Five potential impact true freshmen to watch

By Kyle

Each year, the returning upperclassmen have the chance to go through offseason workouts, spring practice, and strength & conditioning to prepare for the next year. But each year there’s also always a true freshman or two that steps up and surprises fans with his ability to contribute very early in his career. In the 2008 class, it was Randall Cobb and Winston Guy that were able to step in and make plays as freshmen. In the 2009 class, it was Larry Warford and LaRod King. Now with just over a week until most of the freshman class arrive on campus, here are some of the players with potential to have a major impact in their first year.

Alex Smith – TE – 6’5 260
Smith will have the opportunity to come in and start from day one. The Tight End group looked full of potential during spring drills, but no one stepped up to take the reins on the position. Smith has the size and speed to come in and provide a force blocking in the running game, but could also provide a huge safety valve for the QB in the passing game.

Joseph Mansour – K – 6’3 175
With the graduation of Lones Sieber, Kentucky looses a starting specialist for the second year in a row. Mansour enters the picture as the #2 rated punter in the country by Scout and has a monster of a leg. He may initially be used for kickoffs and long field goals, but expect him to be the full-time starting Kicker by the end of the season.

Avery Williamson – MLB – 6’2 220
It’s rare to have an incoming freshman with the type of natural strength Williamson brings to the table. He has the size and speed to match his strength, and could provide immediate help to the Linebacker group that will have to find some playmakers after losing Micah Johnson and Sam Maxwell to graduation. Williamson can play all three positions.

Jerrell Priester – ATH – 5’9 185
Not many players have truly elite 4.3 speed, but Priester is one of the few that does. He is an extremely versatile athlete that should be able to come in and contribute as a Cornerback on defense, a receiver or Running back on offense, and a return man on special teams. Think of Priester as a Kentucky version of former Miami standout Devin Hester, but better at playing an offensive or a defensive position.

Dale Trimble – CB – 5’10 175
Despite the fact that some of the other Kentucky recruits where rated higher by recruiting services, the coup of the class might have been Dale Trimble. It’s pretty rare to find a Cornerback with the high-level skills that Trimble possesses and he would have been in contention for early playing time at any SEC school, and should be one of the instant impact freshmen of this class. He has great speed, but his instincts are his best asset. We should see plenty of pass break ups and interceptions from Trimble.

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