Here's what I've been able to gather from the scrimmage through some conversations since it ended. Just complementing what Jeff gave you earlier today...
- Will Levis looked really good. Not perfect, but like a guy who is ready to become one of the SEC's top quarterbacks. Justifying the hype. Even when he missed certain throws they were in the vicinity and it was either a near miss, the receiver not finishing, or the defensive back making a good play.
- Beau Allen showed off a bit more arm strength than folks remembered last year. He did apparently leave some plays out there and I was told he might have put more juice than necessary on a couple of those throws. But a good sign that the arm is live and he's the No. 2. Not a shock that he would be working on the arm strength because with Levis you see that and how quick it comes out are the throwing traits that have him as a legit draft prospect.
- Deuce Hogan was the third quarterback which should not be a surprise given we're talking a former reputable recruit with a long time in a P5 program before arriving at Kentucky. He did some nice things.
- Kaiya Sheron also did some solid things. Throws a nice ball. Getting rid of it quicker is the next phase of development which is fairly standard.
- The offensive line did some things OK but there was not a lot of push in the run game. Too early for that to be a concern but it does make me think that adding that portal tackle is really very important. Not news there. Not a lot of push or many big gains when the 1-string offensive line was in the game.
- Michael Drennen did have a big run but got tracked down by Luke Fulton, who does have some straight line juice. Apparently Donut had some nice plays.
- Kavosiey Smoke had a couple of decent runs but heard there may have been at least one drop and it might have affected him. A couple of folks I've spoken with have wondered how many carries he might get this year with McClain looking so good but also with La'Vell Wright continuing to impress. I've always been impressed with him and heard more praise for him recently. He had a couple of strong, powerful runs I was told.
- Tayvion Robinson looked like the best receiver on the field like you would expect. He's going to get a lot of opportunities. Was also mentioned that Wan'Dale really spoiled everybody in or interested in the program. Going to be very different this year with him gone. Nobody has that shake or next gear in live game action, at that level at least. The hope is that Javon Baker can be just as impactful as Robinson and that makes a big difference.
But one person emphasized that it's going to be a very different year for Levis. Probably good for him if he handles it well, showing that he's really going through all the progressions when he can instead of going to the safety valve.
- Heard Dane Key looked solid and he's on track to play a good bit this year.
- UK passed more than in the past and this jives with what I've heard even before today. Really seems like the pass game is the emphasis. Several reasons for that. Levis ready to take on more and show it off in a contract year, other guys with more experience in a pro-style offense, pretty good pass catching personnel, and maybe they don't want to need to rely on the run game when there were so many fumbles last year. I still expect them to run a lot but the passing game looked better today. Remember it's early though.
- Sounds like one offensive TD resulted from a miscommunication in the secondary. Tyrell Ajian and Jalen Geiger are still getting used to playing together and that impacts the communication piece with the safeties. They had some good plays but did give one up and the hope has to be (a realistic hope, it seems to me) that this gets cleaned up with more reps together in settings like these.
- Jordan Lovett looked primed to play a lot at safety. Looks like he's going to be a player, I'm told. With Vito Tisdale out, Geiger is sometimes sliding down to nickel and when that happens Lovett is at free safety. Lovett seems like a playmaker and is ready for a workload. Apparently Lovett got a big cut over his face today. Not going to keep him out long term.
- Andru Phillips also looked solid at corner. That's very good news. From what I was told he hasn't looked overwhelmed and he held up OK today. No question, he is going to be tested and thrown into the fire this year. He is not the tallest or longest cornerback but not so small that you should expect that to lead to struggles. Just have mentioned this may be Stoops' shortest secondary at UK. But with Phillips looking solid that means you have at least two corners that the staff feels OK about with them planning to bring on at least one more. He's physical, will get in your face, and is not afraid to mix it up, just like I remember from watching him years ago in camp - from what I've heard recently.
- The safety depth isn't great right now either with Tisdale going down. Not sure who else besides Geiger might play nickel. Don't know that Joel Williams has the coverage ability on slot receivers for that although he does have good qualities.
- I've heard optimism when it comes to Jordan Wright being 100% without any mental or physical hurdles coming back this fall. When JJ Weaver came back he probably really wasn't fully prepared for how difficult that would be, mentally and physically. Impressive he came back that quickly but I do think it impacted him. The hope is Wright will be able to avoid that going into this year.
- On Weaver, he's looking good, still a guy with the potential to eventually secure a very nice draft slot. Lots of potential and things you can't teach. He's a tall guy and naturally lean so from what I've heard the hope is he can pack on a significant amount of weight and he's not there yet. But still going to obviously be a big player for them.
- Everybody's still in awe of Kiyaunta's size and he's not in line to be a starter right now but I'm told he actually looked pretty good today. Positive sign.
- Some of the open field tackling needs to be cleaned up. Typical first scrimmage.
- Chauncey Magwood took a really big hit going over the middle of the field. Haven't heard that he's hurt, no clue, just that it was a real collision.
- Jets cornerback and former UK corner Brandin Echols was at the scrimmage today. His defensive back partner Bossman was at the Pro Day.
- Will Levis looked really good. Not perfect, but like a guy who is ready to become one of the SEC's top quarterbacks. Justifying the hype. Even when he missed certain throws they were in the vicinity and it was either a near miss, the receiver not finishing, or the defensive back making a good play.
- Beau Allen showed off a bit more arm strength than folks remembered last year. He did apparently leave some plays out there and I was told he might have put more juice than necessary on a couple of those throws. But a good sign that the arm is live and he's the No. 2. Not a shock that he would be working on the arm strength because with Levis you see that and how quick it comes out are the throwing traits that have him as a legit draft prospect.
- Deuce Hogan was the third quarterback which should not be a surprise given we're talking a former reputable recruit with a long time in a P5 program before arriving at Kentucky. He did some nice things.
- Kaiya Sheron also did some solid things. Throws a nice ball. Getting rid of it quicker is the next phase of development which is fairly standard.
- The offensive line did some things OK but there was not a lot of push in the run game. Too early for that to be a concern but it does make me think that adding that portal tackle is really very important. Not news there. Not a lot of push or many big gains when the 1-string offensive line was in the game.
- Michael Drennen did have a big run but got tracked down by Luke Fulton, who does have some straight line juice. Apparently Donut had some nice plays.
- Kavosiey Smoke had a couple of decent runs but heard there may have been at least one drop and it might have affected him. A couple of folks I've spoken with have wondered how many carries he might get this year with McClain looking so good but also with La'Vell Wright continuing to impress. I've always been impressed with him and heard more praise for him recently. He had a couple of strong, powerful runs I was told.
- Tayvion Robinson looked like the best receiver on the field like you would expect. He's going to get a lot of opportunities. Was also mentioned that Wan'Dale really spoiled everybody in or interested in the program. Going to be very different this year with him gone. Nobody has that shake or next gear in live game action, at that level at least. The hope is that Javon Baker can be just as impactful as Robinson and that makes a big difference.
But one person emphasized that it's going to be a very different year for Levis. Probably good for him if he handles it well, showing that he's really going through all the progressions when he can instead of going to the safety valve.
- Heard Dane Key looked solid and he's on track to play a good bit this year.
- UK passed more than in the past and this jives with what I've heard even before today. Really seems like the pass game is the emphasis. Several reasons for that. Levis ready to take on more and show it off in a contract year, other guys with more experience in a pro-style offense, pretty good pass catching personnel, and maybe they don't want to need to rely on the run game when there were so many fumbles last year. I still expect them to run a lot but the passing game looked better today. Remember it's early though.
- Sounds like one offensive TD resulted from a miscommunication in the secondary. Tyrell Ajian and Jalen Geiger are still getting used to playing together and that impacts the communication piece with the safeties. They had some good plays but did give one up and the hope has to be (a realistic hope, it seems to me) that this gets cleaned up with more reps together in settings like these.
- Jordan Lovett looked primed to play a lot at safety. Looks like he's going to be a player, I'm told. With Vito Tisdale out, Geiger is sometimes sliding down to nickel and when that happens Lovett is at free safety. Lovett seems like a playmaker and is ready for a workload. Apparently Lovett got a big cut over his face today. Not going to keep him out long term.
- Andru Phillips also looked solid at corner. That's very good news. From what I was told he hasn't looked overwhelmed and he held up OK today. No question, he is going to be tested and thrown into the fire this year. He is not the tallest or longest cornerback but not so small that you should expect that to lead to struggles. Just have mentioned this may be Stoops' shortest secondary at UK. But with Phillips looking solid that means you have at least two corners that the staff feels OK about with them planning to bring on at least one more. He's physical, will get in your face, and is not afraid to mix it up, just like I remember from watching him years ago in camp - from what I've heard recently.
- The safety depth isn't great right now either with Tisdale going down. Not sure who else besides Geiger might play nickel. Don't know that Joel Williams has the coverage ability on slot receivers for that although he does have good qualities.
- I've heard optimism when it comes to Jordan Wright being 100% without any mental or physical hurdles coming back this fall. When JJ Weaver came back he probably really wasn't fully prepared for how difficult that would be, mentally and physically. Impressive he came back that quickly but I do think it impacted him. The hope is Wright will be able to avoid that going into this year.
- On Weaver, he's looking good, still a guy with the potential to eventually secure a very nice draft slot. Lots of potential and things you can't teach. He's a tall guy and naturally lean so from what I've heard the hope is he can pack on a significant amount of weight and he's not there yet. But still going to obviously be a big player for them.
- Everybody's still in awe of Kiyaunta's size and he's not in line to be a starter right now but I'm told he actually looked pretty good today. Positive sign.
- Some of the open field tackling needs to be cleaned up. Typical first scrimmage.
- Chauncey Magwood took a really big hit going over the middle of the field. Haven't heard that he's hurt, no clue, just that it was a real collision.
- Jets cornerback and former UK corner Brandin Echols was at the scrimmage today. His defensive back partner Bossman was at the Pro Day.
