Kentucky Wildcats Football: Projecting freshmen
By Kyle
(RB Dyshawn Mobley)
The Kentucky football team is in the midst of spring practice and the roster and depth chart continue to be shaken up. There are some pretty glaring holes in the depth chart at this point and uncertainty surrounding certain players and positions will allow some of the freshmen from the 2012 class to get an opportunity to compete right away this fall. I’ve taken the signing class and broken down how each player can best help the team and what their chances are to play in their first year on campus. Today we’ll start with the offensive “skill” positions.
Patrick Towles – QB – 6’5 / 242 – Ft. Thomas Kentucky
There is no question that Towles was the gem of this class and the player with the highest expectations. He has the size, the arm, the athleticism, the leadership, and the moxie you look for in a quarterback and fans should expect big things from him in his career at UK. That said, he is still a freshman and his school district does not accommodate early graduations, so he’ll be behind the eight ball when he arrives this summer. Spring practice should give the staff time to evaluate Maxwell Smith’s abilities as a starter, Jacob Russell’s competence as a backup, and Morgan Newton’s injury status. If Towles can redshirt, he should. If he is going to be the best option for this team to win, he will play. There’s no question about whether he’ll line up at QB or not (he’s expected to be the future for the Cats at the position), but at this point, the team’s need for him to play right away depends on too many other factors to make a solid prognostication.
Chances of playing in 2012: 50%
Dyshawn Mobley – RB – 5’11 / 205 – Powell, TN
Despite setting all kinds of records in his home state of Tennessee, Mobley was overlooked by most programs until late in his recruiting process. When others were unsure, Kentucky went out on a limb and made him an offer. Now, the running back position appears to be so well stocked that Mobley would be an apparent obvious choice for a redshirt season. But look again. Raymond Sanders and Josh Clemons are both recovering from injuries that shortened their 2011 seasons and Brandon Gainer is missing the spring to shore up some academic work. The projected starter at this point is the capable (albeit undersized) former walk-on CoShik Williams. The only other player on the roster that is expected to be in the mix at running back is junior Jonathan George. With so much uncertainty and no other back on the roster possessing the ability to be a banger between the tackles, Mobley should get a great opportunity to show his abilities this summer at the running back position.
Chances of playing in 2012: 80%
Justin Taylor – RB – 5’10 / 200 – Atlanta, GA
The obvious version of the ‘signing-day-shocker’ that UK fans have become accustomed to was Justin Taylor this year. Despite his longstanding commitment to the Crimson Tide, his opportunity to sign with Bama was pulled at the eleventh hour. A season ending injury suffered by Taylor was the likely culprit for Saban and company backing off, but their loss is Kentucky’s gain for the second year in a row (see Daryl Collins in ’11). Taylor is the type of back that can be a workhorse for the offense, but a season rehabbing from injury would do him well. If he can get back to 100%, there is a realistic chance that Taylor will contend for the starting job at running back as a redshirt freshman next spring.
Chances of playing in 2012: 20%
DeMarcus Sweat – WR – 6’1 / 192 – Lithonia, GA
It seemed like a new recruiting analyst was talking about how underrated Sweat was for most of his senior season. With ideal size and blistering speed, he has the ability that will allow him to jump right into the mix as a true freshman. That said, there are going to be other factors in play. Sweat is relatively raw and some refinement on his technique would certainly be beneficial, but with so many seniors and talented young players at receiver, it’s unlikely that he will be needed to contribute on offense right off the bat. For Sweat, his upside as a return man is what could propel him into playing as a freshman and the team’s need there will depend on what Demarco Robinson, Daryl Collins, and Gene McCaskill can show this offseason.
Chances of playing in 2012: 60%
A.J. Legree – WR – 6’1 / 178 – Ft. White, FL
Legree is a dynamic athlete that has the abilities to play multiple different sports. Luckily, he will take his talents to Lexington to help shore up the receiving corps that struggled mightily in 2011. Four seniors and four players from the 2011 class will be ahead of him, but overtaking all seven might not be as big of a task as one might think. LaRod King has proven he has what it takes to play in the SEC, but fellow seniors E.J. Fields, Gene McCaskill, and Aaron Boyd have not at this point. Sophomore Demarco Robinson is still relatively unproven, and redshirt freshmen Daryl Collins, Rashad Cunningham, and Bookie Cobbins have never taken a college snap. Add to that, that Cobbins is missing time this spring to focus on academics, and the depth chart doesn’t look quite as imposing for Legree to climb. Still, there are several talented players that have been in the program for at least a year, so his best chance to play will likely be next year once the four seniors have graduated.
Chances of playing in 2012: 40%
I’ll be back on Sunday to take a look at the offensive linemen in this class.