One article said he is a solid tackler and run stopper but struggles with pass coverage. Whether true or not, no idea. If so, maybe he has gotten better at coverage? Have to be able to do it all with where we are at now.
Discussion about possible inbound transfer candidates
- Thread starter Rembrandt90
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Jackson Brown cause we are almost running on empty
Same question marks!!! And it’s not like the other kicker was fantastic. Only 12-17. So makes you wonder why the guy was brought here.
Could be that they asked him to kick it shorter rather than into the end zone. Some ST coaches think that’s the better strategy rather than giving it to them on the 25 each time. Kick it with extra air time letting your coverage team get down there and increase the probability of stopping them before the 25
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think he is on scholarship so maybe just competition for Poore.
Film showed good speed and hard hitter. Looks bigger than listed size.
UK, amongst other P5 and G5 schools, offered an NCAA DII WR from Grand Valley State, Jahdae Walker.
https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-...-st-transfer-wr-jahdae-walker-kentucky-offer/
https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-...-st-transfer-wr-jahdae-walker-kentucky-offer/
Sounds like Walker and Rayner will be visiting Lexington soon, so these two are serious targets. Right now, I think Coach Stoops has 6 open scholarships. I suspect it is only a matter of time before our coaches find another OT they like in the portal, most likely with multiple seasons of eligibility remaining. Maybe another CB too.
It may be factoring in returns. So that may be a net number after returns.
Chance Poore is still on the team. Hopefully matured beyond the case of yips that cost him the FG job his freshman year and he can get back to doing those too.
Let's look at this logically. You think there's any chance that opponents avg starting position on kickoffs was their own 12 yard line over a full season and nearly 100 kicks? lol
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Do HS kick off from the 40 (I don't know)? If so, that makes the stats look somewhat better?
UK's coaches offered Tyler Knaak this week. Offensive lineman from UT. Knaak is appealing and a possible fit because he has multiple years of eligibility. I suspect more offensive linemen will be offered soon.
OL Depth
Bold- returning starter
Italics- first year at UK
The numbers behind each player indicate how many years of eligibility they have left including super SR and redshirt years if eligible.
LT- Cox +1, Jones +3, Hall +4
LG- Horsey +1, Bingham +4, Ramsey +5
C- Burton +3, Keenum +5
RG- Cox +2, Bowles +2, Rodriguez +3
RT- Ford +3, Flax +2, Wood +5
There are PWOs too but I haven’t heard or seen anything to lead me to believe any of them will see time. We have never seen Jones or Rodriguez play so their positions maybe different. Interior depth is decent with Bingham who should see time this year and Bowles having SEC experience; Keenum seems to be the real deal after Spring and Bowles/Cox have played C too. The tackle depth is really lacking though especially with Hall’s injury (when will he be back?). I think Flax is a decent enough backup at RT as long as he doesn’t transfer out, but I wouldn’t want him to have to backup LT too.
Would be great if we could find experienced T depth in the portal for this year but might have missed that boat as far as P5/FBS goes. Maybe they look for experience from the FCS level.
With the new portal windows, is it essentially no one can transfer till the winter window opens in December?
Bold- returning starter
Italics- first year at UK
The numbers behind each player indicate how many years of eligibility they have left including super SR and redshirt years if eligible.
LT- Cox +1, Jones +3, Hall +4
LG- Horsey +1, Bingham +4, Ramsey +5
C- Burton +3, Keenum +5
RG- Cox +2, Bowles +2, Rodriguez +3
RT- Ford +3, Flax +2, Wood +5
There are PWOs too but I haven’t heard or seen anything to lead me to believe any of them will see time. We have never seen Jones or Rodriguez play so their positions maybe different. Interior depth is decent with Bingham who should see time this year and Bowles having SEC experience; Keenum seems to be the real deal after Spring and Bowles/Cox have played C too. The tackle depth is really lacking though especially with Hall’s injury (when will he be back?). I think Flax is a decent enough backup at RT as long as he doesn’t transfer out, but I wouldn’t want him to have to backup LT too.
Would be great if we could find experienced T depth in the portal for this year but might have missed that boat as far as P5/FBS goes. Maybe they look for experience from the FCS level.
With the new portal windows, is it essentially no one can transfer till the winter window opens in December?
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Do we even know what Hall's injury was/is? Never saw it mentioned.
One player I'd add to the above list is backup C Luke Padgett, Scott's boy. PWO, RS last year so I guess he has 4 to play 4. On quick glimpses at Spring film clips it appeared he was getting several snaps. At 6'4" 300 I think he may surprise eventually.
Why is Knaak a major project? Please share your specific concerns. 6'7" 300# athlete who can play OT. Four years of eligibility left because he was redshirted in 2022. Offer sheet coming out of hs included nine Power 5 schools including UT, SoCal, and OR St who were nationally ranked teams in 2022. Considering that SLC doesn't produce a lot of impact Power 5 players, that's a pretty strong offer sheet under the circumstances. Since Knaak was judged worthy of a scholarship offer from Lincoln Riley, an offensive specialist, isn't he interesting as a potential impact lineman for us?
If you said Malachi Wood is a major project, you would be right for sure. Wood needs to add 30-40# of muscle and learn all the basics. But Knaak has a Power 5 body and apparently some athleticism.
OTOH, in view of the geography, I am skeptical at this point whether UK can attract Knaak. The last time UK signed a football player from the state of UT was Kurt Jackson and Jan Jorgensen in our 2003 class. AFAIK, Stoops has never tried to recruit a player from the state of UT. Knaak is a transfer, so maybe he looks at his options and decides UK is a good alternative if he is willing to relocate this far to the east. He would be an excellent alternative for our program because he has 4 years of eligibility and a Power 5 frame. Getting him on campus for a visit will be the key to a serious recruitment.
IMO, UK's starting 2023 OL is set except for a competition in August between Ford and Flax at RT. Flax isn't going to lie down, and the job has not been guaranteed to Ford. But OTOH, Ford was brought in specifically to compete for the starting RT job because Flax didn't nail it down this spring. Ford and Flax are experienced Power 5 players. Knaak is a redshirt freshman, so he probably wouldn't be a candidate to win the RT job in August. The value of signing Knaak, if we can, would come into play in 2024, after three of our 2023 starting offensive linemen graduate. The value of this recruitment is the four years of eligibility. That doesn't make him a project anymore than any other young offensive lineman is. He would have to learn the system and wait his turn. But Goodwin's, Young's, Buford's, and Wohlabaugh's outbound transfers and the upcoming senior graduations are eliminating close to half of our total OL roster.
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AFAIK, we don't. I haven't even seen any speculation, other than the announcement that he was missing spring practice.
Luke Padgett is a decent football player. But everything is relative. Padgett is primarily a C. Jaden Burton won the starting job this spring, and the coaches have made it clear that they are committed to developing Koby Keenum as his understudy. So Padgett will not see the field as a C unless there are injuries to players ahead of him. The quality depth at OG is even more formidable. Unfortunately, Padgett is not an OT.
Reportedly, the interior offensive linemen who made moves this spring were Paul Rodriguez and Grant Bingham.
Knaak is most likely a project cause he has only played OT for 1 year of HS and 1 redshirt year at Utah. Before that he played on the DL. He has the size and length but it would be highly surprising if he contributed this year wherever he ends up next season.
Never meant to insinuate Padgett would suddenly morph into a player who'd see significant PT just that he has a chance to get nominal snaps here and there.
you can transfer this summer....but like the old rules, you'd sit out the 2023 season
Maybe so. I see your point. But OTOH, playing on the DL is not necessarily a negative for a future offensive lineman. To use some historical UK examples, Zipp Duncan, Matt Smith, Jake Lanefski. Of course, they were not Stoops recruits, and standards in our program are higher now. But I look at this from a different angle. Right now, there are a lot of uncommitted offensive linemen in the portal. So there is a menu, so to speak. Our coaches are after Knaak. I suspect that is happening because he has four years of eligibility, a Power 5 body, some significant interest in visiting UK, the ability to play on the edge at OT, and the level of skill that offers from SoCal and UT would imply. For reasons I discussed, I suspect UK's coaches are recruiting him mainly for 2024 and beyond. So, he has time to learn Coach Coen's system. A fit?
I get that, but only one C can play at a time. Of course you are right in pointing out that Padgett is a good football player.
If he has a knack for OT, bring him on (somebody had to say it!).
Good to see RG or RT Ben Christman transferring to UK. Was a top 100 out of HS. Described as being a mauler that will play on Sundays. At 6-6 300, said to be very strong and has no trouble taking players to the ground. Still a few years left to play here is another positive for us.
Is this who Vince just Tweeted about??
What school is he coming in here from and does he play Tackle?
Thanks
Don't know about the tweet. Coming from OH ST, was a top three player in Ohio his senior year. The article I read said ROG or ROT. Talked like he was brut mauler type that is super aggressive, very strong and plays all out all the time. That is his strengths. Said that improving his lateral quickness was the one thing he can get better on. Sounds like he will be the total package once his lateral quickness improves.
Christman from Ohio State...my question: why is he transferring?
I assume just playing time. He was there 2 years and didn’t play much. Then from the OSU blog:
In Ohio State's spring game, Christman logged the third-most snaps of any Ohio State offensive lineman (48) and began the exhibition as the Buckeyes' second-team left guard. However, returning starter and five-star recruit Donovan Jackson figures to dominate reps at the position in 2023.
In Ohio State's spring game, Christman logged the third-most snaps of any Ohio State offensive lineman (48) and began the exhibition as the Buckeyes' second-team left guard. However, returning starter and five-star recruit Donovan Jackson figures to dominate reps at the position in 2023.
IF he does indeed play like they say then he sounds kind of like a Dotson type. Him and Bingham are an interesting future for our two guard positions. A high four star out of high school, the way he plays and with way we develop I am excited with this one. Said we have four more spots left for transfers after the Christman commitment. Will Ramsey be OG or OT? Have seen him listed as 6-7 330 or 6-4 360. At one point he was going to be a guard and didn't know if that has changed.
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Same reason David W & Buford left here. Reset clock and career in new location. Wasn't working out at 1st place,, so change environment.
