Kentucky Wildcats could still have one of nations most talented rosters next year

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Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

As if this Monday could not be bad enough, it appears that it has not been a very good weekend for Mark Stoops either. And Stoops can probably blame his brother. It seems that Oklahoma is the new leader for 2016 QB Austin Kendall and that Auburn may be his second choice, bumping Kentucky to third. Things may change, but this is coming directly from Kendall.

"“But I would say Oklahoma (is at the top) right now. It’s just a feeling (at Oklahoma), but I got a feeling here (at Auburn), too, so it could weigh out.” Before leaving Auburn, Kendall and his parents met former Auburn quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Newton, the former No. 1 draft pick and current quarterback of the Carolina Panthers, is attending classes at Auburn this semester. “That was my first time meeting him,” Kendall said. “That was pretty cool.” As for a decision, Kendall hasn’t set a date. “I don’t have a timeframe,” he said. “But it will be pretty soon.” Rivals.com ranks Kendall the No. 27 overall player in 2016 and No. 3 prospect from North Carolina."

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest challenge for Mark Stoops and his Kentucky Wildcats class is to replace players like Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith. It’s a huge challenge and one that the coaches are working to find that right mix.

There certainly are names getting thrown around, like redshirt freshman Denzil Ware and junior Jason Hatcher in the Dupree role. Kengera Daniel, an early enrollee, is a name to remember. Some players who haven’t even arrived on campus yet are going to get some significant playing time.

Before his ankle injury, Kobie Walker was a name mentioned frequently as well as Jabari Johnson, who is sitting this spring healing from his own injury.

But replacing Smith and Dupree won’t just be about whom.

It will be about “we” and most likely about scheme.

“You’re going to have to make up for the plays those guys made, not necessarily with their position but as a defense,” defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said. “So we may have to make more plays at inside linebacker, may have to make more plays in the secondary, might have to make more plays at defensive tackle.”

Coach Mark Stoops said the UK defense got a little spoiled having a player like Dupree, who was able to step in and pick up a new role quickly. Players like Hatcher and Ware are still trying to get comfortable playing with their hands off the ground.

“We really have to work with them a bunch because you’re asking them to do a lot of things and something that’s not real comfortable to them,” Stoops said. “It takes some work.”

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