the UK offense is young, the defense is Sr. laden

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Offense with 2 Sr. Starters.
Defense with 8 Sr. Starters.
Punter is also a Sr.
So, to say this is a young "team" is simply untrue.

The offense is extremely young.

That said and the offense, though young, is explosive and when you consider the schedule and the fact that UK doesnt play Bama or LSU this could be the year to go 10-2 or 11-1.

Thats right... I said it.

 

[WildcatofNati]

The defense is not young overall, but most of our top (former) recruits on defense are true freshman, redshirt freshmen and sophomores.

 

[NCukcat62]

It actually is true, respectfully speaking. Our backups are all young as anyone. Plus fannigan and Hatcher are not seniors.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

It actually is true, respectfully speaking. Our backups are all young as anyone. Plus fannigan and Hatcher are not seniors.

Flannigan is.

 

[hmt5000]

Flannigan is a sr. But we have a lot of Fr and sophomore in the 3 deep on D. It's not like msu last year with 16 seniors on D

 

[Caveman Catfan]

No, but NT and the two ILber spots need to mature quickly for next year. There is real potential, but next year up the middle is going to have some questions.

 

[NCukcat62]

Flannigan is.

My bad. I swore someone told me he was a junior. Haha

 

[K_TIME]

UK has more Sr/Jr guys playing on defense vs. offense...but I think most of UK's upper classmen defenders can be easily replaced without dropoff in the youngsters.

- Forrest is a good player but I'd imagine Love/Frios will take his spot in next 2 years just fine
- Stamps is one of our best, but Edwards/West/McWilson/McClain have huge upside and look the part thus far to replace AJ's production
- Lewis, is to me, our best player on the front 7. But Elam's potential with more S&C the next 2 years is intriguing.
- Quinn at CB...I'd be hard pressed to imagine Baity/Randolph, etc.. won't out play his production
- Huguenin will be solid this year but I'd imagine Bell/Miggins could be replicate that production
- Flannigan may be the hardest to call as he's backed up by a Sr in Henderson...but hopefully in time Eli Brown/Jordan Jones give us a bigtime upgrade at Lber.

 

[UplandObsession]

Don't forget about Courtney Love to fill an ILB spot for the next 2 years. He's had game experience and is getting to learn schemes, responsibility, etc. of Stoops/Elliot system. I think he will be a huge help, just wish he was on the field now.

 

[Smashcat]

Don't forget about Courtney Love to fill an ILB spot for the next 2 years. He's had game experience and is getting to learn schemes, responsibility, etc. of Stoops/Elliot system. I think he will be a huge help, just wish he was on the field now.

Good point.

 

[Anjiejo]

To add to ktime post.we have 4 sr jucos playing a lot,which makes it seem young.. Melvin lewis cj Johnson Flannigan an stamps all JC. Henderson,Johnson ,huguenin,Forrest,Quinn are recruits from the previous staff..this staff did a good job developing them and they went heavy with JC to fill positions in need...The young players have more talent then the sr.the main position of concern for me is depth on the dline next year.. Lb gets 2 transfers plus serval very talented rs freshman an so..

 

[thornie1]

UK has more Sr/Jr guys playing on defense vs. offense...but I think most of UK's upper classmen defenders can be easily replaced without dropoff in the youngsters.

- Forrest is a good player but I'd imagine Love/Frios will take his spot in next 2 years just fine
- Stamps is one of our best, but Edwards/West/McWilson/McClain have huge upside and look the part thus far to replace AJ's production
- Lewis, is to me, our best player on the front 7. But Elam's potential with more S&C the next 2 years is intriguing.
- Quinn at CB...I'd be hard pressed to imagine Baity/Randolph, etc.. won't out play his production
- Huguenin will be solid this year but I'd imagine Bell/Miggins could be replicate that production
- Flannigan may be the hardest to call as he's backed up by a Sr in Henderson...but hopefully in time Eli Brown/Jordan Jones give us a bigtime upgrade at Lber.

Several FR and RS-FR will need to grow up fast this year because they will be needed to carry a lot of the defense next year. I think this offense next year will be primed to be special with the talent and experience...

 

[jeffygray]

Good point.

Stoops did not inherit a lot from previous administration. Love to see the young players play, but its out of necessity as we all know.

 

[jeffygray]

Stoops did not inherit a lot from previous administration. Love to see the young players play, but its out of necessity as we all know.

what I mean is that we will have to take baby steps first, though I think stoops is more then baby steps, but steps just the same, so hold on fellers cause it is indeed coming.

 

[Anjiejo]

I believe this is why you see the staff passing on redshirting lb like Allen/Jones/Daniels. They need to get up to speed asap because they will be counted on to play a lot next year..
If you look at the other side of the ball you have towles,timmons,Kemp as sr.baker,bone,Johnson,boom,Horten as Jr's....potentially a offense good enough to compete to get to Atlanta..Now the defense is a different story,but the quicker they get these lb up to speed the better off they will be..DB looks good next year. Edwards,west, McClain, westry,Harmon,mcwilson, baity,Randolph,.. So to me the dline is the biggest question for next year..

 

[Anjiejo]

I should also point out we have to replace a few olineman..but I feel like the staff had recruited well here..the only thing we struggled to get is a quality LT..

 

[hmt5000]

I should also point out we have to replace a few olineman..but I feel like the staff had recruited well here..the only thing we struggled to get is a quality LT..

tate leavitt is top 3 juco as rated by all services with offers from bama, uga, mich, etc etc. he'll be here for spring ball.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

What position will the transfer from Minn play?

 

[Pike 96]

To add to ktime post.we have 4 sr jucos playing a lot,which makes it seem young.. Melvin lewis cj Johnson Flannigan an stamps all JC. Henderson,Johnson ,huguenin,Forrest,Quinn are recruits from the previous staff..this staff did a good job developing them and they went heavy with JC to fill positions in need...The young players have more talent then the sr.the main position of concern for me is depth on the dline next year.. Lb gets 2 transfers plus serval very talented rs freshman an so..

Great point about depth on the Dline next year being a major concern. We really need Dubose, Middleton, Miggins, Elam and Bell to develop with only Meant returning as a starter. I know those guys are young but at this point I haven't seen any of them jump out as high SEC level.
Losing Strowbridge to North Carolina,Hamilton to OSU and Provitt to grades really hurt for 2016 and 2017. Those three would have been very talented RS freshman next year to make us 9 deep for the three down lineman positions...but not to be.

Kobe Smith should be a big time player and back up Elam at NG immediately. Really tough to play that position as a true freshman though. I heard Smith is a spring enrollee..that would be a big help.
I'd also like to get another Juco down lineman with a remaining ride. Aime fits the bill. I bet we will also see Daniel RS and put on about 20lbs to play on the line. He doesn't seem quite explosive enough for the rush DEND but could be a stud as a 280lb strong side DEnd. I bet that's what Saban envisioned for him.

 

[hmt5000]

I believe this is why you see the staff passing on redshirting lb like Allen/Jones/Daniels. They need to get up to speed asap because they will be counted on to play a lot next year..
If you look at the other side of the ball you have towles,timmons,Kemp as sr.baker,bone,Johnson,boom,Horten as Jr's....potentially a offense good enough to compete to get to Atlanta..Now the defense is a different story,but the quicker they get these lb up to speed the better off they will be..DB looks good next year. Edwards,west, McClain, westry,Harmon,mcwilson, baity,Randolph,.. So to me the dline is the biggest question for next year..

i think jones was the only lb'er planned on playing but injuries and love not getting eligible changed that. kobie walker is gonna be good too so don't forget about him. laster will add depth at lb'er. daniel is probably gonna be one that the staff regrets not rs'ing but he is gonna get some game reps and he should come back next year ready to compete with either ware at olb'er or at DE.