Kentucky Wildcats Football Notebook: Aug. 24
Cats building impressive depth across all linebacker positions.
Cats Illustrated File Photo
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky's linebackers are having the type of preseason that suggests they'd like to be known as more than just the guys who play alongside All-SEC standout Jordan Jones.
The unit received more praise from UK defensive coordinator Matt House and outside linebackers coach Dean Hood following Thursday afternoon's practice at the Joe Craft Football Training Center.
"Really good," House said of what he's seeing from the group. "We've got good depth there. We've got older guys who are experienced and younger guys who are really talented."
Kentucky has veteran presence at every spot in the group. The expected starters include a senior (Courtney Love in the middle) and three juniors (Jones at weakside, Josh Allen at strongside, and Denzil Ware at the hybrid Jack).
What came as something of a pleasant surprise, however, is the rapid development of the depth behind them.
Freshman Joshua Paschal, one of UK's top-rated signees in the Class of 2017, has been a consistent camp standout. Head coach Mark Stoops used the term "Wow" to describe some of the plays the Maryland product made in the Cats' most recent scrimmage.
Meanwhile, older players like junior Jordan Bonner, sophomore Eli Brown and redshirt freshman Jamar "Boogie" Watson also appear to be hitting their collective stride.
"Eli, to me, looks like the first linebacker in the game after Courtney and Jordan," Hood said of the Bowling Green (Ky.) native. "He's getting some reps also at the Mike spot in the nickel because he can really run. I think he's had a great camp.
"Paschal gives us some really solid depth at Jack linebacker, and (Jordan) Bonner's had a great camp at both the Sam and the Jack. He's played both. We've got flexibility there with him playing both."
Another versatile, jack-of-all-trades athlete is Watson, who could end up playing almost anywhere in the unit.
"Paschal was doing such a good job and Bonner was having such a great camp that we felt let's try (Watson) some at inside," Hood said. "... So we've been bouncing him around a little bit, playing some inside, and also giving us some nickel pass-rush stuff from the outside linebacker spot."
Hood predicted that kind of quality depth will help the starters become even more productive.
"No question," he said. "You get in the fourth quarter, you've gotta have some guys that you've spelled 10, 15 or 20 plays, or you can't function. Fatigue makes cowards of us all."
Hood added that depth really pays dividends in the two-minute drill, where pass-rushing is a premium. "Probably one of the most exhausting things in all of college football, rushing the passer. You've got to have multiple guys that you can put out there and rush the passer at the end of the game."
The Jack may be the biggest candidate for platoon-style snaps.
"Absolutely. That won't be a position where we play just one guy," House said.
Across the board, House likes the improved fundamentals he is seeing from the group.
"I thought our tackling this past week was much better," he said. "I think we only missed a total of five tackles in the scrimmage, which is good. Our leverage on the ball was better. Our eye control was better, which is a fundamental of good defensive football, not wandering, having your eyes in the right place and the right progression."
****
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:
JACK LINEBACKER/DE:
Denzil Ware (6-2, 245, Jr.)
Joshua Paschal (6-3, 270, Fr.)
Jamar "Boogie" Watson (6-3, 240, Fr-RS) or Jordan Wright (6-5, 250, Fr.)
MIDDLE LINEBACKER:
Courtney Love (6-2, 242, Sr.)
Kash Daniel (6-1, 235, Soph.) or Jamar "Boogie" Watson (6-3, 240, Fr-RS)
WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER:
Jordan Jones (6-2, 221, Jr.)
Eli Brown (6-2, 215, Soph.)
Jamin Davis (6-4, 212, Fr.)
STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER:
Josh Allen (6-5, 230, Jr.)
Jordan Bonner (6-5, 222, Jr.)
Jamar "Boogie" Watson (6-3, 240, Fr-RS)
*****
NOTES:
* The Cats were seen doing extra running after Thursday's practice. Asked if it was some kind of punishment, House responded: "No. That's preparation."
* Classes began at UK on Wednesday. The first practice after that point is always a challenge, House said. "It's a transition that first day. In training camp, we've got them all day long. And now all of the sudden they're juggling their academic and athletic life in the same day. So it's definitely a little bit of 'flip the switch' mode."
* Redshirt freshman safety Davonte Robinson, a local product from Lexington's Henry Clay High School, has made a nice push during training camp. "He's a guy who can make plays on the football," House said. "His athleticism and speed are really pretty good for a safety, and he's made less mistakes - a lot less from in the spring."
* Hood said there's still no movement in the punting battle between incumbent Grant McKinniss and transfer Matt Panton. That decision could be going all the way up until game week.
* Sihiem King is the top candidate to return kicks, while Charles Walker and Mike Edwards have been the main options for punt returns, Hood said.
