It’s Tuesday afternoon and I feel awful. Not even a victory over the Cardinals can help me get over this sinus infection I’ve managed to come down with, and slave driver Paul still expects a post at my normal 2:00 slot! Luckily, I’ve already planned a new segment for the Tuesday slot this season and it will help you get to know some of the less heralded guys that could impact the upcoming game.
The top five guys you need to get to know before Saturday.
#4 – Raymond Sanders – RB – 5’8 / 185 – FR – Stone Mountain, GA
Honestly, WKU really shouldn’t be that big of a challenge for the Wildcats. You know starting running back Derrick Locke and after the UofL game, you should already know Donald Russell too. Sanders is a lighting quick back that has impressed the staff with his running ability, his ability to catch the ball, and his willingness to block. He’s managed to make enough of an impact in the offseason that he has been selected to play as a true freshman and saw time on special teams this past Saturday. As long as UK takes care of business, expect the shifty freshman to see his first action as a running back against the Hilltoppers.
#3 – Matt Roark – WR – 6’5 / 210 – JR – Acworth, GA
Some fans will remember Roark as the guy who excites the whole stadium with his ability to block kicks, and also as the guy who makes the most relaxed fans cuss as he racks up penalties on special teams. Well now I’m going to reintroduce him as the 6’5 safety valve for Hartline that managed to come out of nowhere to grab three catches for 47 yards and more importantly, three first downs. It looked like Roark is going to have a much bigger role in the offense this year and his chemistry with Hartline was obvious. As Mike needs to find someone he trusts to pick up the first down when the team needs it, look for Roark to emerge as the go-to guy again and again.
#52 – Billy Joe Murphy – OT – 6’6 / 295 – JR – Gamaliel, KY
It was interesting to hear Joker comment that senior Brad Durham was the first player to have locked down a starting job during spring practices because most thought returning starter Start Hines would have retained his job for sure. Then there was the battle for the left tackle position between Chandler Burden and Billy Joe Murphy and when Burden won the job it was a foregone conclusion that Murphy would be a backup player. As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friend.” Kentucky released their depth chart last week and to everyone’s surprise, Murphy had replaced Durham as the starter on the right side. After a really good performance against Louisville, we should get used to hearing about Murphy as he used his long reach to seal off the right side of the line against the Cardinals.
#68 – Luke McDermott – DT – 6’1 / 265 – JR – Louisville, KY
Well, well, well. Losing Mister Cobble to academics might not hurt as bad as most thought and it won’t be because of highly touted freshmen Brice Laughlin or Elliott Porter. No, a walk-on from Trinity high school has apparently beaten out all of the scholarship players to start alongside senior Ricky Lumpkin. McDermott is a more than a relative unknown to UK fans, he’s a player that has only seen garbage time in six games over the past two years. He’s about forty pounds too light for the position, he’s relatively slow compared to his teammates, and he hasn’t racked up enough game expirience to garner earning a varsity letter. But what he does have is tenacity and consistency. He’ll likely see more time on the field the more consistent he plays and he might just be the new John Conner for the Wildcats.
#51 – Tristian Johnson – DE – 6’1 / 260 – FR – Lagrange, GA
Kentucky’s defensive ends struggled to reach the quarterback against Louisville, and playing against Western Kentucky, there will really be no excuse not to notch a couple of sacks against the Hilltoppers. One guy that got consistent praise during spring practice was redshirt freshman Tristian Johnson. Hailing from Lagrange, Johnson has had plenty of expirience learning from some of the best future Kentucky defenders the Wildcats have seen this decade. While Johnson is not expected to start, he’s listed as the primary backup to DeQuin Evans on the current depth chart. With a much lighter opponent this week and next, expect the coaches to stick Johnson in and see what he can do.
I’ll have five new guys to know next Tuesday.
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