Hello HOB. Just wanted to give you a heads up that Friday morning is UK Football Media Day 2024. We'll be getting started around 10 ET with Mark Stoops, Bush Hamdan, and Brad White giving their thoughts on the upcoming season before we move on to the players. Be on the lookout for our coverage then!
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Good start to practice. Two days on the grass so far. Really like where we are physically. The S&C coaches have done a great job in the off-season. Teams are a little further along now when camp starts because the NCAA allows you to work more with them in the summer.
* Likes where this team’s depth is. Had a couple of injury situations in the spring, but things look good overall. DLHayes will be out for some time. DL Gadsden will be out for an extended period time. Probably the year on those guys. CB Marshall and DE Henry-Young will also be out a bit. Other than that, pretty good shape.
* Likes the transfers they’ve added. They’ve really helped our team. Took one at just about every position group but TE, and needed those guys. Majority of guys on roster still out of HS and want to keep recruiting and developing there.
* The late juco addition on the DL Dennious Jackson was a guy who can help them with some of the injuries they had up front. Needed him.
* Confident in their OL with Eric Wolford coming back to coach that bunch.
* On the Smith brothers, freshmen from Corbin…. Jarod has put on some weight. Very explosive. Jacob had a shoulder injury in the spring so wasn’t able to do a whole lot, but really likes what they see from him the first couple days of practice.
* On the WR corps and where Hardley Gilmore fits in… HGilmore showed some flashes in the spring, “but he’s a freshman. Give him a chance to grow up and mature and grow. Don’t want to put the expectations too high on any of those young guys.”
* On the defense… Have to get better on 3rd down. Have to get off the field and give the offense more plays, more possessions. We were more disruptive last year, I liked that and want to continue to build on that, but have to finish and get off the field. Corner position has to be more sticky. Sounds like he’d like to play more man/tight coverage this year and win more one-on-ones.
* More guys at CB right now, guys with some experience under their belt now. Likes adding Waller, wants more from JQ and Jantzen. Feels like Hairston is gonna have a big year. Nichols coming along, showed some nice things last year and in the spring. Addison has the skills to help them. Challenging him to take that next step.
*
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Good start to practice. Two days on the grass so far. Really like where we are physically. The S&C coaches have done a great job in the off-season. Teams are a little further along now when camp starts because the NCAA allows you to work more with them in the summer.
* Likes where this team’s depth is. Had a couple of injury situations in the spring, but things look good overall. DLHayes will be out for some time. DL Gadsden will be out for an extended period time. Probably the year on those guys. CB Marshall and DE Henry-Young will also be out a bit. Other than that, pretty good shape.
* Likes the transfers they’ve added. They’ve really helped our team. Took one at just about every position group but TE, and needed those guys. Majority of guys on roster still out of HS and want to keep recruiting and developing there.
* The late juco addition on the DL Dennious Jackson was a guy who can help them with some of the injuries they had up front. Needed him.
* Confident in their OL with Eric Wolford coming back to coach that bunch.
* On the Smith brothers, freshmen from Corbin…. Jarod has put on some weight. Very explosive. Jacob had a shoulder injury in the spring so wasn’t able to do a whole lot, but really likes what they see from him the first couple days of practice.
* On the WR corps and where Hardley Gilmore fits in… HGilmore showed some flashes in the spring, “but he’s a freshman. Give him a chance to grow up and mature and grow. Don’t want to put the expectations too high on any of those young guys.”
* On the defense… Have to get better on 3rd down. Have to get off the field and give the offense more plays, more possessions. We were more disruptive last year, I liked that and want to continue to build on that, but have to finish and get off the field. Corner position has to be more sticky. Sounds like he’d like to play more man/tight coverage this year and win more one-on-ones.
* More guys at CB right now, guys with some experience under their belt now. Likes adding Waller, wants more from JQ and Jantzen. Feels like Hairston is gonna have a big year. Nichols coming along, showed some nice things last year and in the spring. Addison has the skills to help them. Challenging him to take that next step.
*
