Kentucky Wildcats Morning Headlines: NBA Scouting Combine getting rave reviews

This weekend’s game at Florida represents a real measuring stick as to how far this program has really come.  The 27 year streak is the main storyline, but Kentucky has several Florida raised players on the roster such as Jojo Kemp who are looking to change history.  You have to like the confidence of this Kentucky team so far, and Jojo Kemp did something practically unheard of from a Wildcat going into the Florida game.  Talking smack.

"Kentucky tailback Jojo Kemp, a native of Deland, Fla., is excited to return to his home state to face the Florida Gators on Saturday night – so much so that he might’ve gotten a little ahead of himself while talking about the game after Tuesday’s practice. “A couple of my (high school) teammates actually went to Florida, so I’m familiar with a lot of those guys,” Kemp said. “It’s going to be fun walking out with a victory and rubbing it in their faces.” That’s tall talk considering the Wildcats haven’t beaten the Gators in 27 consecutive tries. But perhaps Kemp, a former four-star recruit who led UK in rushing as a true freshman last fall and has 79 yards and a touchdown so far this season, can be excused a little over-exuberance. This is a big homecoming for him."

Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

From the sound of things, Kentucky is going into this game with a confidence that has been missing in the past several years.  Win or lose, we will know what this UK team is made of around 10 PM Saturday night.

"Running back Jojo Kemp — a native of DeLand, Fla., less than 100 miles from Gainesville, Fla. — doesn’t dispute that there’s a different feel around the Nutter Training Facility this week. He does, however, believe it’s for a different reason than the one Brown cited even though he attended more games in The Swamp than he can count growing up.“We could have been playing Vanderbilt, Mississippi State,” Kemp said. “Just because it’s SEC time. We’re here to change the program around and they’re just next up.”The next test will also be the first time UK hits the road after two games in the comforts of Commonwealth Stadium. Towles isn’t among a number Wildcats making their first SEC trip, but this will be his starting debut on the road. To prepare for the hostile setting, Towles has spoken to two former Kentucky quarterbacks.“I went down there my freshman year when Morgan (Newton) played,” Towles said. “So I know the atmosphere. It’s kind of like a microwave when you walk in at first. It’s so hot. So, so hot. We play down there at night, so it won’t be as hot, but I’ve talked to Morgan a little bit about it and Jared (Lorenzen), Jared of course.”Brown says the noise in The Swamp won’t be a major factor for a UK offense that relies mostly on nonverbal communication. That’s good, because the Cats will have plenty to contend with against the Gator defense.“Florida is Florida,” Brown said. “The strength of their defense is speed. They run well. … So we’ve got our hands full, but our kids are excited. It will be a really good – I think Coach (Mark) Stoops said this yesterday – it will be a really good measuring stick for where we are as a young football team right now.”"