It's not the busiest time of year when it comes to news on the football front but with walkthrough season arriving did want to share a couple of notes that I've come across recently.
** Kentucky is no longer recruiting Ohio State cornerback transfer Sevyn Banks. My understanding is they took a closer look and think waiting is the best option.
** The pursuit of Vanderbilt offensive tackle Tyler Steen continues. He is in no hurry because he's not going to be a mid-year guy. His brother is going to UVA and I know a lot of people are assuming that the Cavaliers are a strong option. They may well be, but recently had a conversation with someone who believes that Tennessee and Kentucky are the two main schools at the moment. Going to be a dogfight.
** Regarding Banks and the cornerback situation my read is Valentine and Phillips are currently your starters but Vito will have a chance to work at the position right behind them. How he fares at it will probably determine whether it's something they can do with him.
** Not surprisingly Square and Jones are going to start out as the 1s and probably for one more year you'll have the younger guys spelling them but they will be nipping at their heels. The deepest position on the team is inside linebacker. If you're wondering about a possible position change to take advantage of that I've heard nothing of it. JJ Weaver and Jordan Wright are the starters on the outside. I think a lot of people assume that they're going to be playing alongside one another for 50-70 snaps a game and it just does not happen that way. They do impact one another's playing time quite a bit.
** Maybe a surprise to some, but I think Geiger is going to play free safety and Ajian at strong, and some might have assumed the opposite. Dodson should be right behind Ajian and is someone I'd feel good about if he can prove durable. Lovett appears to be the main backup option behind Geiger going into the spring. Loved him as a prospect and I suppose given the looming rep increase we'll find out what he's made of soon enough.
** Regarding Liam Coen, the farthest I'm willing to go right now is to say if he gets the job offer then my assumption would be it wo uld be very difficult to keep him. OC for the reigning Super Bowl champs given his history there is a tough mountain to climb. Quality of life is just a lot higher for NFL coaches. However, two things.
I've heard running backs coach Thomas Brown, also associate head coach, could get a look for a promotion to the OC position. The other thing ... while Coen is sharp as a tack, a rising star in the profession, and would make total and complete sense from my vantage point, and many others', there is a big push in the NFL right now to give stronger consideration to minority candidates than there has been in the past and that is something that could become a part of the conversation considering Coen is so young especially. I think the guy is future NFL HC material but just laying out some of the dynamics.
** Kentucky is no longer recruiting Ohio State cornerback transfer Sevyn Banks. My understanding is they took a closer look and think waiting is the best option.
** The pursuit of Vanderbilt offensive tackle Tyler Steen continues. He is in no hurry because he's not going to be a mid-year guy. His brother is going to UVA and I know a lot of people are assuming that the Cavaliers are a strong option. They may well be, but recently had a conversation with someone who believes that Tennessee and Kentucky are the two main schools at the moment. Going to be a dogfight.
** Regarding Banks and the cornerback situation my read is Valentine and Phillips are currently your starters but Vito will have a chance to work at the position right behind them. How he fares at it will probably determine whether it's something they can do with him.
** Not surprisingly Square and Jones are going to start out as the 1s and probably for one more year you'll have the younger guys spelling them but they will be nipping at their heels. The deepest position on the team is inside linebacker. If you're wondering about a possible position change to take advantage of that I've heard nothing of it. JJ Weaver and Jordan Wright are the starters on the outside. I think a lot of people assume that they're going to be playing alongside one another for 50-70 snaps a game and it just does not happen that way. They do impact one another's playing time quite a bit.
** Maybe a surprise to some, but I think Geiger is going to play free safety and Ajian at strong, and some might have assumed the opposite. Dodson should be right behind Ajian and is someone I'd feel good about if he can prove durable. Lovett appears to be the main backup option behind Geiger going into the spring. Loved him as a prospect and I suppose given the looming rep increase we'll find out what he's made of soon enough.
** Regarding Liam Coen, the farthest I'm willing to go right now is to say if he gets the job offer then my assumption would be it wo uld be very difficult to keep him. OC for the reigning Super Bowl champs given his history there is a tough mountain to climb. Quality of life is just a lot higher for NFL coaches. However, two things.
I've heard running backs coach Thomas Brown, also associate head coach, could get a look for a promotion to the OC position. The other thing ... while Coen is sharp as a tack, a rising star in the profession, and would make total and complete sense from my vantage point, and many others', there is a big push in the NFL right now to give stronger consideration to minority candidates than there has been in the past and that is something that could become a part of the conversation considering Coen is so young especially. I think the guy is future NFL HC material but just laying out some of the dynamics.
