Hello HOB. We’ll have UK head coach Mark Stoops and a couple of select players joining us today approx 4 ET to talk about preparation for the Citrus Bowl. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes on the Cats…
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Players have a lot of energy and are really glad to be back on the practice field today, Stoops says. Really happy with the vibe. Cats were much more sharp than he thought they would be.
* On roster management… Stoops said it’s tougher than ever. They have meetings with the staff tomorrow to address some of that, some meetings with players that need to happen.
* Stoops says he hasn’t watched one piece of film on Iowa yet, just been recruiting and making sure he’s got his guys ready to get back into the flow. Attention to Iowa Xs and Os will start soon.
* Asked if he’d prefer the old way to the new portal way, Stoops says it doesn’t matter what he prefers, that this is the way it is, and he has to be ready to adapt. Noted that the portal helped the Cats quite a bit this season.
* Stoops says they are fine with whatever decisions players make on playing in the bowl game, but he’s really happy with the precedent that has been set here by former stars who played.
* On the indoor facility… Not aware of all the finer details yet.
* Stoops has not signed his new contract yet. Hasn’t had time being on the road recruiting so hard.
* When UK gets the fieldhouse renovated, it will be one of the best in the country, Stoops said. His main concern throughout has been safety and having the full 100-yard field and space around it to practice the right way. He noted the weather we have in KY makes it essential.
WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* Levis says he supports anyone who is considering the transfer portal. He knows that every guy has his own reasons why. No one else can make that decision for them. Just encourages everyone to do their due diligence to make sure they make a decision as good as the one he made.
* On whether he's decided on coming back to UK for another year with some mock drafts starting to include his name... Levis says he's put in his name for assessment by the league but his gut feeling has been that he will return to the Cats. He wants to go through the process and get all the feedback he can.
* On what he would say to some transfer portal guys who are visiting campus right now and the need for WRs in the offense.... Levis says to just watch tape of the offense. "It really is the best offense for anyone who has aspirations to play at the next level, at any position, really." Says the success that he and Wan'Dale had this year proves that.
* Today's practice was "awesome," Levis said. Great to be back out there with his teammates. Hasn't thrown much since the Louisville game, so good to shake off some of that rust. Excited that plans are starting to fall into place for the Citrus Bowl.
* Levis said bowl practice could really see some young guys emerge. He cited WR Christian Lewis. Said he made some plays in practice today that really opened some eyes. Thinks he's got a chance to be a really good player.
* On the team's reaction to Mark Stoops staying while other programs lost their head coaches... A big sigh of relief not to have to worry about that, Levis says. Thinks Stoops truly believes in his program here and deserves "the biggest contract he can get."
* On playing against a Big Ten team... Fun, Levis said. Iowa was his first major offer the summer after his junior year. "One of the happiest days of my life," he said of getting the call for that offer.
* Levis says he's watched some of the Iowa games from this year to see what they're running and how to possibly attack it. Asked if they remind him of anyone from the SEC, he laughs and says "they remind me of when I played them (at Penn State).
* Hawkeyes make really good breaks on the ball, Levis said. 24 picks this year. He says some of their opponents didn't take what was given to them and paid the price by forcing the ball into coverage.
JOSH PASCHAL Q&A:
* Paschal said he's still getting treatment for his injury and is unsure about his status or timetable but thinks that he'll be able to play in the bowl game. He's doing everything possible to do so.
* Excited about the Citrus Bowl. It was a lot of fun to play in it the last time they were there. Another good Big Ten team, a nice challenge. The Cats are excited about it. Thinks the game could come down to whoever wants it more.
* Saunders is a guy who Paschal thinks could benefit from extra bowl practice and keep becoming a factor on the D-Line.
* Cats are coming into the bowl game confident, Paschal said, and they feel like they still have a lot to prove. They want that 10-win season. They want people to remember them for winning the last game.
* On his reaction to Stoops getting a new contract... He wasn't surprised. He knows how much Stoops loves Kentucky. "In the back of my mind, I knew that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
* Paschal said he just saw where the Iowa RB opted out of the bowl game, but he noted that the Hawkeyes still have the best center in the country and a really good O-Line. He smiled and said he's ready to see Marquan McCall in that heavyweight matchup.
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* Players have a lot of energy and are really glad to be back on the practice field today, Stoops says. Really happy with the vibe. Cats were much more sharp than he thought they would be.
* On roster management… Stoops said it’s tougher than ever. They have meetings with the staff tomorrow to address some of that, some meetings with players that need to happen.
* Stoops says he hasn’t watched one piece of film on Iowa yet, just been recruiting and making sure he’s got his guys ready to get back into the flow. Attention to Iowa Xs and Os will start soon.
* Asked if he’d prefer the old way to the new portal way, Stoops says it doesn’t matter what he prefers, that this is the way it is, and he has to be ready to adapt. Noted that the portal helped the Cats quite a bit this season.
* Stoops says they are fine with whatever decisions players make on playing in the bowl game, but he’s really happy with the precedent that has been set here by former stars who played.
* On the indoor facility… Not aware of all the finer details yet.
* Stoops has not signed his new contract yet. Hasn’t had time being on the road recruiting so hard.
* When UK gets the fieldhouse renovated, it will be one of the best in the country, Stoops said. His main concern throughout has been safety and having the full 100-yard field and space around it to practice the right way. He noted the weather we have in KY makes it essential.
WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* Levis says he supports anyone who is considering the transfer portal. He knows that every guy has his own reasons why. No one else can make that decision for them. Just encourages everyone to do their due diligence to make sure they make a decision as good as the one he made.
* On whether he's decided on coming back to UK for another year with some mock drafts starting to include his name... Levis says he's put in his name for assessment by the league but his gut feeling has been that he will return to the Cats. He wants to go through the process and get all the feedback he can.
* On what he would say to some transfer portal guys who are visiting campus right now and the need for WRs in the offense.... Levis says to just watch tape of the offense. "It really is the best offense for anyone who has aspirations to play at the next level, at any position, really." Says the success that he and Wan'Dale had this year proves that.
* Today's practice was "awesome," Levis said. Great to be back out there with his teammates. Hasn't thrown much since the Louisville game, so good to shake off some of that rust. Excited that plans are starting to fall into place for the Citrus Bowl.
* Levis said bowl practice could really see some young guys emerge. He cited WR Christian Lewis. Said he made some plays in practice today that really opened some eyes. Thinks he's got a chance to be a really good player.
* On the team's reaction to Mark Stoops staying while other programs lost their head coaches... A big sigh of relief not to have to worry about that, Levis says. Thinks Stoops truly believes in his program here and deserves "the biggest contract he can get."
* On playing against a Big Ten team... Fun, Levis said. Iowa was his first major offer the summer after his junior year. "One of the happiest days of my life," he said of getting the call for that offer.
* Levis says he's watched some of the Iowa games from this year to see what they're running and how to possibly attack it. Asked if they remind him of anyone from the SEC, he laughs and says "they remind me of when I played them (at Penn State).
* Hawkeyes make really good breaks on the ball, Levis said. 24 picks this year. He says some of their opponents didn't take what was given to them and paid the price by forcing the ball into coverage.
JOSH PASCHAL Q&A:
* Paschal said he's still getting treatment for his injury and is unsure about his status or timetable but thinks that he'll be able to play in the bowl game. He's doing everything possible to do so.
* Excited about the Citrus Bowl. It was a lot of fun to play in it the last time they were there. Another good Big Ten team, a nice challenge. The Cats are excited about it. Thinks the game could come down to whoever wants it more.
* Saunders is a guy who Paschal thinks could benefit from extra bowl practice and keep becoming a factor on the D-Line.
* Cats are coming into the bowl game confident, Paschal said, and they feel like they still have a lot to prove. They want that 10-win season. They want people to remember them for winning the last game.
* On his reaction to Stoops getting a new contract... He wasn't surprised. He knows how much Stoops loves Kentucky. "In the back of my mind, I knew that he wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
* Paschal said he just saw where the Iowa RB opted out of the bowl game, but he noted that the Hawkeyes still have the best center in the country and a really good O-Line. He smiled and said he's ready to see Marquan McCall in that heavyweight matchup.
