Kentucky Wildcat Football: What did we learn?

Yesterday was Kentucky’s annual Blue-White game. The Blue-White game allows coaches and fans to see how much the team has improved during their spring practice session. It’s an opportunity for the players to get out on the field and fight for a bigger role on the football team.

There were several unknown factors going into the Blue-White game yesterday. Who would step up with La’Rod King as a play-maker at receiver? How much different would the defense look? Has Morgan Newton looked better? How good can Maxwell Smith be?

Those questions were all answered, to a point.

We got a chance to see the ability of Brian Adams, a two-sport star, who doubles as a center fielder on the baseball squad. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound receiver is one of the biggest and fastest players on the roster. While he did have three drops, much of that can be attributed the fact that he hasn’t been able to practice as much as many of his teammates due to his participation with the football season.

Adams caught seven passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. He also dropped a pass that would have given him 60 more yards and another touchdown.

Between Adams, King and Roark (who also had a solid outing) the receiving corps looks serviceable to start and eventually could become a strength for the team.

But you can’t talk about the Wildcats’ passing game without discussing the quarterbacks.

Morgan Newton went 23 for 44 with 256 yards and three touchdowns. While those numbers don’t stick out, completion wise, you realize that he had at least ten passes dropped by receivers. Newton showed excellent touch on his deep ball, which has been a question for him going into the spring. Newton also threw the ball away when necessary.

Newton getting the majority of the first-team reps this spring has led to improvement that many quarterbacks make from their second-string year to their first-string year. Newton looks to be ready to step up his game and be a major factor as a junior.

Grayshirt-Freshman Maxwell Smith fared well in his first outing after his first spring practice and first live game action since the fall of 2009. Smith went 10 of 21 for 99 yards and a touchdown. He showed a strong arm and a solid understanding of the offense at this stage. Smith will push Newton over the summer and next fall and will fight for a starting role next spring.

The biggest change the team will see is on the defensive side of the ball where Rick Minter is now calling shots as defensive coordinator.

The defense looks faster and more aggressive this season. While they have sacrificed size for speed, the Wildcats look to be a team that will gang tackle as well as any defense in the SEC. Players like Winston Guy and Ridge Wilson were players to watch this spring because they are starters from last season who are playing different roles. Each of them played to expectations this spring and specifically yesterday.

On the other hand, a few guys stepped up and showed that they were ready for bigger roles.

Collins Ukwu looked like a player who could become a more reliable pass-rusher this year and will also do a good job fighting the offensive line as a run-stopper.

Justin Henderson, a 6-foot-3, 245-pound linebacker had three sacks, two tackles for loss and seven tackles. Henderson’s a redshirt-freshmen, but he’ll be a player who has a chance to play a big role going into the fall.

Freshman linebacker Avery Williamson also performed well, leading all tacklers with ten. He also had one pass broken up and one sack. Williamson has always been known as a player who could get after the ball and now with a chance to do it in a bigger role, he’s stepped up this spring.

Jerrell Priester also stepped up his game in the spring game. He had seven tackles in the outing. The defensive back maybe the nickel back this fall after his performance this spring as long as he can maintain his effort during the summer and going into fall camp.

While people may point to some sloppy plays here and there during the game, you have to be excited about the young players on the Kentucky roster and how they stepped up their games this spring. Additionally, they look like a team that once they get the freshmen on campus, and all the injured players back, they could surprise people in the SEC this season.

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