For Fun: Whats your 2 deep at each offensive/defensive position??

[Blue Decade]

I don't think Drake, Landon redshirt just to good. I don't see Bannerman redshirting because his specialty is rushing the Passer and we need that big time. It will be all hands on deck this year do Stoops to win as many games as possible. Year 4 is huge.

Every year, recruiting headlines persuade fans that true freshmen should play immediately. In 2013 and 2014, 8 true freshmen played. In 2015, 7 true freshmen played. Few true freshmen actually make an impact. Blake McClain, Jo Jo Kemp, Dorian Baker, Garrett Johnson, Boom Williams, CJ Conrad, Derrick Baity, Chris Westry were impact true freshmen for Stoops. All are receivers, running backs, defensive backs. George Asafo-Adjei started 3 nonconference games in which he was awful, then lost his job to Kyle Meadows. At least GAA had the benefit of spring practice. History shows freshman offensive linemen regardless of talent do better with redshirts. Rarely they contribute as true freshmen, but it usually happens in deep programs that can afford to be wrong. In Kentucky football history, 3 true freshmen offensive linemen, Kip Sixberry, Antonio Hall, Aaron Miller, had positive 1st seasons. Sixberry was a guard. Maybe because they were busy practicing, Sixberry and Miller immediately flunked out of college in the spring semester and never played football again. I don't call that success. Although the #1 high school tackle in the nation, Hall had a very disappointing career at Kentucky and never played in the NFL. Darrian Miller and Jordan Swindle were hurt by missing their redshirts, and had disappointing careers at Kentucky. Drake Jackson will redshirt this year because the middle of our offensive line is set. Jon Toth is 1 of the top returning SEC centers. We have 4 solid guards with starting experience, Meyers, Haynes, Mosier, GAA. Juco Tate Leavitt was signed to address the offensive tackle problem. Kyle Meadows is an improving starter. No doubt, Stoops will come under tremendous pressure to start Landon Young immediately. Our fans will expect and demand it. Young will push as hard as he can to play. I don't know if Young is the best offensive tackle we have ever recruited, but he is obviously high on the list. So were Warren Bryant, Antonio Hall, Darrian Miller. And so is Leavitt. I don't know what Stoops will decide for Young, but Stoops is an inexperienced head coach under tremendous pressure. Unlike GAA and Leavitt, Young will not enroll in the spring and practice in April. I don't have inside information, but I played. At this point, the fastest way for Mark Stoops to lose his job at Kentucky would be to screw up Landon Young's development as a college football player. I predict Kash will play and make an impact this year, but Kash is a spring enrollee, competing with other newcomers at a position where he can succeed quickly. Early success as a linebacker, practicing in spring and sharing time with CL, is a completely different proposition compared to a true freshman without spring practice starting at offensive tackle. The decision on Young may be Stoops' biggest test so far. Whatever Stoops decides, it must work out right for Landon, Drake, Kash or else Stoops will be accountable. Player development is pretty much how athletics directors evaluate coaches.

 

[3kidsandme]

Every year, recruiting headlines persuade fans that true freshmen should play immediately. In 2013 and 2014, 8 true freshmen played. In 2015, 7 true freshmen played. Few true freshmen actually make an impact. Blake McClain, Jo Jo Kemp, Dorian Baker, Garrett Johnson, Boom Williams, CJ Conrad, Derrick Baity, Chris Westry were impact true freshmen for Stoops. All are receivers, running backs, defensive backs. George Asafo-Adjei started 3 nonconference games in which he was awful, then lost his job to Kyle Meadows. At least GAA had the benefit of spring practice. History shows freshman offensive linemen regardless of talent do better with redshirts. Rarely they contribute as true freshmen, but it usually happens in deep programs that can afford to be wrong. In Kentucky football history, 3 true freshmen offensive linemen, Kip Sixberry, Antonio Hall, Aaron Miller, had positive 1st seasons. Sixberry was a guard. Maybe because they were busy practicing, Sixberry and Miller immediately flunked out of college in the spring semester and never played football again. I don't call that success. Although the #1 high school tackle in the nation, Hall had a very disappointing career at Kentucky and never played in the NFL. Darrian Miller and Jordan Swindle were hurt by missing their redshirts, and had disappointing careers at Kentucky. Drake Jackson will redshirt this year because the middle of our offensive line is set. Jon Toth is 1 of the top returning SEC centers. We have 4 solid guards with starting experience, Meyers, Haynes, Mosier, GAA. Juco Tate Leavitt was signed to address the offensive tackle problem. Kyle Meadows is an improving starter. No doubt, Stoops will come under tremendous pressure to start Landon Young immediately. Our fans will expect and demand it. Young will push as hard as he can to play. I don't know if Young is the best offensive tackle we have ever recruited, but he is obviously high on the list. So were Warren Bryant, Antonio Hall, Darrian Miller. And so is Leavitt. I don't know what Stoops will decide for Young, but Stoops is an inexperienced head coach under tremendous pressure. Unlike GAA and Leavitt, Young will not enroll in the spring and practice in April. I don't have inside information, but I played. At this point, the fastest way for Mark Stoops to lose his job at Kentucky would be to screw up Landon Young's development as a college football player. I predict Kash will play and make an impact this year, but Kash is a spring enrollee, competing with other newcomers at a position where he can succeed quickly. Early success as a linebacker, practicing in spring and sharing time with CL, is a completely different proposition compared to a true freshman without spring practice starting at offensive tackle. The decision on Young may be Stoops' biggest test so far. Whatever Stoops decides, it must work out right for Landon, Drake, Kash or else Stoops will be accountable. Player development is pretty much how athletics directors evaluate coaches.

Landon Young is not Jordan Swindle or Darrian Miller. I hope he redshirts because that means Meadows improved a bunch. It is just not likely Young redshirts. Even schools like Bama play there 5 stars

 

[Blue Decade]

Landon Young is not Jordan Swindle or Darrian Miller. I hope he redshirts because that means Meadows improved a bunch. It is just not likely Young redshirts. Even schools like Bama play there 5 stars

I never said Landon Young was Jordan Swindle or Darrian Miller. I did say offensive linemen do better with redshirts regardless of their talent. That is demonstrably true. Landon Young is no more highly rated than Antonio Hall was. Antonio was widely considered the #1 tackle prospect in the entire country, but he paid a big price for missing his redshirt. Actually, Alabama redshirts a lot of their 5 stars. But Alabama can afford to be more aggressive with their younger players because of their elite depth and recruiting clout. If Saban screws up a young player, he has a bunch more just as good or better to plug into that position. At this point, Kentucky is not in that position. If Stoops screws up Landon Young's development, he is finished as a P5 head coach. I agree, Stoops will have a hard time redshirting Young. But the case can be made. Meadows redshirted, and is now in the rapid improvement phase of his career. Leavitt is fully capable of starting at L tackle and upgrading our line. There still isn't much depth, but you don't take the redshirt off a player like Young to add depth. They can do that with Stenberg, Wolfe, LaRubbio, Taylor. Hell, I would move Nick Haynes back outside to L tackle before I would blow Young's redshirt, but that's me. Most fans will argue that Young should start immediately, but other threads have shown most fans don't understand the poor record for most true freshman SEC tackles regardless of talent. Everyone is dazzled by the 5 stars and can't wait for Young to be the savior. Is Stoops ready to gamble Young's career and risk his own? The temptation will be very hard for him to resist, but it could become Stoops' undoing as a head coach.

 

[Mr Schwump]

I never said Landon Young was Jordan Swindle or Darrian Miller. I did say offensive linemen do better with redshirts regardless of their talent. That is demonstrably true. Landon Young is no more highly rated than Antonio Hall was. Antonio was widely considered the #1 tackle prospect in the entire country, but he paid a big price for missing his redshirt. Actually, Alabama redshirts a lot of their 5 stars. But Alabama can afford to be more aggressive with their younger players because of their elite depth and recruiting clout. If Saban screws up a young player, he has a bunch more just as good or better to plug into that position. At this point, Kentucky is not in that position. If Stoops screws up Landon Young's development, he is finished as a P5 head coach. I agree, Stoops will have a hard time redshirting Young. But the case can be made. Meadows redshirted, and is now in the rapid improvement phase of his career. Leavitt is fully capable of starting at L tackle and upgrading our line. There still isn't much depth, but you don't take the redshirt off a player like Young to add depth. They can do that with Stenberg, Wolfe, LaRubbio, Taylor. Hell, I would move Nick Haynes back outside to L tackle before I would blow Young's redshirt, but that's me. Most fans will argue that Young should start immediately, but other threads have shown most fans don't understand the poor record for most true freshman SEC tackles regardless of talent. Everyone is dazzled by the 5 stars and can't wait for Young to be the savior. Is Stoops ready to gamble Young's career and risk his own? The temptation will be very hard for him to resist, but it could become Stoops' undoing as a head coach.

While it may be true that Bama RSs 5* I think I'm accurate in saying their last 2 starting LTs have started as true freshmen, both 5*s. Is Young better than either? Has it hurt their development? Have no idea, point is even Saban has started true 5* freshmen in his OL. Should UK do likewise? Only if Young or whoever else may come down the road are better.

BTW, paragraphs are your friend.

 

[3kidsandme]

I never said Landon Young was Jordan Swindle or Darrian Miller. I did say offensive linemen do better with redshirts regardless of their talent. That is demonstrably true. Landon Young is no more highly rated than Antonio Hall was. Antonio was widely considered the #1 tackle prospect in the entire country, but he paid a big price for missing his redshirt. Actually, Alabama redshirts a lot of their 5 stars. But Alabama can afford to be more aggressive with their younger players because of their elite depth and recruiting clout. If Saban screws up a young player, he has a bunch more just as good or better to plug into that position. At this point, Kentucky is not in that position. If Stoops screws up Landon Young's development, he is finished as a P5 head coach. I agree, Stoops will have a hard time redshirting Young. But the case can be made. Meadows redshirted, and is now in the rapid improvement phase of his career. Leavitt is fully capable of starting at L tackle and upgrading our line. There still isn't much depth, but you don't take the redshirt off a player like Young to add depth. They can do that with Stenberg, Wolfe, LaRubbio, Taylor. Hell, I would move Nick Haynes back outside to L tackle before I would blow Young's redshirt, but that's me. Most fans will argue that Young should start immediately, but other threads have shown most fans don't understand the poor record for most true freshman SEC tackles regardless of talent. Everyone is dazzled by the 5 stars and can't wait for Young to be the savior. Is Stoops ready to gamble Young's career and risk his own? The temptation will be very hard for him to resist, but it could become Stoops' undoing as a head coach.

Antonio Hall talent proved he was vastly overrated. You can watch Landon Young and see that he is ready to play now. If he learns the system he plays. Kids all across the sec played as true freshman and play at a high level. In most circumstances I'm all for redshirting all lineman. Young is in a different stratosphere than what we have ever recruited.

 

[RV]

Landon should be one of our best three tackles the minute he steps on campus. While I'm all for red shirting kids and think that linemen on both sides of the ball should get a RS almost without fail, I can't really see him red shirting, given his talent and the overall lack of depth at that position.

LT - Leavitt, Meadows
LG - Meyers, Haynes
C - Toth, Myers
RG - George AA, Mosier
RT - Young, Meadows
TE - Conrad, Hart
WRx - Badet, Ross, Bone
WRy - G Johnson, Timmons
WRz - Baker, Ross
QB - Barker, S Johnson
RB - Boom, Kemp

DE - Miggins, Ke Daniel
NT - Elam, Pringle
DT - Meant, Middleton
Jack - Ware, Bonner
Mike - Love, Ka Daniel
Will - Jones, Brown
Sam - Hatcher, Laster
bCB - Westry, Harmon
fCB - Randolph, Baity
SS - McWilson, Edwards
FS - West, Walker

 

[Mr Schwump]

Landon should be one of our best three tackles the minute he steps on campus. While I'm all for red shirting kids and think that linemen on both sides of the ball should get a RS almost without fail, I can't really see him red shirting, given his talent and the overall lack of depth at that position.

LT - Leavitt, Meadows
LG - Meyers, Haynes
C - Toth, Myers
RG - George AA, Mosier
RT - Young, Meadows
TE - Conrad, Hart
WRx - Badet, Ross, Bone
WRy - G Johnson, Timmons
WRz - Baker, Ross
QB - Barker, S Johnson
RB - Boom, Kemp

DE - Miggins, Ke Daniel
NT - Elam, Pringle
DT - Meant, Middleton
Jack - Ware, Bonner
Mike - Love, Ka Daniel
Will - Jones, Brown
Sam - Hatcher, Laster
bCB - Westry, Harmon
fCB - Randolph, Baity
SS - McWilson, Edwards
FS - West, Walker

Pretty much my line up too. Bonner/Laster will play a lot.

 

[WildcatofNati]

Landon should be one of our best three tackles the minute he steps on campus. While I'm all for red shirting kids and think that linemen on both sides of the ball should get a RS almost without fail, I can't really see him red shirting, given his talent and the overall lack of depth at that position.

LT - Leavitt, Meadows
LG - Meyers, Haynes
C - Toth, Myers
RG - George AA, Mosier
RT - Young, Meadows
TE - Conrad, Hart
WRx - Badet, Ross, Bone
WRy - G Johnson, Timmons
WRz - Baker, Ross
QB - Barker, S Johnson
RB - Boom, Kemp

DE - Miggins, Ke Daniel
NT - Elam, Pringle
DT - Meant, Middleton
Jack - Ware, Bonner
Mike - Love, Ka Daniel
Will - Jones, Brown
Sam - Hatcher, Laster
bCB - Westry, Harmon
fCB - Randolph, Baity
SS - McWilson, Edwards
FS - West, Walker

Agree with most of it, but Laster may be a starter, and Baity probably starts over Randolph. Not sure if Leavitt and Young will be LT and RT or vice versa.

 

[JW PRPcoach]

All i know is that this is fun to have this thread with enough talent to make it debatable for a change!

 

[K_TIME]

All i know is that this is fun to have this thread with enough talent to make it debatable for a change!

You ain't kidding.
The years where you'd look up and pencil in Collins Ukwu/Taylor Wyndham at DE, Morgan Newton at QB, Roark at WR, etc...were impossible to feel good about the upcoming season's results.

 

[seccats04]

Landon should be one of our best three tackles the minute he steps on campus. While I'm all for red shirting kids and think that linemen on both sides of the ball should get a RS almost without fail, I can't really see him red shirting, given his talent and the overall lack of depth at that position.

LT - Leavitt, Meadows
LG - Meyers, Haynes
C - Toth, Myers
RG - George AA, Mosier
RT - Young, Meadows
TE - Conrad, Hart
WRx - Badet, Ross, Bone
WRy - G Johnson, Timmons
WRz - Baker, Ross
QB - Barker, S Johnson
RB - Boom, Kemp

DE - Miggins, Ke Daniel
NT - Elam, Pringle
DT - Meant, Middleton
Jack - Ware, Bonner
Mike - Love, Ka Daniel
Will - Jones, Brown
Sam - Hatcher, Laster
bCB - Westry, Harmon
fCB - Randolph, Baity
SS - McWilson, Edwards
FS - West, Walker

You are the best, RV. This is pretty much spot on what I have.

 

[RealCat41]

None of this is going to mean anything if we are last, or in the bottom 3 in the nation when it comes to offensive starting field position.

There has to be significant improvement.

 

[vhcat70]

I'm all for red shirting kids and think that linemen on both sides of the ball should get a RS almost without fail,

I've never heard you say that before. :flush: