Kentucky Wildcats Football: Better Days Are Coming In The Near Future

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

When Mark Stoops took over the Kentucky Wildcats after Joker Phillips was let go last year, he knew what he was getting into. Never did he say that the transition into a national power, which he said is what he was here to do, would be an easy or quick process. In fact, Stoops has since been quoted saying that he and his staff knew it was going to be a long process and take some time to get this thing turned around. Of course, finishing 2-10 turned up some new issues and setbacks that the staff might not have been expecting initially. One such situation is the fact that the secondary, Stoops area of expertise, failed to perform anywhere near the level that he had expected. Of course, this will be corrected through recruiting well.

In fact, signs of this can already be seen. With some top performers this past season coming from Stoops recruits (Ryan Timmons, Javess Blue, JoJo Kemp, Jason Hatcher, etc.), it is clear that the talent is being upgraded. That should continue with the 2014 class coming in, which will be the highest rated class to ever come through the program. Leading the way are players like Drew Barker, Thad Snodgrass, and Dorian Hendrix. In fact, Dorian Hendrix discussed why the class chose Kentucky and was quoted with the following. “I think it is because they are raised in a family atmosphere. They are honest and have integrity and they have done everything that they said they would do up to this point – that shows me a lot. There is honesty both ways and there is commitment both ways. We are committed to them and they are committed to us. That is something that is really important to us as players.”

Outside of recruiting, which has been well documented under Mark Stoops and company, discipline and attrition have been some major story lines. Of course, there was some major deflections right after Stoops signed on to take over the Wildcats. That had to be expected. However, there have been two transfers that have become official this offseason that have raised some eyebrows. Those two are RB Dyshawn Mobley and WR Daryl Collins. Mobley lead the team in rushing the last two games and really appeared to be priming himself for the starting job next season. Collins was one of the only left-overs from the Joker era that contributed for Stoops this season. Fortunately for the Wildcats, these deflections will be replaced through recruiting.

Another way Stoops has set the program on track is his discipline for the team. Stoops showed his no nonsense policy to full affect when he suspended Raymond Sanders just before Senior Day. The same Senior Day that he was to partake in and the same Senior Day that was to be his last game in Commonwealth Stadium. Something that extreme, even if it was just one game, should send a message out to the entire team that no circumstance can make a violation of team rules acceptable and a penalty will be paid by anyone who does so. This is part of the culture change that Stoops and his staff is making with the program. One that will bring better days in the near future.