Great overview of our defense from an outsider

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Seems the staff is working a day job and posting on their smoke breaks. 2 to 3 hours behind on news... Articles regularly posted under the wrong heading/topic...

It used to be the standard and the kingpin in the UK market.

In regards to Coach Stoops & the program having a successful year…

What must or do you want/need to see that you will consider a success? That things are still heading into an upward trajectory for the future with all the craziness around college football..

What are you hoping to see, change or see improvements on?

You have Hamdan of course in his first year as the OC then on the other hand there is Brad White that we know all about, but this defense has been getting a lot of preseason hype being mentioned to the 2018 unit…

In general which one has the most pressure on them for their respective unit to perform & gives us the best chance of having a special season?

BTW, does defense still win championships?

For general interest, comparison, projection and possible discussion, here are last year's statistics for the Center position, ranked by minutes per game:

Nothing too groundbreaking here but an update on some situations that have been in the headlines recently or have checked up this weekend:

** Nobody has told me that 3-star OL Jayden Clark and 3-star WR/TE Mikkel Skinner will definitely be committing to Kentucky but I like their chances with both players based on the chatter and just keeping you updated on that. No timetable for those players except my understanding that Skinner "should" announce "soon" and Clark told me that he had other visits planned but didn't seem to be too focused on them and also seemed to leave the door open to a flexible timetable. So I would not at all be surprised if one or both players made a decision this summer. Could be soon. Don't assume it has moved in another direction unless I say so though, as I don't have timetable expectations. Clark is communicating but haven't heard much directly from Skinner.

** Noah King had been a safety option who earned an offer at camp and might have been a down the road guy if the Cats had extra scholarships to play with but he went ahead and committed to Kansas State not long ago. Not a bad decision on the surface as its a quality program that develops players well and they obviously valued him a little more than the Cats at this time.

** Cam Thomas is a highly-regarded 2026 linebacker target from Lakota West. He has a lot of respect for Kentucky and has connected with Alex Afari on a visit to the school earlier this year. He just visited Oregon before the dead period and picked up an offer from the Ducks so there's going to be a lot of competition.

** Daniel Davis is a massive 2025 OG from Florida who has been linked to Kentucky but I've done some digging and don't think he is on the radar. Jayden Clark, for sure, but do not think Davis will be an option for them.

I didn't do the "Cox..." three dots title because I didn't want to scare you all, but this is a big update.

Just saw that update from Hamdan.

-Cox is back
-Jager is healthy again
-Mincey is not practicing, but more precautionary and not expected to miss a long time
-Ray has moved to right tackle with the 1's in Mincey's absence

I would assume that means Ford isn't good to go if he's not in the RT spot.

Compiled a lot of previews about UK and the SEC for a snapshot view of what the national/conference media thinks about UK in 2024.

QB Jr #18 Tate Rodemaker – Transferred from Florida State, from Valdosta, GA.

• 68/118 for 901 yards (Career)
• 7 TD’s (Career)

RB SR #0 Rodrigues Clark – Transferred from Memphis, from Starkville, MS.

76 carries 429 yds, 2 TD’s (2023)



RB SO #5 Kenyon Clay – From Union, MS.

40 carries 179 yds, 1 TD (2023)



WR SO #11 Davis Dalton – From Madison, MS

6 rec, 75 yds (2023)



WR JR #7 Dakota Thomas – Transferred from Copiah-Lincoln CC/WKU, from Snellville, GA

16 rec, 172 yds, 3 TD’s (2023)



WR JR #1 Tiaquelin Mims – From Bay Minette, Alabama

• 39 rec, 445 yds, 2 TD’s (2023) Led team in Rec
• Returns Punts and Kicks

WR SR #13 Dannis Jackson – Transferred from Missouri, from Sumrall, MS

12 rec, 244 yds, 2 TD’s (2021)



WR SO #9 Larry Simmons – Transferred from Ole Miss, from Moss Point, MS

No game action at Ole Miss in 2023



TE SO #8 Justyn Reid – From Newnan, GA

1 rec, 13 yds (2023)



TE JR #85 Kyirin Heath – Transferred from Ole Miss, from Mansfield, TX

4 rec, 60 yds



LT JR #61 Gabe Cavazos Jr – Transferred from Mississippi State, from Lake Cormorant, MS

No game action



LG SO #50 Wil Saxton – From Benton, MS

No game action as True Freshman



C JR #58 Drew Lawson – From Madison, AL

Played in 2 games in 2021 (RS and no action)



RG SR #78 Dontae Lucas – Transferred from South Alabama, from Overton, FL

Started in 11 games for South Alabama. Appeared in 12/13



RT JR #56 Greg Nunnery – Transferred from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, from McComb, MS

Played in 17 games in 2 seasons at MGCCC



DE SR #94 Kristin Booth – From Oxford, AL

25 Tackles, 2 sacks (2023)



NT SR #36 Brodarius Lewis – Transferred from Jones College, from Prattville, AL

31 Tackles, 1 sack (2023)



DT SR #96 Jalen Williams – Transferred from Arkansas, from Tylertown, MS

• 30 Tackles (2023)
• 48 Tackles, 2 sacks (2022)

JACK SR #8 Jalil Clemons – Transferred from Memphis, from Macon, MS

• Named 2nd team preseason by Phil Steele
• 31 Tackles, Team high 5.5 sacks, 2 FF (2023)

MLB SR #15 Ja’Len Sims – Transferred from Copiah-Lincoln CC/Memphis, from Birmingham, AL

31 Tackles, 2 sacks (2023)



WLB SR #17 Tre Pinkney – Transferred from Hutchinson CC/Coastal Carolina, from Atlanta, GA

• 7 games at Coastal
• 13 Tackles (2023)
• 50 Tackles 2 INTs (2022)

FCB FR #13 – Will James – Transferred from Mississippi St, from Grand Bay, AL

Debuted in 2023 for Miss State



SS SR #5 Jay Jones – From Demopolis, AL

• 20 Tackles, 1 INT (2023)
• 22 Tackles (2022)

FS SR #13 Ques McNeal – Transferred from Copiah-Lincoln CC, from Ackerman, MS

• 12 Tackles (2023)
• 1 FF (2023)

BCB SR #2 – Michael Caraway Jr – Transferred from Pearl River CC, from Bassfield, MS

• 23 Tackles, 4 PD (2023)
• 10 Tackles, 2 PD (2022)

NB SR #6 Dylan Lawrence – Transferred from Mississippi St, from Lucedale, MS

• Appeared in 12 games in 2022 for Miss St (Special Teams) 5 Tackles
• 78 Tackles, 1 Sack (2023)

Punter SR #30 Bryce Lofton – Transferred from Copiah-Lincoln CC, from Sand Hill, MS

40.4 Avg Punt, Long of 57 (2023)



Kicker SR #98 Andrew Stein – From Slidell, LA

17/23 FG, Long of 52, 27/28 XP (2023)

18/22 FG, Long of 46, 33/35 XP (2021)

And it is going to be a nightmare with all the tailgating spots taken by the construction from University Dr to Nicholasville Rd towards Cooper. Many more spots not available as I would have thought. I’ll try and post what won’t be available in a pic.

I’m sure the spots unavailable have already been contacted if you have that parking pass.

This gem comes to mind

New week.