Mark Stoops Transcript on JUCO signings, Drew Barker and more

On the balance of bringing in juco players and high school players…

“I think there’s definitely a balance there that you have to pay attention to. Not everybody is very patient right? We all want to win some games and you have to bring in some guys to help fill spots, to help win some games. Ultimately, to build a great program, it takes great high school recruiting, so we’re trying to find that balance. I think we’ve done a nice job of it so far and we want to continue to work that way.”

On what he’s most encouraged about going into next season…

“I think we just know a whole lot more about ourselves. Offensively, defensively, as a coaching staff, as a program and I’m very encouraged of the overall attitude. The guys went right back to work on Monday (after the season ended). We had a great couple weeks and I’ve been running since that Sunday out recruiting, but I stopped in and met with the team and had some half days in the office. I pulled the team together and there is a great energy in the room. I think the guys are very excited about the future and excited – you know it was a tough year on everybody – but I think they are genuinely excited to get back to work, to get bigger, to get stronger, keep on working fundamentally to get better, to help us recruit more talent. I just think the overall mindset is much different and much more confident as we move forward.”

On what’s different now compared to this time last season…

“Any time, whether you’re a first-year head coach or not, I think anybody would tell you, after you go through a change that first year it’s very volatile. You are dealing with a lot of things. You are dealing with a lot of change. You are moving your family, your kids. You’re putting staff together. The big thing for me is also understanding our players. What they can do, what they can’t do and the areas we need to improve. Obviously, the comfort level is much greater. It’s much more comfortable this year than it was at this time last year. I was just trying to find my way around town last year.”

On the defensive line…

“We’ll be good. With Bud (Dupree) and ZaDarius (Smith) coming back and Corey (Johnson) coming in, we’ll be fine on the defensive line. I feel good about it.”

On the offensive line…

“I think we need to improve. I think with the guys getting a year older and both our tackles coming back, that’s a good sign. We’ll let those guys get a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger this offseason. I think some guys that redshirted will have a chance to come in and help us right away. A guy like Ramsey Meyers is a guy that jumps out at you right away. I thought you could really see the progress he was making the second part of last year as we were working with him. I think he’s a guy I’m excited about. Kyle Meadows is a guy I’m excited about. We need to continue to improve on the o-line, but that’s no different than a lot of positions.”

On another offseason of uncertainty at quarterback …

“Yeah, it is. I think any of us who have been around football would like to walk in here and say, ‘Yeah, that’s my guy.’ We’re not in that position and that’s the way it is. So we’ll go back to the drawing board and open it up in the spring. We got some new additions and we’ll see where that takes us.”

On Clint Hurtt’s comments about UK …

“No, like I said, I have no comment on that. I’m not worried about Clint Hurtt. That’s too easy of a target for me to go after.”