Thursday, 11 March 2010 13:00
CB
Guest Football
Pablo Alcala -- Herald Leader
We are right in the heart of basketball season, with the SEC tournament underway and Selection Sunday just a few days away. But it is easy to forget that for our football Cats, this time of year is equally crucial, as they jockey for draft position and try to show off their skills for the scouts.
After the NFL combine wrapped up earlier in the month, a few UK players were hungry for a second chance, as the combine was not kind to several of them, Micah Johnson in particular. He was clocked at 4.99 in the 40-yard dash, perilously slow for a linebacker. So Wednesday's Pro Day was particularly important for him and those who did not receive an invite to the official combine.
While the results of the drills are not made public, Chip Cosby has a great article up detailing how some of the Cats did. Apparently Micah improved his time in front of the scouts, running in the 4.7-4.8 range. Also performing well were Alphonso Smith (apparently running sub 4.3) and Corey Peters (4.8-4.9).
Several UK underclassmen also worked out for the scouts, as Derrick Locke was also able to clock an impressive time at around 4.3 in the 40.
Cosby also has some quotes from UK's coaches, including this gem from Rock Oliver on why he prefers to see guys in Spring practice rather than in drills at the combine,
"I want to see them at spring ball and see them at (fall) camp," Oliver said. "If I wanted to look at something pretty I'd go home and look at my wife. I want to know who can play."
If you didn't lock Rock before, surely you do now. Check out the rest of Cosby's notes here.
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 12:59
CB
Guest Football
 The NFL futures of our former Cats are one step closer to being realized as the NFL Combine just wrapped up in Indianapolis. There were 5 UK players invited: Micah Johnson, Sam Maxwell, Corey Peters, Trevard Lindley, and John Connor.
Peters and Maxwell both did not participate in drills (though Peters did run the 40), while Johnson, Connor, and Lindley went through the full range of activities, with varied results.
Johnson hurt himself with his 40 time (4.99), but excelled in strength exercises (imagine that). Lindley performed pretty well, but John Connor seems to be the one to have helped himself the most. Connor put in a solid 40 time, coupled with good performances in strength exercises.
To get a more detailed take on the guys' performances, check out Chip Cosby's write-up here.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 16:53
hooprokr
Guest Football
University of Kentucky football fans came to commonwealth in droves this year, finishing 22nd nationally and 8th in the SEC in attendance. Louisville finished 71st nationally with an average crowd of 32,000 (77% capacity)...yikes! UK's average attendance was 102% of capacity (shhh, don't tell the fire marshalls).
Here is how the SEC finished:
Tennessee: 5th (99,220 average)
Georgia: 6th (92,746)
LSU: 7th (92,489)
Alabama: 8th (92,012)
Florida: 9th (90,635)
Auburn: 13th (84,614)
South Carolina: 17th (75,369)
Kentucky: 22nd (69,594)
Arkansas: 24th (65,112)
Ole Miss: 35th (55,767)
Mississippi State: 36th (53,792)
Vanderbilt: 67th (35,015)
Saturday, 20 February 2010 17:09
KACAT
Registered Football
 As spring practice approaches its time to start taking a look at the positions and we are going to start with the offensive line. The line had a solid performance last year, once again providing solid protection in the passing game and excelling in the running game. KY will have the challenge of replacing four starters but returns a group of athletic underclassmen that could prove even better then the seniors they will replace.
Read more...
Friday, 12 February 2010 10:58
KACAT
Registered Football
So now that the dust has settled some, the recruiting class has signed and the full staff has been announced. Just what has KY gained? I will get to the recruiting class in time but lets start off with the coaches. Just what has KY picked up with the new additions to the staff.
Read more...
Wednesday, 10 February 2010 09:17
CB
Guest Football
 Looking to get to know the newest member of Operation: Win on Joker's staff? Check out this article on ex-Tennessee QB Tee Martin, hired just last week. There's some interesting quotes and facts from the article, such as the tidbit that Joker was targeting Martin as early as October of last year. And if you're worried about what Tee might actually bring to the table, check out this quote from Phillips on Tee's recruiting connections:
"I feel like I'm pretty big in knowing everybody in Atlanta," Phillips said. "Well, when Tee walked in the stadium, it was like every little kid, every coach, every media person knew who Tee Martin was. That moment right there, I thought, 'this is a guy we need to be looking into pretty heavily, and we need to try to attract to our place.' "
For Cats fans desperately wanting to make an impact on the recruiting scene, that should come as music to their ears. Color me excited about Joker's newest staff addition.
Monday, 08 February 2010 15:42
Thomas Guastaferro
Guest Football
 New Kentucky Head Coach Joker Phillips kept a commitment from Murfreesboro, TN DT Tim McAdoo. McAdoo sent in his signed letter of intent to play for the Wildcats on February 3, 2010, National Signing Day for the 2010 class of football recruits. Earlier I was able to speak with Tim's coach, Thomas McDaniel of Oakland High School, who shed some light on what Kentucky fans can expect from the 6'2 320 lb. McAdoo.
Read more...
Monday, 08 February 2010 10:46
CB
Guest Football
Photo courtesy of the Herald-Leader
The 2010 recruiting class for the football Cats is in the books, and I for one feel bad for not giving Joker and his staff enough credit here on the front page for a job well done. It was an extremely exciting morning last Wednesday to watch surprise after surprise roll in, and those few hours alone should silence any doubters for the time being.
That said, it's never too early to look ahead to next year's class. Chip Cosby at the Herald-Leader does just that in this piece published over the weekend. Cosby details the talented in-state talent in the class of 2011, including committed prospects Jon Davis and Darrian Miller. Cats fans will also want to keep an eye on Lamar Dawson from Boyle County and Zach West from Lexington Christian, who Cosby reports has offers from Notre Dame and Ohio State already.
Also included is a little blurb about Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, home to new Wildcats Raymond Sanders, Ronnie Shields, and Jabari Johnson. Cosby talks about a future pipeline forming to the school, as UK has already with LaGrange High School.
Check it out for all this and a few other quick hitters from Cosby, and know that whenever the season ends for the basketball Cats (hopefully in April), there's still plenty to look forward to in Joker's upcoming first season.
Sunday, 07 February 2010 16:14
David Jenkins
Registered Football
Here are some articles on UK's 2010 football recruits. Thanks to KACAT for finding them:
Friday, 05 February 2010 08:45
hooprokr
Registered Football
 UK fans have heard their fare share of outlandish recruiting stories, but I doubt any compare to that of Nermin Delic, who signed with UK on Wednesday. Delic lived in war-town Bosnia as a 6 year old when his family came to America.
The defensive end/tight end seems normal enough. His coach, Mike Falleur, said, "He's like anyone else. When he doesn't know you, he's probably quiet. He loves to talk sports. Loves the Lakers, loves Pau Gasol. He does what he's supposed to do."
That's downright vanilla next to the primary Delic story line.
No recruiting story can hold a candle to the ones about Dad dodging bullets, shrapnel and politics in Bosnia, or a family odyssey that has included communism, genocide, a green beret, a victorious but ruined nation, and a failed first attempt to relocate in America.
Thursday, 04 February 2010 21:59
David Jenkins
Guest Football
 Here is an article from John Clay discussing the "smooth transition" the Kentucky football program took when naming Coach Joker Phillips as the head man. Clay argues that the consistency between Brooks and Phillips allowed Kentucky to recruit and sign a great incoming class of players.
Some excerpts from the article:
"I do feel like this was my first recruiting class, our staff, this was our first recruiting class as the head coach and the staff," Phillips said Wednesday. "I do feel like Rich had a lot to do with this, and we had a lot to do with finishing."
"If we didn't have that in place, it could have been a disaster," said linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Chuck Smith of the coach-in-waiting. "Everybody wants to know who the head coach is going to be. Nobody is going to come unless they know who the head coach is going to be."
There are many more quotes that accentuate Clay's point in the full article. Make sure to check it out.
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