It might be the football offseason but that doesn't mean the coverage or conversation at Cats Illustrated will slow down.
We're starting a series of mailbag questions on football and recruiting. You can ask your questions on our forums, the largest communities of Kentucky fans online, or on Twitter @RowlandRIVALS.
Domonique Williams (UK Athletics)
Elliot from Twitter asks, "Are there any players coming in that you expect to challenge for positions right away? How many do you think redshirt?"
This is a relevant question every single year. Ideally, a coach anywhere will have the luxury of redshirting as many true freshman as possible thanks to quality experienced depth across the board. But true freshmen are going to play everywhere. They played a huge role in Alabama's national championship victory against Georgia, and Alabama has veteran talent like nobody else. Of course, nobody else has freshmen like Alabama has freshmen, but true freshmen will still play a role almost everywhere.
In 2017, Kentucky got contributions from several true freshmen. Quinton Bohanna took over the starting nose tackle position, surging past seniors Naquez Pringle and Matt Elam the last month of the season. Lynn Bowden gradually saw his all-purpose production increase over the course of the year and Josh Paschal was a quality and consistent contributor on the front seven, which is no small accomplishment in the SEC. Others ranging from Cedrick Dort and Clevan Thomas to Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps made contributions as well.
The one variable that's tough to account for here, as always, is the special teams unit. We really aren't going to know how valuable any given incoming freshman might be on punt or kickoff coverage, for example, until spring football and even fall camp get underway. That's how Kash Daniel first cut his teeth and proved his worth at Kentucky two seasons ago.
Putting aside the special teams question, we know a few other things.
Terry Wilson was recruited to compete for the starting quarterback position right away and Drew Barker's decision to transfer makes it even more likely that Wilson plays in his first year transferring in from his junior college. He'll still have to win the starting job in a competition against Gunnar Hoak, but whether he starts or is the primary backup, it's very likely we'll see Wilson on the field in some capacity this fall.
We also know that kicker Chance Poore and punter Max Duffy were recruited and put on scholarship because there is a need for immediate competition and, very possibly, starting roles to be assumed. Kentucky will still have Miles Butler at kicker and Grant McKinniss as a punter, barring something unforeseen, but it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if both Poore and Duffy emerge as lead specialists for the Wildcats following the departures of Austin MacGinnis and Matt Panton.
It's also clear that junior college defensive back Domonique Williams was recruited with the expectation that he will compete for playing time in the nickel, at least, right away. He's not only a nickel, but he can play the nickel and Kentucky doesn't have a lot of great options there with Kendall Randolph's eligibility up. Kentucky could still get creative and shuffle some parts around in the secondary thanks to Mike Edwards' decision to return for a senior season. For instance, Edwards could play the nickel. But Williams would likely be a candidate to fill the strong safety role even in that scenario. It will be a surprise if Williams doesn't play next year. Lonnie Johnson made the JUCO-to-SEC jump last year and he took over Chris Westry's starting spot, which he had held for the first 33 games of his career, by the end of the 2017 schedule.
Ashtan Pierre
The next thing I'd do in attempting to answer the question is to look at two otherquestions:
1) Does Kentucky have a Josh Paschal or Lynn Bowden in its 2018 signing class to date, i.e. someone who is obviously prepared to make an impact as a true freshman and is too good to keep off the field;
2) Are there any other spots on the field besides quarterback, specialist and nickel where Kentucky is in significant need of a young player to play?
One general observation: Kentucky returns an enormous amount of experience on defense in 2018, so it will be tougher for players to break into the rotation on that side of the ball. Conversely, there are more spots on offense where there would seem to be opportunity. However, at one of those spots, receiver, I'm not sure Kentucky's signees are quite as prepared to play right away as players elsewhere.
In answering the first question, I would say that some players are more physically advanced and prepared for the rigors of the SEC than others. Defensive lineman Davoan Hawkins looks like someone who has been in Kentucky's weight program for a year or two already, and answering the second question in reference to Hawkins, the Wildcats do return a lot on the defensive line but the unit is still unproven enough that a freshman could play. The same could be said of Marquan McCall, who will apparently get a shot on the defensive line when he arrives. He's one of those guys who is more advanced physically than several of Kentucky's other commitments.
Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard look like an SEC offensive lineman but Kentucky has good depth at tackle on paper and the Wildcats should be able to redshirt him. Quintin Wilson and Kenneth Horsey are promising prospects but strong redshirt candidates as well.
I would imagine that cornerbacks Stanley Garner and Jamari Brown will redshirt because they could use strength gains and Kentucky returns a lot of experience and youth in the secondary. Ashtan Pierre and DeAndre Square will benefit from a redshirt year at linebacker and Kentucky has the luxury of leaning on pretty good current depth at the position. It will be tough to unseat any of the starters or backups, although if Xavier Peters signs he could be a darkhorse candidate to help in the middle of the defense where there are some questions.
C.J. Conrad and Justin Rigg should be Kentucky's first and second tight ends by a good margin going into camp, but if the Wildcats decide they want to run three tight end sets that could open an avenue for Keaton Upshaw or Brenden Bates to crack into the rotation in spot duty. I would predict a redshirt for both players, but with only two established tight ends in front of them it really is possible that one of them could see the field in 2018. The unit's depth was tested due to injuries at the end of the season and it would be wise to remember that happens.
Chris Rodriguez is a darkhorse candidate to play mostly because he is a physical runner already and there should be another competition to back up Benny Snell. But just playing the odds, you'd have to give the edge to Sihiem King and A.J. Rose over Rodriguez, and Eddie Gran has proved over two years that he will lean heavily on two running backs in a given season if they stay healthy.
The place where it's really tough to predict how things will shake out is wide receiver because of the lack of depth there now.
Early prediction
QB Terry Wilson: Play
RB Chris Rodriguez: Redshirt
WR Akeem Hayes: Redshirt
WR Marvin Alexander: Play
WR Bryce Oliver: Play
TE Keaton Upshaw: Redshirt
TE Brenden Bates: Redshirt
OT Darian Kinnard: Redshirt
OL Kenneth Horsey: Redshirt
OG/C Quintin Wilson: Redshirt
DL Davoan Hawkins: Play
DL Marquan McCall: Redshirt
DL Jerquavion Mahone: Redshirt
LB: DeAndre Square: Redshirt
LB Ashtan Pierre: Redshirt
DB Domonique Williams: Play
DB Stanley Garner: Redshirt
DB Jamari Brown: Redshirt
K Chance Poore: Play
P Max Duffy: Play
We're starting a series of mailbag questions on football and recruiting. You can ask your questions on our forums, the largest communities of Kentucky fans online, or on Twitter @RowlandRIVALS.
Domonique Williams (UK Athletics)
Elliot from Twitter asks, "Are there any players coming in that you expect to challenge for positions right away? How many do you think redshirt?"
This is a relevant question every single year. Ideally, a coach anywhere will have the luxury of redshirting as many true freshman as possible thanks to quality experienced depth across the board. But true freshmen are going to play everywhere. They played a huge role in Alabama's national championship victory against Georgia, and Alabama has veteran talent like nobody else. Of course, nobody else has freshmen like Alabama has freshmen, but true freshmen will still play a role almost everywhere.
In 2017, Kentucky got contributions from several true freshmen. Quinton Bohanna took over the starting nose tackle position, surging past seniors Naquez Pringle and Matt Elam the last month of the season. Lynn Bowden gradually saw his all-purpose production increase over the course of the year and Josh Paschal was a quality and consistent contributor on the front seven, which is no small accomplishment in the SEC. Others ranging from Cedrick Dort and Clevan Thomas to Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps made contributions as well.
The one variable that's tough to account for here, as always, is the special teams unit. We really aren't going to know how valuable any given incoming freshman might be on punt or kickoff coverage, for example, until spring football and even fall camp get underway. That's how Kash Daniel first cut his teeth and proved his worth at Kentucky two seasons ago.
Putting aside the special teams question, we know a few other things.
Terry Wilson was recruited to compete for the starting quarterback position right away and Drew Barker's decision to transfer makes it even more likely that Wilson plays in his first year transferring in from his junior college. He'll still have to win the starting job in a competition against Gunnar Hoak, but whether he starts or is the primary backup, it's very likely we'll see Wilson on the field in some capacity this fall.
We also know that kicker Chance Poore and punter Max Duffy were recruited and put on scholarship because there is a need for immediate competition and, very possibly, starting roles to be assumed. Kentucky will still have Miles Butler at kicker and Grant McKinniss as a punter, barring something unforeseen, but it wouldn't be the least bit surprising if both Poore and Duffy emerge as lead specialists for the Wildcats following the departures of Austin MacGinnis and Matt Panton.
It's also clear that junior college defensive back Domonique Williams was recruited with the expectation that he will compete for playing time in the nickel, at least, right away. He's not only a nickel, but he can play the nickel and Kentucky doesn't have a lot of great options there with Kendall Randolph's eligibility up. Kentucky could still get creative and shuffle some parts around in the secondary thanks to Mike Edwards' decision to return for a senior season. For instance, Edwards could play the nickel. But Williams would likely be a candidate to fill the strong safety role even in that scenario. It will be a surprise if Williams doesn't play next year. Lonnie Johnson made the JUCO-to-SEC jump last year and he took over Chris Westry's starting spot, which he had held for the first 33 games of his career, by the end of the 2017 schedule.
Ashtan Pierre
The next thing I'd do in attempting to answer the question is to look at two otherquestions:
1) Does Kentucky have a Josh Paschal or Lynn Bowden in its 2018 signing class to date, i.e. someone who is obviously prepared to make an impact as a true freshman and is too good to keep off the field;
2) Are there any other spots on the field besides quarterback, specialist and nickel where Kentucky is in significant need of a young player to play?
One general observation: Kentucky returns an enormous amount of experience on defense in 2018, so it will be tougher for players to break into the rotation on that side of the ball. Conversely, there are more spots on offense where there would seem to be opportunity. However, at one of those spots, receiver, I'm not sure Kentucky's signees are quite as prepared to play right away as players elsewhere.
In answering the first question, I would say that some players are more physically advanced and prepared for the rigors of the SEC than others. Defensive lineman Davoan Hawkins looks like someone who has been in Kentucky's weight program for a year or two already, and answering the second question in reference to Hawkins, the Wildcats do return a lot on the defensive line but the unit is still unproven enough that a freshman could play. The same could be said of Marquan McCall, who will apparently get a shot on the defensive line when he arrives. He's one of those guys who is more advanced physically than several of Kentucky's other commitments.
Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard look like an SEC offensive lineman but Kentucky has good depth at tackle on paper and the Wildcats should be able to redshirt him. Quintin Wilson and Kenneth Horsey are promising prospects but strong redshirt candidates as well.
I would imagine that cornerbacks Stanley Garner and Jamari Brown will redshirt because they could use strength gains and Kentucky returns a lot of experience and youth in the secondary. Ashtan Pierre and DeAndre Square will benefit from a redshirt year at linebacker and Kentucky has the luxury of leaning on pretty good current depth at the position. It will be tough to unseat any of the starters or backups, although if Xavier Peters signs he could be a darkhorse candidate to help in the middle of the defense where there are some questions.
C.J. Conrad and Justin Rigg should be Kentucky's first and second tight ends by a good margin going into camp, but if the Wildcats decide they want to run three tight end sets that could open an avenue for Keaton Upshaw or Brenden Bates to crack into the rotation in spot duty. I would predict a redshirt for both players, but with only two established tight ends in front of them it really is possible that one of them could see the field in 2018. The unit's depth was tested due to injuries at the end of the season and it would be wise to remember that happens.
Chris Rodriguez is a darkhorse candidate to play mostly because he is a physical runner already and there should be another competition to back up Benny Snell. But just playing the odds, you'd have to give the edge to Sihiem King and A.J. Rose over Rodriguez, and Eddie Gran has proved over two years that he will lean heavily on two running backs in a given season if they stay healthy.
The place where it's really tough to predict how things will shake out is wide receiver because of the lack of depth there now.
Early prediction
QB Terry Wilson: Play
RB Chris Rodriguez: Redshirt
WR Akeem Hayes: Redshirt
WR Marvin Alexander: Play
WR Bryce Oliver: Play
TE Keaton Upshaw: Redshirt
TE Brenden Bates: Redshirt
OT Darian Kinnard: Redshirt
OL Kenneth Horsey: Redshirt
OG/C Quintin Wilson: Redshirt
DL Davoan Hawkins: Play
DL Marquan McCall: Redshirt
DL Jerquavion Mahone: Redshirt
LB: DeAndre Square: Redshirt
LB Ashtan Pierre: Redshirt
DB Domonique Williams: Play
DB Stanley Garner: Redshirt
DB Jamari Brown: Redshirt
K Chance Poore: Play
P Max Duffy: Play
