Greetings, HOB. We’ll have a big batch of football news coming your way this afternoon as the Cats wrap up what should be their final full scrimmage before the 2022 season kicks off. We’re scheduled to have Mark Stoops speaking to us at approx 1:30 ET. Stay tuned…
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Good scrimmage. A lot like the first. A little give and take on both sides. Need more consistency. A lot of work left to be done before kicking off the season OL needs to strain a bit more. Good group up from on DL. Nice blend.
* Two of the OL who missed last week’s scrimmage were back today, which was good.
* On LT… Continuing to work it with three guys. “We’ll see where that goes.”
* On RB separation… It will be by committee. Different strengths and weaknesses.
* On the secondary… Feels much better about them in general going into this season compared to last season. Some guys with experience playing at a high level. “We’re playing better.” Hairston emerging as that 4th guy, which is good. Really nice speed with him.
* Tackling good today. Some really nice plays today.
* WRs have to be physical in this offense. “They’re going to block, or they’re not going to be out there.”
* Jordan Dingle had another good day out there today. “Just a complete tight end.” Good feel for it, nice catch radius.
* Really good play from the backup ILBs, including Fulton, who we haven’t heard much of lately.
* Stoops clarifies that his comments down at SEC Media Days had nothing to do with Shane Beamer, which a lot of people have read into it. Said he was talking about himself when he first got to UK. Gets along well with Beamer. “Look at me. I got no right to talk about anybody.” (Laughs)
* On Will Levis’s development… Really looked good today. Threw some really good balls, tough passes. A lot of playmakers out there making plays for him. “We just have to continue to pull it all together.”
* On backup QBs… That’s been tough. Both have had their moments, but not ready to say who that’s going to be yet.” Wade had a nice scrimmage today with his group. Good drive. “He’s going to be a really good player.”
* Asked about Chris Rodriguez’s status, Stoops says he’ll have one closer to game time.
* On the RB room and who might closely resemble C-Rod’s style… Maybe Ramon Jefferson. Had some tough runs today. So physical. JuTahn did some great things out of the backfield (sounded like catching the ball). But just a deep group.
* Crowdus getting more and more confident coming off his knee issues last year. “There’s no doubt he’s going to be a great player. We just have to continue to bring him along.”
WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* Feels better about the offense than the last time we spoke with him. “We made some big steps.” Had a nice 2-minute drive today. Much cleaner today than last scrimmage, which was one of their “lower” days of camp.
* On TEs… Cummings will be a big target, Levis said. Trying to get him more routes today than they have. Dingle made some plays today. Bates, Upshaw, Kattus… just crazy to have that many guys, Levis adds.
* He’s eager to move on and start focusing on Miami of Ohio. Exciting to start thinking about playing the first game.
* On the secondary… Says he has to give Carrington Valentine some props for the way he’s competing and breaking up plays, breaking on the ball really well.
* Edge guys are so long and disruptive against the pass game.
* Feels good to have a year under his belt and a lot more time to work with the guys and build chemistry than he did going into last season. Confident group. Important with a lot of guys stepping into new roles and with “big boy reps.”
* Ramon Jefferson has been really good in the backfield. “He’s like a little bowling ball, a smaller version of Chris, maybe a bit shiftier.”
* On the backup QBs… Deuce and Kaiya have both done a nice job. One seems to have a good day when the other does not. It’s gone back and forth. He’s trying to help them stay on the right track and make sure things are good in the meeting room, staying positive. “I don’t know if it’s official yet, who the 2 is.”
* Drennen doing well in his transition back to RB. Good feel for what they do in the passing game with the backs.
* Has been building comfort level with Scangarello since spring and feels like the two of them are really on the same page going into the season. Noted that he thinks he’ll be down on the field with him during games this season as opposed to up in the press box.
* On Heisman whispers… Doesn’t pay any attention to it. Almost scoffed at the notion. Just working at being his best for this team.
* O-Line had the most on their plate with the new offense in the spring. Was happy with where they were at the end of spring. Has only gotten better in camp, even though they’re rotating a bunch of guys. There’s been some pleasant surprises in guys stepping up.
* On Crowdus… Different kind of speed, different kind of explosiveness than most guys. Still working on the routes. Needs to have fewer MAs on those.
* On Wan’Dale vs Tayvion… Similarities: both really smart, versatile, competitive. Differences: Wan’Dale probably faster, Tayvion bigger catch radius and probably able to bring in some balls that aren’t right on the money because he’s longer. And Tayvion is a great punt returner, Levis added.
OCTAVIOUS OXENDINE Q&A:
* First question… “Where’s the rest of ya?” Ha. Slimmed down, feels great. He’s lost 25-30 pounds since he got to UK. Feels like he can read and react a lot faster now with his feet.
* Has played both end and tackle this camp. Thinks he could be used at both depending on who else is in the game.
* On following Josh Paschal’s lead… Feels like he did everything right when he was at UK. Trying to emulate that. “He definitely showed me the way and I’m trying to do that for the younger guys.”
* On his best challenge from the OL…. Tay Boog (Manning). Big and strong, gives him a great look.
* On cutting certain foods out of his diet… Pasta, Chipotle, stuff like that, he had to give up.
* Tired of facing his teammates? Kinda. But it’s also fun. He won’t say he’s really tired of it because he’s healthy and glad to be able to be back out there with his teammates.
* On preseason expectations… Not really paying attention to the rankings. They know they have to keep going to work every day.
* LBs really good at pointing out stuff and communicating on the defense. They see things that the front guys don’t always see. So much experience there.
* Ramon Jefferson excited him today. Tough guy to tackle.
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Good scrimmage. A lot like the first. A little give and take on both sides. Need more consistency. A lot of work left to be done before kicking off the season OL needs to strain a bit more. Good group up from on DL. Nice blend.
* Two of the OL who missed last week’s scrimmage were back today, which was good.
* On LT… Continuing to work it with three guys. “We’ll see where that goes.”
* On RB separation… It will be by committee. Different strengths and weaknesses.
* On the secondary… Feels much better about them in general going into this season compared to last season. Some guys with experience playing at a high level. “We’re playing better.” Hairston emerging as that 4th guy, which is good. Really nice speed with him.
* Tackling good today. Some really nice plays today.
* WRs have to be physical in this offense. “They’re going to block, or they’re not going to be out there.”
* Jordan Dingle had another good day out there today. “Just a complete tight end.” Good feel for it, nice catch radius.
* Really good play from the backup ILBs, including Fulton, who we haven’t heard much of lately.
* Stoops clarifies that his comments down at SEC Media Days had nothing to do with Shane Beamer, which a lot of people have read into it. Said he was talking about himself when he first got to UK. Gets along well with Beamer. “Look at me. I got no right to talk about anybody.” (Laughs)
* On Will Levis’s development… Really looked good today. Threw some really good balls, tough passes. A lot of playmakers out there making plays for him. “We just have to continue to pull it all together.”
* On backup QBs… That’s been tough. Both have had their moments, but not ready to say who that’s going to be yet.” Wade had a nice scrimmage today with his group. Good drive. “He’s going to be a really good player.”
* Asked about Chris Rodriguez’s status, Stoops says he’ll have one closer to game time.
* On the RB room and who might closely resemble C-Rod’s style… Maybe Ramon Jefferson. Had some tough runs today. So physical. JuTahn did some great things out of the backfield (sounded like catching the ball). But just a deep group.
* Crowdus getting more and more confident coming off his knee issues last year. “There’s no doubt he’s going to be a great player. We just have to continue to bring him along.”
WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* Feels better about the offense than the last time we spoke with him. “We made some big steps.” Had a nice 2-minute drive today. Much cleaner today than last scrimmage, which was one of their “lower” days of camp.
* On TEs… Cummings will be a big target, Levis said. Trying to get him more routes today than they have. Dingle made some plays today. Bates, Upshaw, Kattus… just crazy to have that many guys, Levis adds.
* He’s eager to move on and start focusing on Miami of Ohio. Exciting to start thinking about playing the first game.
* On the secondary… Says he has to give Carrington Valentine some props for the way he’s competing and breaking up plays, breaking on the ball really well.
* Edge guys are so long and disruptive against the pass game.
* Feels good to have a year under his belt and a lot more time to work with the guys and build chemistry than he did going into last season. Confident group. Important with a lot of guys stepping into new roles and with “big boy reps.”
* Ramon Jefferson has been really good in the backfield. “He’s like a little bowling ball, a smaller version of Chris, maybe a bit shiftier.”
* On the backup QBs… Deuce and Kaiya have both done a nice job. One seems to have a good day when the other does not. It’s gone back and forth. He’s trying to help them stay on the right track and make sure things are good in the meeting room, staying positive. “I don’t know if it’s official yet, who the 2 is.”
* Drennen doing well in his transition back to RB. Good feel for what they do in the passing game with the backs.
* Has been building comfort level with Scangarello since spring and feels like the two of them are really on the same page going into the season. Noted that he thinks he’ll be down on the field with him during games this season as opposed to up in the press box.
* On Heisman whispers… Doesn’t pay any attention to it. Almost scoffed at the notion. Just working at being his best for this team.
* O-Line had the most on their plate with the new offense in the spring. Was happy with where they were at the end of spring. Has only gotten better in camp, even though they’re rotating a bunch of guys. There’s been some pleasant surprises in guys stepping up.
* On Crowdus… Different kind of speed, different kind of explosiveness than most guys. Still working on the routes. Needs to have fewer MAs on those.
* On Wan’Dale vs Tayvion… Similarities: both really smart, versatile, competitive. Differences: Wan’Dale probably faster, Tayvion bigger catch radius and probably able to bring in some balls that aren’t right on the money because he’s longer. And Tayvion is a great punt returner, Levis added.
OCTAVIOUS OXENDINE Q&A:
* First question… “Where’s the rest of ya?” Ha. Slimmed down, feels great. He’s lost 25-30 pounds since he got to UK. Feels like he can read and react a lot faster now with his feet.
* Has played both end and tackle this camp. Thinks he could be used at both depending on who else is in the game.
* On following Josh Paschal’s lead… Feels like he did everything right when he was at UK. Trying to emulate that. “He definitely showed me the way and I’m trying to do that for the younger guys.”
* On his best challenge from the OL…. Tay Boog (Manning). Big and strong, gives him a great look.
* On cutting certain foods out of his diet… Pasta, Chipotle, stuff like that, he had to give up.
* Tired of facing his teammates? Kinda. But it’s also fun. He won’t say he’s really tired of it because he’s healthy and glad to be able to be back out there with his teammates.
* On preseason expectations… Not really paying attention to the rankings. They know they have to keep going to work every day.
* LBs really good at pointing out stuff and communicating on the defense. They see things that the front guys don’t always see. So much experience there.
* Ramon Jefferson excited him today. Tough guy to tackle.
