Kentucky Wildcats Football: Bye Week News & Notes

Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

It’s that time that every football fan dreads during the season, the bye week.

Kentucky plays the Florida Gators at Commonwealth Stadium in two weeks. Which leaves Wildcat football fans a week to worry about Maxwell Smith, catch up on recruiting news and scour message boards for any little bit of news that they could find. It can be enough to drive you mad. Many fans plan on watching Florida play Tennessee this weekend. Others are already making plans for their next tailgate (alligator gumbo anybody?). So for the starving masses, here are some bye week tidbits:

• Mark Stoops says that the injuries suffered by Smith and Donte Rumph don’t appear to be of the season-ending variety. It’s great news for a suddenly thin Kentucky team that can’t afford to lose two starters with SEC play about to begin. On the flip side, if either were to miss extended time or the year, Patrick Towles would likely get another shot to start for the Cats and Rumph has a redshirt year available and could petition the NCAA.
• Kentucky had a TON of recruits in town for the Louisville game, and despite losing, managing to gain a little more ground with many of them. A large contingent of commits were on hand and many vowed to never to lose to the Cards. Matt Elam was again on hand and had a good time. Dorian Baker too. There were also several future prospects at the game. The crowd and the fight that the Cats showed on the field were definite positives.
• Stoops said Monday that the team will prepare for Florida for two weeks. Often coaches spend a bye week getting back to basics and cleaning things up. But with the bye so early in the season, the Cats will focus on the Gators for both weeks.
• The wide receivers will be catching tennis balls again this week after dropped passes stalled offensive momentum against Louisville. Drops have been an issue dating back to the Spring, but didn’t show up much against WKU and Miami.
• For those pining for more newcomers to play (Regie Meant, Kyle Meadows, Jacob Hyde, etc.) the coaches have said that you have probably seen everyone that they plan on playing this season. Barring injuries of course.
• Speaking of newcomers, expect Jason Hatcher’s role to continue to expand this season. The big package with Hatcher and Bud Dupree as outside linebackers was an effective tool and could be used against the run and the pass. Kudos to DJ Eliot for finding ways to get his best 11 players on the field. Should see more Marcus McWilson going forward as well.
• Bye weeks are often where position switches some from as well. This is a chance for the coaches to see if McWilson can get in the mix at safety or just stay at nickel backer. Ditto for Blake McClain at safety and/or cornerback. Another thing to watch is Jacob Hyde possibly switching to the offensive line.
• After so much talk was made of Kentucky’s lack of experience at receiver, the new guys have taken over and added most of the production. Demarco Robinson should be a contributor when gets back on the field. AJ Legree has played but isn’t producing. He had a big drop last week that may have gone for a touchdown. Darryl Collins seems to be behind and Coach Stoops also revealed that he may have an injury holding him back right now. Hopefully the bye allows Robinson and Collins to get healthy again.