Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: One last hurrah for walk ons and others

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Players like Za’darius Smith and Bud Dupree are gone from the Kentucky Wildcats and you will find them playing on Sundays nest season. However, the cupboard has not been bare in Lexington. In addition to the returning players, 18 players redshirted last year and they will make an impact this season.

"“We’re going to be very happy as we move forward,” UK Coach Mark Stoops said of the redshirt players, who will rejoin the team and compete for starting spots when spring practice begins for the Cats on Saturday morning. “In the long run of your program, it’s really going to help you.” From that highly touted 2014 signing class, ranked No. 17 in the nation, UK was able to redshirt 16 players, as well as sophomore wide receivers Alexander Montgomery andJeff Badet, who sat out last season recovering from injuries. One of the biggest areas of improvement should come on the Kentucky offensive line, which has redshirted every recruit since the new staff arrived. “That’s going to really help us down the road when those guys get to be fourth- and fifth-year juniors and seniors; we’re going to look like a much different offensive line,” position coach John Schlarman said."

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

For the Kentucky Wildcats to break through and become bowl eligible, they are going to need some players to step ou and have a break out season. There are several candidates on the current roster that can do that and the folks over at 24/7 Sports came up with the breakout player for each team in the SEC. For Kentucky, Matt Elam gets the nod.

"Kentucky – Matt Elam Matt Elam was one of Kentucky’s bigtime signees during the 2014 class. And while he played in all 12 of the Wildcats’ games and recorded 10 tackles on the season, the departure of senior defensive tackle Mike Douglas creates an opportunity for him to break into the starting lineup. Elam was a four-star prospect and the No. 13 defensive tackle in the 2014 class, according to the 247Sports Composite."

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