Good morning, HOB. It’s the first day of UK spring practice, and I’m back at the JCFTC to meet with the players and coaches after they wrap things up. It’s a c-c-c-cold day in Lexington (of course) for the start of spring practice, only about 35 degrees, so the Cats have gone indoors to the fieldhouse. Hopefully that won’t have Mark Stoops in a foul mood. Stay tuned for the latest news and notes at approx 10 ET…
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* What can I say, it’s spring ball. A lot to clean up, a lot of good stuff. "That's why we're out there."
* A little bit of a learning curve with new OC Rich Scangarello and the terminology he's using. Slightly different than Coen.
* Levis is at a real comfort level, Stoops said.
* Health update: TE Keaton Upshaw, WR Dekel Crowdus, OL Eli Cox, WR Clevan Thomas are all good to go. DL Octavious Oxendine (partial, not fully ready to go) and Izayah Cummings (not full-go yet from off-season surgery).
* Guys look really good coming out of winter conditioning, Stoops said.
* Vito at CB? Versatile guy, Stoops said. Experimenting with him, not set in stone. But he’s a top 11 type guy who needs too be out there.
* On LB depth... Really good depth and some guys who need reps and experience this spring. Good group.
* Likes how guys on OL were responding to Yenser on first day. It was evident on Day 1 that they were really moving around and coming off the ball.
* On young OL… Still a lot to be determined, but feels confident they’ll come along. No pads on today, so not a lot to be gleaned from Day 1. "We'll bring them along."
* Really proud of what the UK guys showed at the NFL combine. They’ve been back in the building some, look great. Good examples. People from the NFL realize they're not only good players but good people. Doesn't take them long to realize that.
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* Starting point for a Day 1 was good. Nice to see how they can do the little things on first day. "There's a good foundation there."
* Footwork is a big key for Levis entering spring. Ties in with timing you need at NFL level. “Liked the way he looked today.”
* On Levis’ physicality... Likes the effort but sometimes "there's a fine line between being a baller and being reckless." Another thing for him to work on with eye on the NFL. His physicality is a blessing, but if he doesn't manage it, it can also hurt him. Gotta be smart about when to use it.
* Early impressions of WRs… Excited. Guys who have been waiting for their opportunity.
* TEs are a huge part of Scangarello's philosophy. Sees them as "chess pieces" to use in matchups and open things up for other players as well. Thinks Cats have the right kind of guys to do that this year. Wants to see who can do what closer to end of line and out in space. Wants to see who can play off the ball, who's smart enough to do it.
* Justice Dingle getting look at FB/HB type of role. “An audition.” Will see if they can carve out a role for him.
* Rodriguez has a real feel for running behind a zone blocking scheme. "Tough. Runs behind his pads." Scangarello loves how good he is at yards after first contact, something that is key to that scheme.
WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* On the Coen departure… Happy for him. If it was another college job, maybe would feel different, but that’s too good to pass up.
* On Scangarello…. Continuity, experience, understands how guys click. Some small differences in terminology.
* On not having Wan’Dale anymore… Excited for what he’s seen from young guys coming on strong, showing flashes of their potential.
* On having a year under his belt and experience as opposed to coming in late last summer… Way different feeling
CLEVAN THOMAS Q&A:
* Last year gave him a chance to understand the offense better, why coaches call certain things at certain times. Was more like a coach, “but i was itching to be a player again.”
* On Levis coming back… When he heard that, “it was like a party in my room.” Was really wanting to play with him.
* WR room has a nice maturity level to it. Guys have grown up. “We’ve got some guys.”
* Everything they do in practice, they break down with “ATL!” Thomas says. “We have to take this thing to the next level.” Energy is high coming off a 10-win season, another bowl win.
* WRs wont be the group everybody has to question anymore, Thomas said.
ELI COX Q&A:
* On moving to center… Started there first day. Has to be ready to play anywhere with Yenser. Helpful to have guys like Drake Jackson and Luke Fortner to lean on for advice.
* Played center FR and SOPH year of high school when he first started getting recruited, so it’s not something that’s brand new.
* On having the injury mid-year.. Tough when it happened because he had worked so hard to get to that point, but allowed him to slow down in some ways and just enjoy being part of the UK program.
* On wide-zone scheme being bigger this year… Big difference in mindset and angles. It takes a year or two to get it, you can’t just sprinkle it in. ‘
* Scangarello very methodical, detail-oriented guy.
* On OTs… Not much experience, but looking forward to young guys taking that step forward like he himself did last year.
MARK STOOPS Q&A:
* What can I say, it’s spring ball. A lot to clean up, a lot of good stuff. "That's why we're out there."
* A little bit of a learning curve with new OC Rich Scangarello and the terminology he's using. Slightly different than Coen.
* Levis is at a real comfort level, Stoops said.
* Health update: TE Keaton Upshaw, WR Dekel Crowdus, OL Eli Cox, WR Clevan Thomas are all good to go. DL Octavious Oxendine (partial, not fully ready to go) and Izayah Cummings (not full-go yet from off-season surgery).
* Guys look really good coming out of winter conditioning, Stoops said.
* Vito at CB? Versatile guy, Stoops said. Experimenting with him, not set in stone. But he’s a top 11 type guy who needs too be out there.
* On LB depth... Really good depth and some guys who need reps and experience this spring. Good group.
* Likes how guys on OL were responding to Yenser on first day. It was evident on Day 1 that they were really moving around and coming off the ball.
* On young OL… Still a lot to be determined, but feels confident they’ll come along. No pads on today, so not a lot to be gleaned from Day 1. "We'll bring them along."
* Really proud of what the UK guys showed at the NFL combine. They’ve been back in the building some, look great. Good examples. People from the NFL realize they're not only good players but good people. Doesn't take them long to realize that.
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* Starting point for a Day 1 was good. Nice to see how they can do the little things on first day. "There's a good foundation there."
* Footwork is a big key for Levis entering spring. Ties in with timing you need at NFL level. “Liked the way he looked today.”
* On Levis’ physicality... Likes the effort but sometimes "there's a fine line between being a baller and being reckless." Another thing for him to work on with eye on the NFL. His physicality is a blessing, but if he doesn't manage it, it can also hurt him. Gotta be smart about when to use it.
* Early impressions of WRs… Excited. Guys who have been waiting for their opportunity.
* TEs are a huge part of Scangarello's philosophy. Sees them as "chess pieces" to use in matchups and open things up for other players as well. Thinks Cats have the right kind of guys to do that this year. Wants to see who can do what closer to end of line and out in space. Wants to see who can play off the ball, who's smart enough to do it.
* Justice Dingle getting look at FB/HB type of role. “An audition.” Will see if they can carve out a role for him.
* Rodriguez has a real feel for running behind a zone blocking scheme. "Tough. Runs behind his pads." Scangarello loves how good he is at yards after first contact, something that is key to that scheme.
WILL LEVIS Q&A:
* On the Coen departure… Happy for him. If it was another college job, maybe would feel different, but that’s too good to pass up.
* On Scangarello…. Continuity, experience, understands how guys click. Some small differences in terminology.
* On not having Wan’Dale anymore… Excited for what he’s seen from young guys coming on strong, showing flashes of their potential.
* On having a year under his belt and experience as opposed to coming in late last summer… Way different feeling
CLEVAN THOMAS Q&A:
* Last year gave him a chance to understand the offense better, why coaches call certain things at certain times. Was more like a coach, “but i was itching to be a player again.”
* On Levis coming back… When he heard that, “it was like a party in my room.” Was really wanting to play with him.
* WR room has a nice maturity level to it. Guys have grown up. “We’ve got some guys.”
* Everything they do in practice, they break down with “ATL!” Thomas says. “We have to take this thing to the next level.” Energy is high coming off a 10-win season, another bowl win.
* WRs wont be the group everybody has to question anymore, Thomas said.
ELI COX Q&A:
* On moving to center… Started there first day. Has to be ready to play anywhere with Yenser. Helpful to have guys like Drake Jackson and Luke Fortner to lean on for advice.
* Played center FR and SOPH year of high school when he first started getting recruited, so it’s not something that’s brand new.
* On having the injury mid-year.. Tough when it happened because he had worked so hard to get to that point, but allowed him to slow down in some ways and just enjoy being part of the UK program.
* On wide-zone scheme being bigger this year… Big difference in mindset and angles. It takes a year or two to get it, you can’t just sprinkle it in. ‘
* Scangarello very methodical, detail-oriented guy.
* On OTs… Not much experience, but looking forward to young guys taking that step forward like he himself did last year.
