Hope some of you take the time to put yours together as a good time-killing exercise on a Friday. As for me? Brutal night with the kiddos. Being super dad has given way to brain storming way too late. Here's my stab at what Kentucky's depth chart will look like after the spring. Note: Not a prediction for the start of the season, but how I see position battles shaking out after practices and the spring game on April 16.
Quarterback
Drew Barker, So.
Stephen Johnson, Jr.
Gunnar Hoak, Fr.
Running Back
Stanley Williams, Jr.
2a Jojo Kemp, Sr.
2b Mikel Horton, Jr.
A.J. Rose, Fr.
Sihiem King, So.
Benny Snell, Fr.
Tight End/Receiver (see: UC depth chart last year - utilized one TE/WR and one WR/TE)
C.J. Conrad, So.
Greg Hart, Jr.
Darryl Long, So.
Justin Rigg, Fr.
Receiver (1)
Dorian Baker, Jr.
2a Jabari Greenwood, Fr.
2b Kayaune Ross, So.
Receiver (2)
Garrett Johnson, Jr.
Blake Bone, Jr.
Receiver (3)
Jeff Badet, Jr.
Charles Walker, Jr.
Tavin Richardson, Fr.
Ryan Timmons, Sr.
Center
Jon Toth, Sr.
Jervontius Stallings, So.
Drake Jackson, Fr.
Right Guard
Ramsey Meyers, Jr.
Nick Haynes, Jr.
Logan Stenberg, Fr.
Left Guard
George Asafo-Adjei, So.
Nick Haynes, Jr.
Cole Mosier, Jr.
Right Tackle
Kyle Meadows, Jr.
Mason Wolfe, Fr.
Left Tackle
Tate Leavitt, Jr.
Cole Mosier, Jr.
Notes: Landon Young is the only late-arriving freshman (i.e. not a semester early) that I can already tell you I believe will be on the depth chart. I think he can start, and he'd be my pick to start the season, but I'm not overly confident of that. Up in the air as to whether he and/or Tate Leavitt are best suited for left or right tackle. Leavitt has expressed a preference for right in the past, saying he's more experienced and comfortable there.
Among my surprise picks on offense are Mason Wolfe and Logan Stenberg on a line that needs to start showing the development of quality, youthful depth.
One area of concern for me, at least with the spring roster, is the depth at offensive tackle. Leavitt and Meadows still have a good bit to prove and behind them there is not a lot. Ideally they wouldn't have to play Asafo-Adjei at tackle again. Logan Stenberg is a guard, I'm assuming, but since he is listed as an OL rather than as a G or T then he could provide depth at tackle as well.
Defensive End
Courtney Miggins, Sr.
Kengera Daniel, So.
Alvonte Bell, So.
Defensive Tackle
Regie Meant, Jr.
Adrian Middleton, So.
Nose Guard
Matt Elam, Jr.
Naquez Pringle, Jr.
Defensive End/Jack
Denzil Ware, So.
Josh Allen, So.
Jordan Bonner, So.
Weakside Linebacker
De'Niro Laster, Jr.
Josh Allen, So.
Jordan Jones, So.
Kash Daniel, Fr.
Middle Linebacker
Courtney Love, Jr.
Kash Daniel, Fr.
Nickel
Blake McClain, Sr.
Kendall Randolph, Jr.
Cornerback (1)
Chris Westry, So.
Kendall Randolph, Jr.
Jared Tucker, Jr.
Cornerback (2)
Derrick Baity, So.
J.D. Harmon, Sr.
Free Safety
Mike Edwards, So.
Marcus Walker, Fr.
Darius West, So.
Strong Safety
Marcus McWilson, Sr.
Darius West, So.
Kicker
Austin MacGinnis, Jr.
Punter
Grant MacGinnis, Fr.
Notes: Because of UK's ability to mix and match personnel on defense, to put hybrids on the field, to swap out this position for that one (in several ways), this is obviously not precise. It's more about my picks for who I think will win certain position battles. What form these positions take, the personnel groupings, etc. will be dictated in part by opponent, game situation, learned experience (what works, etc), depth (better/worse in some spots).
The more I think about it the more I'm wondering whether Jordan Griffin might not win the right to backup Chris Westry outright. Not the biggest guy but a very skilled field corner and he could be called upon depending on circumstances.
Aside from Courtney Love I don't see a really prototypical bona fide middle linebacker, not that you have to play a guy like that most of the time, but I do think Daniel is as capable as anyone else.
I wouldn't be surprised if UK rotates a lot on the defensive line. Not saying they have awesome depth or even much proven depth, but more a testament to the fact that a lot of those guys are probably at roughly the same skill/ability/production level and keeping them fresh and throwing different looks at opponents might be a good strategy.
Overall observation: Regardless of what you think of my picks for the depth chart following spring (only a prediction, and only one man's), this is going to be a very young team that has not only some major position battles looming (QB, RB behind Boom, receiver spots, whether TE's can expand their role in offense/find depth chart besides Conrad, finding tackle depth between G's/T's available, the DL groupings, the young LB's, and the backup spots in the secondary. The overall skill and athleticism is as good as I can remember it, but it's also very youthful top to bottom and largely unproven (compared to most SEC rosters you'll find). Another plus is there are a good number of long, athletic players on defense that will give some flexibility in terms of what kinds of looks UK shows.
Quarterback
Drew Barker, So.
Stephen Johnson, Jr.
Gunnar Hoak, Fr.
Running Back
Stanley Williams, Jr.
2a Jojo Kemp, Sr.
2b Mikel Horton, Jr.
A.J. Rose, Fr.
Sihiem King, So.
Benny Snell, Fr.
Tight End/Receiver (see: UC depth chart last year - utilized one TE/WR and one WR/TE)
C.J. Conrad, So.
Greg Hart, Jr.
Darryl Long, So.
Justin Rigg, Fr.
Receiver (1)
Dorian Baker, Jr.
2a Jabari Greenwood, Fr.
2b Kayaune Ross, So.
Receiver (2)
Garrett Johnson, Jr.
Blake Bone, Jr.
Receiver (3)
Jeff Badet, Jr.
Charles Walker, Jr.
Tavin Richardson, Fr.
Ryan Timmons, Sr.
Center
Jon Toth, Sr.
Jervontius Stallings, So.
Drake Jackson, Fr.
Right Guard
Ramsey Meyers, Jr.
Nick Haynes, Jr.
Logan Stenberg, Fr.
Left Guard
George Asafo-Adjei, So.
Nick Haynes, Jr.
Cole Mosier, Jr.
Right Tackle
Kyle Meadows, Jr.
Mason Wolfe, Fr.
Left Tackle
Tate Leavitt, Jr.
Cole Mosier, Jr.
Notes: Landon Young is the only late-arriving freshman (i.e. not a semester early) that I can already tell you I believe will be on the depth chart. I think he can start, and he'd be my pick to start the season, but I'm not overly confident of that. Up in the air as to whether he and/or Tate Leavitt are best suited for left or right tackle. Leavitt has expressed a preference for right in the past, saying he's more experienced and comfortable there.
Among my surprise picks on offense are Mason Wolfe and Logan Stenberg on a line that needs to start showing the development of quality, youthful depth.
One area of concern for me, at least with the spring roster, is the depth at offensive tackle. Leavitt and Meadows still have a good bit to prove and behind them there is not a lot. Ideally they wouldn't have to play Asafo-Adjei at tackle again. Logan Stenberg is a guard, I'm assuming, but since he is listed as an OL rather than as a G or T then he could provide depth at tackle as well.
Defensive End
Courtney Miggins, Sr.
Kengera Daniel, So.
Alvonte Bell, So.
Defensive Tackle
Regie Meant, Jr.
Adrian Middleton, So.
Nose Guard
Matt Elam, Jr.
Naquez Pringle, Jr.
Defensive End/Jack
Denzil Ware, So.
Josh Allen, So.
Jordan Bonner, So.
Weakside Linebacker
De'Niro Laster, Jr.
Josh Allen, So.
Jordan Jones, So.
Kash Daniel, Fr.
Middle Linebacker
Courtney Love, Jr.
Kash Daniel, Fr.
Nickel
Blake McClain, Sr.
Kendall Randolph, Jr.
Cornerback (1)
Chris Westry, So.
Kendall Randolph, Jr.
Jared Tucker, Jr.
Cornerback (2)
Derrick Baity, So.
J.D. Harmon, Sr.
Free Safety
Mike Edwards, So.
Marcus Walker, Fr.
Darius West, So.
Strong Safety
Marcus McWilson, Sr.
Darius West, So.
Kicker
Austin MacGinnis, Jr.
Punter
Grant MacGinnis, Fr.
Notes: Because of UK's ability to mix and match personnel on defense, to put hybrids on the field, to swap out this position for that one (in several ways), this is obviously not precise. It's more about my picks for who I think will win certain position battles. What form these positions take, the personnel groupings, etc. will be dictated in part by opponent, game situation, learned experience (what works, etc), depth (better/worse in some spots).
The more I think about it the more I'm wondering whether Jordan Griffin might not win the right to backup Chris Westry outright. Not the biggest guy but a very skilled field corner and he could be called upon depending on circumstances.
Aside from Courtney Love I don't see a really prototypical bona fide middle linebacker, not that you have to play a guy like that most of the time, but I do think Daniel is as capable as anyone else.
I wouldn't be surprised if UK rotates a lot on the defensive line. Not saying they have awesome depth or even much proven depth, but more a testament to the fact that a lot of those guys are probably at roughly the same skill/ability/production level and keeping them fresh and throwing different looks at opponents might be a good strategy.
Overall observation: Regardless of what you think of my picks for the depth chart following spring (only a prediction, and only one man's), this is going to be a very young team that has not only some major position battles looming (QB, RB behind Boom, receiver spots, whether TE's can expand their role in offense/find depth chart besides Conrad, finding tackle depth between G's/T's available, the DL groupings, the young LB's, and the backup spots in the secondary. The overall skill and athleticism is as good as I can remember it, but it's also very youthful top to bottom and largely unproven (compared to most SEC rosters you'll find). Another plus is there are a good number of long, athletic players on defense that will give some flexibility in terms of what kinds of looks UK shows.
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