning Starters: 6
The Scheme: Kirby Smart has been installing a 3-4 defense that will be the base. Mixing blitz packages and keeping players fresh with constant rotations, it is expected to be a defense that makes plays and dictates the pace of the game. Smart has coached top ten defenses nationally numerous times and plans to do the same at Kentucky.
Star Power: The stars of the defense reside be in the trenches. Donte Rumph the captain, as voted by his peers, moved to end and has become a run stopping force in the process. Mister Cobble, now the team's nose tackle, is listed nicely at 335 in the media guide. He looks much closer to 350, but has exceptional footwork for a man of his size. He might not get to the Quarterback, but he is quick to fill gaps and cause match-up problems for the offensive line. Alvin Dupree will start on the other side and isn't much of a pass-rusher either. The team plans to stop the run up front and force teams to pass without sacrificing extra defenders in the box. On passing downs, it is expected that Travaughn Paschal will play to put more pressure on the Quarterback. The team features 12 defensive lineman (8 ends), but is also the only unit losing three players to graduation for next season.
Impact Newcomers: The biggest newcomer won't make his impact until next season. Landon Collins is a former consensus five-star recruit who chose Alabama over LSU. From the Bayou state, a year in Tuscaloosa under Smart and Collins was looking for a change of scenery. Joining Smart in Lexington, Collins is enrolled at UK and is part of the program's scout team. He will have three years of eligibility remaining starting next season.
Keep An Eye On: An athletic linebacking core that is made up of former running backs. Miles Simpson came to Big Blue as a running back, but switched last fall to the defense. He played a hybrid position last year and now settles in as the weakside linebacker. He is built like a safety, but hits hard and likes playing close to the line. A powerful player, he was the team's leading tackler last season. Avery Williamson starts again inside, and had another offseason where he gained size and strength. Williamson works great in space, can make open field tackles and even effect the passing game. He played runningback in high school, much like his fellow starter at inside linebacker, Tre Dunn. His athleticism is trumps Williamson's, along with his versatility. He even played Quarterback before attending Campbellsville University. After transferring to Kentucky, he saw little playing time last year and still has two years of eligibility remaining. The other starter at linebacker was an intense training camp battle. Khalid Henderson is a playmaker that was a true freshman last year. A speedy and strong player, he beat out juniors Malcolm McDuffen and Tyler Brause. Both split starts last year, while Henderson played on special teams. Henderson was a stud on special teams to the point he will still be used, even though he will start on the defense.
Strongest Area: The strength is the defensive line, it also is the only position with depth. The big numbers up front allow for the team to use a rotation of players and keep certain players fresh. Some don't look like three down players (Cobble), so it is the only position that can rely on its' depth a bit. The future also looks bright with four freshman, two who were former team mates that will be redshirted this season (Caleb Flores and Scott Wade.
Biggest Problem: A secondary that lost three starters. The only returner is Ashely Lowery. Lowery hits like a linebacker but can cover a lot of the field with his athleticism. Next to him, Zack Blaylock will be the starter, but many expect Glenn Faulkner to see plenty of time. Faulkner is better in pass coverage, especially in zone. Blaylock can help in run support, and could see time as a linebacker to get Faulkner on the field as well. At corner, Eric Simmons starts and looks like a dependable corner. The fireworks and turnovers might come from redshirt freshman Cody Quinn. The coaching staff last year almost burned his redshirt to get the confident and athletic corner on the field. A standout on the scout team, Kirby Smart and Willie Martinez both agreed he just has to get on the field. They know he has the instincts to make plays for a defense that struggled to get turnovers last year. This year, an emphasis on scoring defense and takeaways were the difference that led players like Henderson and Quinn to start.
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Report Card: Overall - B // Offense - B- // Defense - B // Special Teams - B-Comment
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2013 Kentucky Wildcats Roster # OFFENSE POS HT WT CLASS HOMETOWN 11 Maxwell Smith* QB 6'4" 230 JR. Beverly Hills, CA - 85 OVR 17 Patrick Towles QB 6'5" 234 FR.(RS) Berea, KY - 83 OVR 13 Jalen Whitlow QB 6'2" 204 FR.(RS) Tullahoma, TN - 77 OVR 12 Reese Phillips :redshirt: QB 6'3" 210 FR. Valley Station, KY - 70 OVR 21 Josh Clemons RB 5'10" 206 JR. Calhoun, GA - 86 OVR 4 Raymond Sanders :impact: RB 5'8" 200 SR. Carterville, GA - 83 OVR 20 Justin Taylor RB 5'10" 214 FR.(RS) Rome, GA - 79 OVR 27 Phil Miller :redshirt: RB 6'1" 200 FR. Smyrna, GA - 67 OVR 39 D.J. Warren FB 6'0" 227 JR. Lewisburg, TN - 79 OVR 23 Daryl Collins WR 5'11" 202 SO.(RS) Brewton, AL - 75 OVR 9 DeMarco Robinson WR 5'10" 161 JR. Thomson, GA - 75 OVR 87 Bookie Cobbins WR 6'0" 191 SO.(RS) Gray, LA - 74 OVR 6 A.J. LeGree WR 6'0" 185 FR.(RS) Fair Oaks, GA - 74 OVR 84 DeAngelo Yancey WR 6'2" 201 FR. Atlanta, GA - 70 OVR 85 Danny Hurd WR 6'4" 191 JR. Hopkinsville, KY - 63 OVR 81 JeVontey Smith WR 6'1" 190 FR. Waycross, GA - 62 OVR 89 Tyler Robinson* TE 6'3" 253 SR. Marshall, TX - 83 OVR 80 Ronnie Shields TE 6'5" 248 JR.(RS) Bay City, TX - 82 OVR 82 Darren Dowdell TE 6'4" 222 FR. Columbus, GA - 75 OVR 77 Darrian Miller* LT 6'5" 307 JR. Pleasure Ridge, KY - 81 OVR 62 Tyler Davenport LT 6'5" 332 JR.(RS) Alexandria, KY - 77 OVR 73 Chad Walters :redshirt: LT 6'6" 276 FR. Willoughby, OH - 63 OVR 75 Zach West* LG 6'4" 313 SO.(RS) Radcliff, KY - 81 OVR 66 Allen West LG 6'6" 309 FR. Shively, KY - 71 OVR 55 Zach Myers C 6'4" 295 FR.(RS) Berea, OH - 76 OVR 63 Jordan Watson C 6'4" 290 SO. Wrightsville, GA - 74 OVR 76 Teven Eatmond Nared RG 6'7" 343 JR.(RS) Bucyrus, OH - 79 OVR 58 Shaquille Love RG 6'4" 305 SO.(RS) Dyersburg, TN - 76 OVR 79 Kevin Mitchell* :capt: RT 6'6" 300 SR.(RS) Cartersville, GA - 84 OVR 70 Jake Boynton RT 6'7" 292 FR. Winder, GA - 65 OVR 72 Steven Taylor RT 6'4" 304 FR. Bardstown, KY - 65 OVR # DEFENSE POS HT WT CLASS HOMETOWN 99 Donte Rumph* :capt: :impact: LE 6'3" 305 SR. Columbia, SC - 78 OVR 60 Alvin Davis LE 6'4" 262 JR.(RS) Kennesaw, GA - 75 OVR 91 Farrington Huguenin LE 6'4" 270 SO.(RS) Columbia, SC - 73 OVR 94 Caleb Flores :redshirt: LE 6'7" 257 FR. Griffin, GA - 66 OVR 83 Alvin Dupree* RE 6'4" 257 JR. Country Club, GA - 82 OVR 41 Travaughn Paschal RE 6'4" 262 SO.(RS) Montgomery, MD - 75 OVR 90 Langston Newton RE 6'5" 249 FR.(RS) Elwood, IN - 75 OVR 98 Scott Wade :redshirt: RE 6'3" 265 FR. Griffin, GA - 67 OVR 97 Mister Cobble* DT 6'0" 334 SR.(RS) Mt Sterling, KY - 85 OVR 95 Thomas Chapman DT 6'3" 298 FR.(RS) Radcliff, KY - 78 OVR 92 Christian Coleman DT 6'3" 305 SO.(RS) Franklin, TN - 76 OVR 51 Tristian Johnson DT 6'1" 274 SR.(RS) Albany, GA - 75 OVR 32 Miles Simpson* OLB 6'2" 231 JR.(RS) Mayfield, KY - 78 OVR 8 Josh Forrest OLB 6'3" 237 SO.(RS) Elsmere, KY - 73 OVR 34 Kory Brown OLB 6'0" 211 JR.(RS) Seneca, SC - 72 OVR 40 Avery Williamson* :impact: MLB 6'1" 244 SR. Farragut, TN - 85 OVR 29 Tre Dunn MLB 6'2" 234 JR.(RS) Harrodsburg, KY - 81 OVR 47 Jabari Johnson MLB 6'1" 258 SO.(RS) Thomasville, GA - 72 OVR 59 Christian Davis MLB 6'1" 240 FR. London, KY - 60 OVR 22 Khalid Henderson OLB 6'1" 202 SO. Dock Junction, GA - 79 OVR 54 Malcolm McDuffen OLB 6'3" 230 JR.(RS) Covington, KY - 78 OVR 10 Tyler Brause OLB 6'2" 244 JR.(RS) Carrollton, OH - 78 OVR 15 Jalen Battle OLB 6'3" 184 FR. Kingsport, TN - 75 OVR 38 Eric Simmons CB 6'0" 201 JR.(RS) Roswell, GA - 79 OVR 28 Eric Dixon CB 5'11" 185 JR. Clanton, AL - 75 OVR 24 Cody Quinn CB 5'10" 178 FR.(RS) Wiskliffe, OH - 75 OVR 3 Fred Tiller CB 6'1" 179 SO. Swainsboro, GA - 73 OVR 25 Chris Schmidt CB 6'1" 185 FR. St Marys, GA - 65 OVR 30 Derrick Sutton CB 5'10" 164 FR. Brookfield, IL - 63 OVR 44 Zack Blaylock FS 5'11" 192 SO. Peachtree, GA - 74 OVR 18 Glenn Faulkner FS 6'2" 187 JR. East St Louis, IL - 74 OVR 26 Courtney Wright FS 5'11" 183 FR. Covington, KY - 64 OVR 2 Landon Collins :redshirt: SS 6'0" 210 SO. Shreveport, LA - 86 OVR 5 Ashley Lowery* SS 6'1" 210 JR. Cndlr-McAfee, GA - 78 OVR 46 Aaron Cox SS 6'0" 200 FR. Paducah, KY - 63 OVR 37 Jason Freeman :redshirt: SS 6'1" 205 FR. Ft Campbell, KY - 62 OVR # SPECIAL TEAMS POS HT WT CLASS HOMETOWN 88 Joe Mansour K 6'2" 185 SR. Peachtree, GA - 85 OVR 7 Landon Foster P 6'2" 191 SO. Alcoa, TN - 83 OVR
* - Returning Starter
Bold - Starter
:redshirt: - Redshirt
:impact: - Impact Player
:capt: - Team Captain
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Kentucky Wildcats Coaching Staff
Head Coach - Kirby Smart
Offensive Coordinator - Shannon Dawson
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach - Willie Marinez
Co Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator - Tommy Thigpen
Quarterbacks Coach - Andre Woodson
Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator - Jeff Hammerschmidt
Receivers Coach - David Nichols
Tight Ends/Ast. Offensive Line Coach - Shawn Bostick
Offensive Line Coach - Mike Summers
Defensive Line Coach - Chris Rumph
Linebackers Coach - Freddie Roach
Safeties Coach - Al PogueComment
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