Kentucky Wildcats Football: Projecting freshmen II
By Kyle
On Tuesday, I outlined the skill position players in the 2012 recruiting class to try and guess as to who might see the field this coming season and who might redshirt. Today I’m breaking down the five offensive line signees and also trying to figure out what position each will eventually play. Lots of speculation is involved here, but these are my best estimations as to what might happen…
T.J. Jones – OL – 6’6 / 290 – Myrtle Beach, SC
For whatever reason, T.J. Jones remained as a sort of enigma throughout the year as a senior. He was a relative unknown when news surfaced that he had committed to Kentucky and he continued to fly under the radar until signing day. With very little information about him available, he also remained a two-star recruit in most databases. The thing that makes Jones an exciting prospect, is that he was only offered after the Kentucky coaches saw him work out in person. There is no member of the staff more proven at developing talent than Mike Summers (Offensive Line Coach), so it’s hard not to see Jones as a potential impact player down the road. With his height and length, it would appear that he has the measurable dimensions to fit in nicely as an offensive tackle, and Kentucky’s lack of depth at the position makes him slightly more likely to see the field. Still, a year in the weight room would certainly benefit Jones, so it would be surprising to see the staff sit him out this season and focus on developing him as the eventual replacement for Darrian Miller at left tackle.
Chances of playing in 2012: 10%
Zach Myers – OL – 6’3 / 285 – Miamisburg, OH
Similar to Jones, Myers commitment to the program sort of came out of left field. The truth of the matter is, Myers is a prototypical interior lineman that has the frame and abilities to play at guard or center. With five members of the 2012 class projected to play along the offensive line, don’t be surprised if Myers is snapping the ball this summer. His better-than-you-would-think agility and speed will also allow him to get to the second level quicker and seal off linebackers from the interior of the line. Depth at the guard position would almost guarantee a redshirt, but if Myers is playing center, things could be a little more complicated. Matt Smith is a senior and Sam Simpson is struggling through injuries this spring that have left his future uncertain. While redshirting Myers would be ideal, certain scenarios could move him to the second-string center position.
Chances of playing in 2012: 20%
Jordan Swindle – OL – 6’7 / 310 – St. Johns, FL
No player in the 2012 class was a bigger addition to the roster than Swindle…literally. Standing at 6’7, Swindle has the type of size and length that makes him an ideal offensive tackle and the concerning lack of depth on Kentucky’s roster at tackle makes him a great candidate to play early in his career. Swindle has been a guy that has stayed out of the spotlight and is notorious for being hard to get a hold of. If he can come to campus this summer ready to play and in great shape, he may not have a choice about being in the spotlight. There’s a ton of uncertainty surrounding the right tackle position and if Kevin Mitchell and Trevino Woods can’t impress the staff, Swindle could find himself battling for a starting gig right away. Just about all coaches would like to redshirt as many of their offensive linemen as possible, but Swindle might offer too much upside to sit.
Chances of playing in 2012: 70%
Jon Toth – OL – 6’5 / 290 – Indianapolis, IN
Kentucky really hit the Indianapolis area hard this year and the added attention paid off big time. One of the players from the area that signed with the Cats was Jon Toth. Out of all of the linemen that UK inked in 2012, Toth is probably the most versatile and actually projects well at either tackle or guard. As mentioned with Swindle and Jones, a lack of depth at Tackle could lead the staff to moving Toth outside, but then again the cupboard is not exactly overflowing at guard either. While he has the talent to play as a freshman, the staff will likely redshirt Toth this season while they figure out how he fits into the offense. My guess would be Toth eventually lands at left guard, and a redshirt year would separate he and current projected starter Zach West by a season.
Chances of playing in 2012: 10%
Jordan Watson – OL – 6’4 / 315 – Fayetteville, GA
Several BCS schools made a mad rush at Watson late in the recruiting season, but he remained steady with the Wildcats. Now, joining his former high school teammate Josh Clemons, Watson will come to Lexington this summer to compete for playing time right away. He has the size and strength to play at just about any offensive line position, but all indications are that he will be groomed as a guard in Kentucky’s offense. While the Cats have some promising young guards in redshirt freshmen Zach West and Shaquille Love, the only other scholarship players at the position are senior Larry Warford and sophomore Teven Eatmon-Nared. If the guards on the roster can stay healthy, the staff may be able to redshirt Watson. But even if everyone stays out of the training room, Watson might just have too much talent to deny. Fans should expect to see him get some reps this year, and he could very well be groomed to take over the right guard position in 2013.
Chances of playing in 2012: 90%
Have a great weekend, and I’ll be back on Tuesday to take a look at the additions in the defensive front seven.