Kentucky Wildcats Football: A Full Recap of the Blue/White game
By Kyle
Tight ends:
This group might have been the most surprising position of the spring game. The quarterbacks looked to them more than they have in the past two season and all five players on the roster were out on routes more frequently than they were kept in blocking.
Jordan Aumiller didn’t get many looks and seems to have been passed up by several players despite starting as a redshirt freshman two years ago. I’m starting to wonder if a move back to defense as a linebacker or defensive end might be best for him.
Ronnie Shields has been talked up by the coaching staff all spring and he showed that the athleticism is definitely there. He looked smooth running routes and with the ball in his hands, but dropped a couple of passes that he should have caught. He might eventually be the starter, but he didn’t look like the best tight end on Saturday.
Anthony Kendrick is ridiculously athletic for a player his size and looked like a running back with the ball in his hands. He is going to be a force in the open field as he is a matchup nightmare for defenses. He had almost 100 pounds on some of Kentucky’s defensive backs and if he can use his size to his advantage, he can stretch the middle of the field for the offense.
Tyler Robinson had the spring game of any player in my opinion. He is certainly not a blazing fast option, but he runs excellent routes, is probably the most sure-handed player on the team and is a throwback style of tight end. I felt like I was watching a game in the 60’s every time he made a catch. His legs never stop and he absolutely refuses to go down to one tackler. More importantly, when the heat was on Smith, he seemed to look for Tyler Robinson every time. While he may not break many long runs, Robinson can get the offense positive yards and brings a toughness to the offense that the team lacked last year. Based on the way he and DJ Warren play, the staff needs to make sure to get at least one player from Alcoa High in every recruiting class.
Starters: Tyler Robinson/Ronnie Shields
Second Team: Anthony Kendrick/Jordan Aumiller
Offensive line:
Note: Second team left tackle Tyler Davenport did not participate
The first team offensive line looked very good. Maxwell Smith had plenty of time on most plays and the backs had open lanes to run. The starters are also enormous. From end to end, this might be one of the most physically imposing lines UK has put on the field.
I know that the right side of the line is more experienced, but the left side looks like it has more talent to me. Darrian Miller has the body of a right end and is carrying 300+ pounds as well as a player could. He is lighting quick for a player his size and I really believe that he is a future NFL player. Zach West looked like anything but a redshirt freshman. If he and Miller can play beyond their years, this has a chance to be one of the best starting groups Kentucky has had in a while. Matt Smith and Larry Warford are All-SEC type talents at center and right guard too, so they should be able to help the younger players. The only question mark is at the right tackle position and Kevin Mitchell certainly looks the part. He and Trevino Woods were battling for the starting gig, but Mitchell looks to have pulled away and I only saw Mitchell playing with the first team. It’s hard to gauge the true abilities of the offensive line when playing against the second team defensive line, but what I saw on Saturday looked VERY promising.
The concern I have is with the depth. The second team offensive line features just three scholarship players and that’s not very promising. Teven Eatmon-Nared has an SEC body, but I’m not sure what’s holding him back. Walk-on redshirt freshman Jake Gruenschlaeger is monstrous. Between he and Eatmon-Nared, the left side of line averaged 6’9½ and 346 pounds. Not too bad for the backups. Also, their last names are a combined 26 characters and include 54% of the letters in the English language. Still, Jacob Russell took seven sacks in the game, and that is way too many. I know it’s the first team vs. the second team, but that’s ridiculous.
Starters: D. Miller/Z. West/M. Smith/L. Warford/K. Mitchell
Second Team: J. Gruenschlaeger/T. Eatmon-Nared/M. Godby/S. Love/T. Woods