Kentucky Wildcat football: Break-out watch

Every year there is someone that comes out of nowhere to really stand out during spring practices. Sometimes it really pans out and UK discovers it has a real player, and sometimes the hype doesn’t carry over into the regular season. Today I’m looking at five candidates to have that “break-out” spring and really make a push for playing time, but I’m limiting it to some of the lesser known names on the roster. It would be easy to pick Morgan Newton or Ryan Mossakowski here, because there is about a 90% one of the two of those guys will be the starting quarterback next year, but most fans know who they are. I’m looking for the Brian Adams, CoShik Williams, Danny Trevathan type of player that is going to come out of the shadows to shine.

1. Brandon Gainer – #29 – RB – 5’11 / 200 – Miami, FL

Possibly the easiest pick on the roster for a potential break-out player is Brandon Gainer. Coming out of Miami Central high School, Gainer was rated as the #30 running back in the country by rivals, the #37 running back scout, the #15 running back by ESPN, and the #21 running back nationally by maxpreps. Getting qualified late in the summer prevented him from getting on campus and getting nicked up kept him from impacting the running back rotation as a true freshman. After sitting out the year as a redshirt, Gainer will compete against Ray Sanders and Jon George to replace Derrick Locke as the team’s primary ball carrier and he clearly has all the measurements and skills it takes to be a workhorse in the SEC.

2. Mister Cobble – #97 – DT – 6’0 / 321 – Louisville, KY

After having a stellar spring last year, Cobble was penciled in as a probable starter at defensive tackle for the 2010 season. Then in the summer, the news came that he hadn’t gotten his work done in the classroom and would be forced to sit out his redshirt-freshman season as a result. After sitting on the sidelines through the year, Cobble got his academics in order and is eligible again in time for his second round of spring practices, where he will compete to replace two-year starter Ricky Lumpkin. He does have a real opportunity to make an impact on the Kentucky defense with his strength and surprising athleticism. A former high school wrestler, Cobble can use leverage to control the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc in the offensive backfield, and that’s something the Wildcat defense sorely needed this past year. His versatility will also allow new defensive coordinator Rick Minter to be more flexible with his defensive schemes.

3. Nermin Delic – #60 – DE – 6’5 / 259 – Dalton, GA

Kentucky got little press for stealing Delic out from under Maryland’s nose during the recruiting rounds last year. Considered a tight end prospect by most services, Delic was widely seen as a blocking tight end that would offer little in the passing game and those players really don’t generate a lot of headlines. After arriving in Lexington over the summer, he was able to impress the staff in very little time with his size, strength, and non-stop motor. Standing 6’5 and weighing in at nearly 260 pounds gives him the ability to play in a traditional defensive end role, slide down to a five technique if the Cats line up in a three-man front, or slide all the way down to defensive tackle on obvious passing downs. He was one of the few freshmen that did not redshirt this season and while he didn’t start or play a lot of meaningful snaps, he did get some game experience that should help him next year.

4. Tatum Lewis – #45 – FB – 6’0 / 245 – Winchester, KY

It’s funny how some people think that the fullback position is outdated. Sure the spread offense is taking over college football and the majority of teams are lining up in the shotgun with four and five receiver sets, but watching an NFL game on Sundays reminds you how important the position still is. Kentucky utilizes a pro-style offense and the fullback not only creates running lanes for the primary ball carrier, but is also responsible for picking up the blitz on passing plays, providing a safety valve for the quarterback, and occasionally carrying the ball himself. Wildcat fans have been spoiled by John Conner for three years, and then by Moncell Allen’s selfless move to fullback after playing most of his career as a running back. Now Allen has graduated and Kentucky will have to find a replacement or completely change their offense. Enter walk-on Tatum Lewis. Lewis will be entering his junior year with Kentucky hand has had plenty of time to observe and learn from some talented guys. He has the prototypical size you look for in a fullback and is only lacking experience. With a potential chance to lock down a starting job, expect him to have a big spring.

5. Tim Patterson – #44 – LB – 6’4 / 220 – Louisville, KY

If any recruit has ever given Kentucky fans more of a rollercoaster ride than Patterson, I couldn’t tell you who. As Rivals top rated recruit in the state, he was being looked at by most schools within a couple hundred miles of Louisville and had plenty of options to choose from. Throughout his recruitment there were rumors that he was leaning this way, then that way, then in a completely different direction. After signing with Kentucky on national signing day, Patterson failed to qualify academically and was forced to greyshirt. An appeal overturned the decision that made him ineligible, but he hadn’t progressed from a high school knee injury and elected to sit out a season and rehab anyway. Now that his knee is nearly fully recovered, he’s enrolled at Kentucky and was able to go through bowl practices with the Cats. Heading into the offseason, Patterson will have the opportunity to compete at linebacker, or possibly at defensive end, and will be able to learn from former high school teammate ridge Wilson (who’s a very similar athlete). As poorly as the linebackers and defensive line played at times last season, Patterson should have ample opportunities to make an impact this spring.

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