Listed below I did a quick breakout of ever offensive position on the team. Listing the key players at every position and comparing the group to other teams in UK history to give you an idea of where the talent currently stands.
I will send over the defensive one soon as well.
QB:
Key Players: Patrick Towles and Drew Barker
Key Losses: None
Team Comparison:2006 (Woodson’s JR Season)
Summary: Most likely Towles is going to be the starter for this upcoming season. This is something that he has earned with a great spring with improved mechanics and accuracy. Last year Towles would drive you crazy because he had a ton of talent, but was inconsistent to say the least. It reminded me much of Andre Woodson after his SO season. Woodson came to UK as a 4 star recruit from a small instate school, exactly like Towles. He received much scrutiny from the coaches for lacking attention details (similar to Towles). Woodson struggled most of his SO season with only 6 TDs and 6 Int (compared to Towles 14 TDs and 9 int). However, the light came on for Woodson in his JR season (31 TDs and 7 Int) and I’m expecting similar results for Towles. If Towles does have a JR season like Woodson (or even a Hartline SR season of 23 TDs and 9 Int) UK will have a great season.
Improvement from Last Season? YES, expecting a big improvement
RB
Key Players: Boom Williams, JoJo Kemp, and Mikel Horton
Key Losses: Brayland Heard
Recruits: Sihiem King
Team Comparison: 2007 (Rafael Little, Tony Dixon, Derrick Locke)
Summary: Unfortunately we didn’t get the kid from Berea, but thankfully we already had the best RB talent on campus that we have had in a LONG time. Boom Williams is going to be special and might be the best overall back that we have at UK since Moe Williams circa 1995. Additionally there has been a lot of strong comments on the turnaround of JoJo Kemp and Mikel Horton reshapping his body (has lost 25 pounds). There is a lot to be excited about in this group. The key though is keeping everyone healthy.
Improvement from Last Season? YES, UK returns their best players to the team and I expect BIG things from Boom this season. BOOM goes the Dynamite!
TE
Key Players: CJ Conrad and Daryl Long
Losses: Steve Borden and Ronnie Shields
Recruits: CJ Conrad
Team Comparison: 2001 (Derek Smith and Chase Harp)
Summary: Remember when UK used to have awesome TEs every year. Such as Jimmy Haley, James Whalen, Derek Smith, and of course Jacob Tamme. Well it’s been a long time since we have had a good TE (8 years to be exact) but I think we finally have a couple with Conrad and Long. In fact, this is what Stoops has to say in regards to Conrad… "He’s a guy that the sky’s the limit for him," Stoops said. "He’s a great kid. He works extremely hard. He does everything right on the field, off the field and he’s a great student."
Improvement from Last Season? YES!!! Last year our two TEs combined for 7 catches for 62 yards. That will be a game statistic for Conrad and Long at least once this year.
WR
Key Players: Ryan Timmons, Jeff Badet, Alex Montgomery, Garrett Johnson, Blake Bone, Dorian Baker, Thaddeus Snodgrass, T.V. Williams
Key Losses: Javess Blue & Demarco Robinson
Recruits: Therrel Gosier, Jabari Greenwood, Tavin Richardson
Team Comparison: 1999 (Craig Yeast, Kevin Coleman, Quentin McCord, Lance Mickelson, Jimmy Robinson, Dougie Allen)
Summary: This is the deepest group of WRs that we have had in a long time. In fact, I had to go back to the Mumme days to think of a WR roster that was as deep and talented. There have been rosters that had greater top end, experienced talent (such as 2007 with Stevie and Burton or the 2010 with Cobb and Matthews). However, those teams (07 and 10) did not have the same quality WR depth once the starters left the field.
Improvement from Last Season? YES. While Blue and Robinson were very productive last season, I think UK will more than make up for it with the improvement from existing players. The return of Badet and Montgomery will be significant as they were greatly missed last season. Additionally, UK adds 3 freshman WR this fall that will compete for playing time.
OL
Key Players: Jordan “False Start” Swindle, Nick Haynes, Jon Toth, Ramsey Meyers, Kyle Meadows, and George Asafo-Adjei
Key Losses: Darrian Miler
Recruits: George Asafo-Adjei, Levon Lingston, Logan Stenberg, Mason Wolfe
Team Comparison: 2011 (Chandler Burden, Stuart Hines, Matt Smith, Larry Warford, Billy Jo Murphy)
Summary: The OL could be the position group with the biggest improvement from last season. The roster return 4 of the 5 starters and also adds depth with numerous redshirt FR and one high level recruit (George Asafo-Adjei). The interior of the line should be the teams greatest strength. Jon Toth is considered by many to be an All-SEC type of player at the Center position. Plus Ramsey Myers and Nick Haynes look to build on their successful R-FR seasons. I do have some concern over the tackle position. We should be ok at right tackle, but we currently don’t have the typically quick footed player LT. Swindle is making the switch to LT for the upcoming season which should be interesting given the fact that he struggled at times in pass protection from the RT position.
Improvement from Last Season? More than likely, but still want to see it to believe it. Darrian Miller will definitely be missed and with his departure I am concerned about the LT position. However, UK returns the other four starters to the OL and should be much improved especially up the middle at the Guards and Center position.
I will send over the defensive one soon as well.
QB:
Key Players: Patrick Towles and Drew Barker
Key Losses: None
Team Comparison:2006 (Woodson’s JR Season)
Summary: Most likely Towles is going to be the starter for this upcoming season. This is something that he has earned with a great spring with improved mechanics and accuracy. Last year Towles would drive you crazy because he had a ton of talent, but was inconsistent to say the least. It reminded me much of Andre Woodson after his SO season. Woodson came to UK as a 4 star recruit from a small instate school, exactly like Towles. He received much scrutiny from the coaches for lacking attention details (similar to Towles). Woodson struggled most of his SO season with only 6 TDs and 6 Int (compared to Towles 14 TDs and 9 int). However, the light came on for Woodson in his JR season (31 TDs and 7 Int) and I’m expecting similar results for Towles. If Towles does have a JR season like Woodson (or even a Hartline SR season of 23 TDs and 9 Int) UK will have a great season.
Improvement from Last Season? YES, expecting a big improvement
RB
Key Players: Boom Williams, JoJo Kemp, and Mikel Horton
Key Losses: Brayland Heard
Recruits: Sihiem King
Team Comparison: 2007 (Rafael Little, Tony Dixon, Derrick Locke)
Summary: Unfortunately we didn’t get the kid from Berea, but thankfully we already had the best RB talent on campus that we have had in a LONG time. Boom Williams is going to be special and might be the best overall back that we have at UK since Moe Williams circa 1995. Additionally there has been a lot of strong comments on the turnaround of JoJo Kemp and Mikel Horton reshapping his body (has lost 25 pounds). There is a lot to be excited about in this group. The key though is keeping everyone healthy.
Improvement from Last Season? YES, UK returns their best players to the team and I expect BIG things from Boom this season. BOOM goes the Dynamite!
TE
Key Players: CJ Conrad and Daryl Long
Losses: Steve Borden and Ronnie Shields
Recruits: CJ Conrad
Team Comparison: 2001 (Derek Smith and Chase Harp)
Summary: Remember when UK used to have awesome TEs every year. Such as Jimmy Haley, James Whalen, Derek Smith, and of course Jacob Tamme. Well it’s been a long time since we have had a good TE (8 years to be exact) but I think we finally have a couple with Conrad and Long. In fact, this is what Stoops has to say in regards to Conrad… "He’s a guy that the sky’s the limit for him," Stoops said. "He’s a great kid. He works extremely hard. He does everything right on the field, off the field and he’s a great student."
Improvement from Last Season? YES!!! Last year our two TEs combined for 7 catches for 62 yards. That will be a game statistic for Conrad and Long at least once this year.
WR
Key Players: Ryan Timmons, Jeff Badet, Alex Montgomery, Garrett Johnson, Blake Bone, Dorian Baker, Thaddeus Snodgrass, T.V. Williams
Key Losses: Javess Blue & Demarco Robinson
Recruits: Therrel Gosier, Jabari Greenwood, Tavin Richardson
Team Comparison: 1999 (Craig Yeast, Kevin Coleman, Quentin McCord, Lance Mickelson, Jimmy Robinson, Dougie Allen)
Summary: This is the deepest group of WRs that we have had in a long time. In fact, I had to go back to the Mumme days to think of a WR roster that was as deep and talented. There have been rosters that had greater top end, experienced talent (such as 2007 with Stevie and Burton or the 2010 with Cobb and Matthews). However, those teams (07 and 10) did not have the same quality WR depth once the starters left the field.
Improvement from Last Season? YES. While Blue and Robinson were very productive last season, I think UK will more than make up for it with the improvement from existing players. The return of Badet and Montgomery will be significant as they were greatly missed last season. Additionally, UK adds 3 freshman WR this fall that will compete for playing time.
OL
Key Players: Jordan “False Start” Swindle, Nick Haynes, Jon Toth, Ramsey Meyers, Kyle Meadows, and George Asafo-Adjei
Key Losses: Darrian Miler
Recruits: George Asafo-Adjei, Levon Lingston, Logan Stenberg, Mason Wolfe
Team Comparison: 2011 (Chandler Burden, Stuart Hines, Matt Smith, Larry Warford, Billy Jo Murphy)
Summary: The OL could be the position group with the biggest improvement from last season. The roster return 4 of the 5 starters and also adds depth with numerous redshirt FR and one high level recruit (George Asafo-Adjei). The interior of the line should be the teams greatest strength. Jon Toth is considered by many to be an All-SEC type of player at the Center position. Plus Ramsey Myers and Nick Haynes look to build on their successful R-FR seasons. I do have some concern over the tackle position. We should be ok at right tackle, but we currently don’t have the typically quick footed player LT. Swindle is making the switch to LT for the upcoming season which should be interesting given the fact that he struggled at times in pass protection from the RT position.
Improvement from Last Season? More than likely, but still want to see it to believe it. Darrian Miller will definitely be missed and with his departure I am concerned about the LT position. However, UK returns the other four starters to the OL and should be much improved especially up the middle at the Guards and Center position.