Good morning, HOB. Back over on campus today for Mark Stoops’ spring football preview press conference. The Cats are out on the field today as I type this. Beautiful day in Lexington, sunny and almost 60 degrees. We’d like to bottle this up for 15 practices this spring. At any rate, UK head coach Mark Stoops will join us at approx 10:15 ET to offer his thoughts on the spring. I’ll update this thread when we begin…
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Great day. Beautiful day to start practice. Guys worked hard in the winter. The rules allowed them to do a few walk-thrus prior to practice starting this year. Good change. Evident because they were further along today than they usually are on Day 1. Excited to go watch the film.
* Thinks the Cats have a good team, a nice mixture of young talent and experience. Bigger team in certain areas, which Stoops likes a lot.
* QB Devin Leary looked really good today. To his eye, did just fine. Trainers are being careful with him, but he was “pretty much full-go” today.
* Asked if any guys are out this spring, Stoops says OL Hall, TE Kattus, RB Jefferson, HB Jordan Dingle, DL Kahlil Saunders, TE Bates, and a couple of others out until further notice. Most of them had procedures done in the off-seaosn.
* Need to improve on the OL, Stoops says. Feels like they have, through additions and off-season work. Good leadership in that group with Eli Cox and Kenneth Horsey, another year under Jager Burton's belt. A guy like Marques Cox is so big and athletic, also a good person and leader. Likes the way he goes through his business. Very mature young man.
* Likes the size and length at corner. Definitely some bodies to work with. Jantzen Dunn and JQ Hardaway are both what you're looking for at that spot. Dru Phillips looked good at corner today. Another guy, Jordan Robinson, who was injured early last year and never really had a chance to catch up, has had a nice winter and start to spring practice today. He was noticeable out there today.
* DB Vito Tisdale is back and close to full-go, Stoops said. Limited in some aspects. No pads today.
* On early enrollees… Doesn’t want to single any person out yet, but loves the group. Was impressed by what they did in winter workouts.
* On the NFL combine and having guys like Levis and Rodriguez promoting the program… Proud of those guys. Nice to see some of their current pros around the building too, good for guys on the team to see that.
* Leary is earning his leadership, not forcing it. Just being authentic. He’ll find his voice at the right time to lead this team.
* On Liam Coen’s familiarity with the roster… The timing makes it unique. Many of the players have been through it with him or have a relationship with him through recruiting.
* On the RB room… Davis has got that experience and proven productivity in the SEC. Very confident in McClain and those other guys.
* On newcomer Silver at DT… A big dude. That showed up today. Put him next to Deon, and those are some big dudes.
* Asked about DL Oxendine adding weight and strength back, Stoops says it was important to do that this year. Need him to be more of a factor this year.
* On younger guys growing into leaders… You see more of a comfort level with guys like WRs Barion Brown and Dane Key. Leadership can grow from that confidence.
* Stoops a little dry on individual players on this day or picking out guys to watch. Adds that he’s being careful not to put the cart in front of the horse this year. Interesting comment, although not a lot for us scribes to work with.
* On moving guys around on the OL to find the best 5… We’ll see. We’ll have some flexibility. Deeper in general. More solid in the 10 right now than they were a year ago. Mentioned Burton at C and Cox at G (as rumored this off-season).
* Important to find a clear-cut No. 2 QB, Stoops said. They definitely need the reps. Looked good today, "and I'm not just saying that." He thought they all had their moments and looked really good at times today. Sees improvement there. Thinks having some time to do more things in the off-season with walk-thrus helped them.
* On changing of the guard at ILB… Never wants to disrespect anyone who’s moving on, but really excited about the guys they have at those spots. They stood out today.
* Kicking game needs work, Stoops said. "It's evident we're not going to fix that in one day." Will put a lot of pressure on them and work it hard. Boulware lighting a fire under them. Likes his intensity and structure. They’ve done a lot of things already that they’re not quite used to. More live timing, 11-on-11 kicking stuff early this year.
* In some ways, it’s almost like Liam Coen never left. Jokes that he’s almost never in his office because he’s always in the film room with someone. Being with the Rams last year has to make him better. Scars can help you learn and get better, then same way I did last year.
* Stoops is expecting a lot more from WR Tayvion Robinson this year. They need him to have a big year.
* TE Cummings has a good opportunity this spring with some other TEs out and a return to this system. He had a nice day today, several good plays.
* Reiterates that Keyshawn Silver “is a monster” at 6-5, 330. Almost giddy talking about him. Think we’re in good shape at the nose.
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Great day. Beautiful day to start practice. Guys worked hard in the winter. The rules allowed them to do a few walk-thrus prior to practice starting this year. Good change. Evident because they were further along today than they usually are on Day 1. Excited to go watch the film.
* Thinks the Cats have a good team, a nice mixture of young talent and experience. Bigger team in certain areas, which Stoops likes a lot.
* QB Devin Leary looked really good today. To his eye, did just fine. Trainers are being careful with him, but he was “pretty much full-go” today.
* Asked if any guys are out this spring, Stoops says OL Hall, TE Kattus, RB Jefferson, HB Jordan Dingle, DL Kahlil Saunders, TE Bates, and a couple of others out until further notice. Most of them had procedures done in the off-seaosn.
* Need to improve on the OL, Stoops says. Feels like they have, through additions and off-season work. Good leadership in that group with Eli Cox and Kenneth Horsey, another year under Jager Burton's belt. A guy like Marques Cox is so big and athletic, also a good person and leader. Likes the way he goes through his business. Very mature young man.
* Likes the size and length at corner. Definitely some bodies to work with. Jantzen Dunn and JQ Hardaway are both what you're looking for at that spot. Dru Phillips looked good at corner today. Another guy, Jordan Robinson, who was injured early last year and never really had a chance to catch up, has had a nice winter and start to spring practice today. He was noticeable out there today.
* DB Vito Tisdale is back and close to full-go, Stoops said. Limited in some aspects. No pads today.
* On early enrollees… Doesn’t want to single any person out yet, but loves the group. Was impressed by what they did in winter workouts.
* On the NFL combine and having guys like Levis and Rodriguez promoting the program… Proud of those guys. Nice to see some of their current pros around the building too, good for guys on the team to see that.
* Leary is earning his leadership, not forcing it. Just being authentic. He’ll find his voice at the right time to lead this team.
* On Liam Coen’s familiarity with the roster… The timing makes it unique. Many of the players have been through it with him or have a relationship with him through recruiting.
* On the RB room… Davis has got that experience and proven productivity in the SEC. Very confident in McClain and those other guys.
* On newcomer Silver at DT… A big dude. That showed up today. Put him next to Deon, and those are some big dudes.
* Asked about DL Oxendine adding weight and strength back, Stoops says it was important to do that this year. Need him to be more of a factor this year.
* On younger guys growing into leaders… You see more of a comfort level with guys like WRs Barion Brown and Dane Key. Leadership can grow from that confidence.
* Stoops a little dry on individual players on this day or picking out guys to watch. Adds that he’s being careful not to put the cart in front of the horse this year. Interesting comment, although not a lot for us scribes to work with.
* On moving guys around on the OL to find the best 5… We’ll see. We’ll have some flexibility. Deeper in general. More solid in the 10 right now than they were a year ago. Mentioned Burton at C and Cox at G (as rumored this off-season).
* Important to find a clear-cut No. 2 QB, Stoops said. They definitely need the reps. Looked good today, "and I'm not just saying that." He thought they all had their moments and looked really good at times today. Sees improvement there. Thinks having some time to do more things in the off-season with walk-thrus helped them.
* On changing of the guard at ILB… Never wants to disrespect anyone who’s moving on, but really excited about the guys they have at those spots. They stood out today.
* Kicking game needs work, Stoops said. "It's evident we're not going to fix that in one day." Will put a lot of pressure on them and work it hard. Boulware lighting a fire under them. Likes his intensity and structure. They’ve done a lot of things already that they’re not quite used to. More live timing, 11-on-11 kicking stuff early this year.
* In some ways, it’s almost like Liam Coen never left. Jokes that he’s almost never in his office because he’s always in the film room with someone. Being with the Rams last year has to make him better. Scars can help you learn and get better, then same way I did last year.
* Stoops is expecting a lot more from WR Tayvion Robinson this year. They need him to have a big year.
* TE Cummings has a good opportunity this spring with some other TEs out and a return to this system. He had a nice day today, several good plays.
* Reiterates that Keyshawn Silver “is a monster” at 6-5, 330. Almost giddy talking about him. Think we’re in good shape at the nose.
