Happy Monday everyone and I hope the week leading up to Christmas is a little more relaxing than your typical work week. We'll be on the grind for anything breaking but know we are in a dead period. I'm working on the mailbag but some of it will be addressed here. Just know that mailbags are complicated when you are responding to upwards of 50 questions. Trying not to serve up fluff and it takes a while.
** Some have asked about Clemson transfer Joseph Charleston. My understanding is he is probably not going to be someone that Kentucky pursues. They obviously know about him but not getting the sense they'd consider that a big upgrade.
** After a number of conversations pass rush is the priority in the portal right now. Had they signed Khris Bogle it would have been less of one. They'll almost certainly take one pass rusher. Not sure about two.
** I think UK takes 4-5 guys between now and the February signing period whether we are talking about high school or portal.
** There are still a couple of guys elsewhere who I've heard rumblings about having some interest in exploring the portal and Kentucky. That's coming from close to those people. Don't know that Kentucky would be the only schools involved but can tell you there are still situations of interest that are still possibly in play. Just don't expect names or too many hints as long as they are not in the portal. Both that I've heard would be front seven guys from the P5 level.
** Mike Stoops is somebody I would definitely watch for the vacant ILB position. He's probably the one that I'd say is most interesting right now. With UK losing Clinkscale and Sumrall in a period of six months I think the overriding feeling would have to be that Kentucky needs someone who has coordinator experience for the purpose of game-plan and scheme. In a lot of recent assistant coach hires maybe you targeted a recruiter or an up and comer. They're not hiring a coordinator unless it's a co-DC thing but in my mind you're looking for the same things.
** Kentucky's going to lean on Eric Wolford a bit more in recruiting now I'd imagine after his role in landing a couple of the biggest fish on the board. I think going into Michigan and beating out the guy who had started recruiting the same guy was a big thing that a lot of people would be impressed by.
** Have asked several people and right now I'm 50/50 on Dare Rosenthal returning. It's not a given but it's a possibility. Seems like many believe that once he talks to NFL people it's going to be clear what he needs to do but there is a real desire to go if it's possible. If Rosenthal returns then they will be OK on the line.
** Horsey could move to tackle. Mentioned this first here and saying it's a real possibility now. He's not the tallest guy but is definitely long enough to do it.
** While Cox could move to center what I heard recently is that Kentucky still likes Quintin Wilson there. That was clarity that I thought was very interesting. Would not be surprised if the starting line next year is LT Rosenthal, RT Horsey, G Cox, G Burton, C Wilson. That'd be a great line. I do think Cox could play center if they need but hearing that about Wilson gives them more flexibility I think.
** Wohlabaugh seems like he's going to be a solid tackle from everything I've heard and some are really enamored with Deondre Buford. He's always been a good athlete but is apparently looking really good. Wohlabaugh and Buford are definitely two young tackles in the program to watch.
** Don't make too many assumptions about Super Seniors beyond the obvious of Jones. But in terms of guys like Dort, Ajian, etc., I could still see it going either way. Lots in flux.
** It's possible UK could take another look at Treyveon Longmire but not sure how that is going to play out.
** UK may not take another receiver from the portal. If there's a great one then they will take another. But they're apparently not going to be locked in saying they have to take one. I think that says something positive about how they feel about the receiver room.
** Watkins is a possible but right now would still guess he ends up somewhere else.
** Some have asked about Clemson transfer Joseph Charleston. My understanding is he is probably not going to be someone that Kentucky pursues. They obviously know about him but not getting the sense they'd consider that a big upgrade.
** After a number of conversations pass rush is the priority in the portal right now. Had they signed Khris Bogle it would have been less of one. They'll almost certainly take one pass rusher. Not sure about two.
** I think UK takes 4-5 guys between now and the February signing period whether we are talking about high school or portal.
** There are still a couple of guys elsewhere who I've heard rumblings about having some interest in exploring the portal and Kentucky. That's coming from close to those people. Don't know that Kentucky would be the only schools involved but can tell you there are still situations of interest that are still possibly in play. Just don't expect names or too many hints as long as they are not in the portal. Both that I've heard would be front seven guys from the P5 level.
** Mike Stoops is somebody I would definitely watch for the vacant ILB position. He's probably the one that I'd say is most interesting right now. With UK losing Clinkscale and Sumrall in a period of six months I think the overriding feeling would have to be that Kentucky needs someone who has coordinator experience for the purpose of game-plan and scheme. In a lot of recent assistant coach hires maybe you targeted a recruiter or an up and comer. They're not hiring a coordinator unless it's a co-DC thing but in my mind you're looking for the same things.
** Kentucky's going to lean on Eric Wolford a bit more in recruiting now I'd imagine after his role in landing a couple of the biggest fish on the board. I think going into Michigan and beating out the guy who had started recruiting the same guy was a big thing that a lot of people would be impressed by.
** Have asked several people and right now I'm 50/50 on Dare Rosenthal returning. It's not a given but it's a possibility. Seems like many believe that once he talks to NFL people it's going to be clear what he needs to do but there is a real desire to go if it's possible. If Rosenthal returns then they will be OK on the line.
** Horsey could move to tackle. Mentioned this first here and saying it's a real possibility now. He's not the tallest guy but is definitely long enough to do it.
** While Cox could move to center what I heard recently is that Kentucky still likes Quintin Wilson there. That was clarity that I thought was very interesting. Would not be surprised if the starting line next year is LT Rosenthal, RT Horsey, G Cox, G Burton, C Wilson. That'd be a great line. I do think Cox could play center if they need but hearing that about Wilson gives them more flexibility I think.
** Wohlabaugh seems like he's going to be a solid tackle from everything I've heard and some are really enamored with Deondre Buford. He's always been a good athlete but is apparently looking really good. Wohlabaugh and Buford are definitely two young tackles in the program to watch.
** Don't make too many assumptions about Super Seniors beyond the obvious of Jones. But in terms of guys like Dort, Ajian, etc., I could still see it going either way. Lots in flux.
** It's possible UK could take another look at Treyveon Longmire but not sure how that is going to play out.
** UK may not take another receiver from the portal. If there's a great one then they will take another. But they're apparently not going to be locked in saying they have to take one. I think that says something positive about how they feel about the receiver room.
** Watkins is a possible but right now would still guess he ends up somewhere else.
