After spring practice, some facts and guesses.
Fact- Although Landyn Watson did not stand out in spring practice, Coach Stoops did not add another ILB (and did not even appear to try) in the spring portal, to the surprise of some in the media.
My guess- Our coaches are pleasantly surprised and impressed with Daveran Rayner and particularly with Grant Godfrey. They trust Alex Afari. Devin Smith remains an unknown factor but has probably shown promise as well.
Fact- We hardly knew you, Wallace Unamba. OT transfer Unamba enrolled at UK in January and then quickly left again in April.
My guess- Young OTs Malachi Wood and Darrin Strey, not to mention starters Alex Wollschlaeger and Shirazh Pete, decisively outplayed Unamba in spring practices. Unamba is not a bad downhill run blocker, but was not ready at all for the speed and agility of SEC edge rushers.
Fact- Portal departures of Barion Brown, Donte Key, Hardley Gilmore, Anthony Brown-Stephens, and Shamar Porter basically wiped out UK's WR room.
My guess- Bush Hamdan still thinks Gilmore is a rising star. (Hamdan basically said as much.) When Gilmore decided to return to UK, it was a fortuitous occurrence that could hardly have been better timed from La'Damian Washington's point of view. In spring practice, Washington was very impressed with Jamori Maclin, David Washington, and DJ Miller, and also found Troy Stellato and JJ Hester better than advertised. The only conditional comments I heard were about Fred Farrier, who didn't really impress Washington due to a lack of athleticism. But I heard the coaches think Rico Crowder and Spencer Leadbetter could help a little if needed. The new spring addition Ashton Cozart doesn't have much experience but is tall, athletic, and fast. I am guessing Coach Washington thinks his room is loaded with talent and numbers as long as he can get them ready to play.
Fact- Evan Wibberley received a healthy NIL reward to transfer to UK with the expectation that he would replace Eli Cox as our starting C. But Jaden Burton added >15# of good muscle this offseason and beat out Wibberley for the starting C job. Some have attributed this to a spring injury to Wibberley.
My guess- With Josh Braun's arrival, Burton saw the handwriting on the wall and decided he would not finish his UK career as a bench jockey if he could help it. Until now, Burton's primary problem has been a lack of SEC level strength. His work in the weight room fixed that. He has never lacked athleticism. Wibberley has 2 years of eligibility left, so he can stick around and get into the gym if he is up to it. For now, Burton is an upgrade over Wibberley and an adequate SEC starting C.
Fact- Although Landyn Watson did not stand out in spring practice, Coach Stoops did not add another ILB (and did not even appear to try) in the spring portal, to the surprise of some in the media.
My guess- Our coaches are pleasantly surprised and impressed with Daveran Rayner and particularly with Grant Godfrey. They trust Alex Afari. Devin Smith remains an unknown factor but has probably shown promise as well.
Fact- We hardly knew you, Wallace Unamba. OT transfer Unamba enrolled at UK in January and then quickly left again in April.
My guess- Young OTs Malachi Wood and Darrin Strey, not to mention starters Alex Wollschlaeger and Shirazh Pete, decisively outplayed Unamba in spring practices. Unamba is not a bad downhill run blocker, but was not ready at all for the speed and agility of SEC edge rushers.
Fact- Portal departures of Barion Brown, Donte Key, Hardley Gilmore, Anthony Brown-Stephens, and Shamar Porter basically wiped out UK's WR room.
My guess- Bush Hamdan still thinks Gilmore is a rising star. (Hamdan basically said as much.) When Gilmore decided to return to UK, it was a fortuitous occurrence that could hardly have been better timed from La'Damian Washington's point of view. In spring practice, Washington was very impressed with Jamori Maclin, David Washington, and DJ Miller, and also found Troy Stellato and JJ Hester better than advertised. The only conditional comments I heard were about Fred Farrier, who didn't really impress Washington due to a lack of athleticism. But I heard the coaches think Rico Crowder and Spencer Leadbetter could help a little if needed. The new spring addition Ashton Cozart doesn't have much experience but is tall, athletic, and fast. I am guessing Coach Washington thinks his room is loaded with talent and numbers as long as he can get them ready to play.
Fact- Evan Wibberley received a healthy NIL reward to transfer to UK with the expectation that he would replace Eli Cox as our starting C. But Jaden Burton added >15# of good muscle this offseason and beat out Wibberley for the starting C job. Some have attributed this to a spring injury to Wibberley.
My guess- With Josh Braun's arrival, Burton saw the handwriting on the wall and decided he would not finish his UK career as a bench jockey if he could help it. Until now, Burton's primary problem has been a lack of SEC level strength. His work in the weight room fixed that. He has never lacked athleticism. Wibberley has 2 years of eligibility left, so he can stick around and get into the gym if he is up to it. For now, Burton is an upgrade over Wibberley and an adequate SEC starting C.
