Believe the Hype: Kentucky's Young Secondary Ready to Shine

The Kentucky defense you'll see this fall will look unlike anything you have ever seen. Since the late 90's, the UK defense has been defined by hard-hitting linebackers.  From Jeff Snedegar's mustache to Avery Williamson's smile, there's been a colorful variety that have taken their talents to the league, and excelled.  On the defensive line, Dewayne Robertson set the bar high, followed by powerful pass-rushers like Jeremy Jarmon, Ventrell Jenkins and Bud Dupree. Behind the front seven, the secondary has been set on fire, burnt more times than not.  There have been exceptions -- Trevor Lindley, Marcus McClinton, Marty Moore -- but in recent years it has been bad.  So bad that every time my UofL-fan friend would watch a Kentucky game, he would play a drinking game: finish your beverage every time a Kentucky player got burnt.  He did not spend Saturdays sober. This year, the tables have turned.  Kentucky's young secondary leads Mark Stoops' defense. Stoops achieved notoriety for developing some of the best corners and safeties in football at Miami.  "That's one reason why I came here really," safety Mike Edwards said.  "Seeing that he's brought all of those to the NFL as first round draft picks.  That's big." Using his pedigree to allure elite talent to Lexington, the young defensive backs are prepared to prove they're worth the hype.

Constant Competition

Iron sharpens iron.  Your best will only make you better.  All of those cliches apply when there are two or three people vying for one spot. When defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale came to town, he embraced debate and encouraged competition. "You better bring your A-game everyday.  Some times, not everybody's gonna be happy about it but they're willing to compete," Clinkscale said earlier in preseason camp. The nature of their battles shows up in a variety of forms.  A freshman like Tobias Gilliam is trying to earn the respect of his peers.  A safety isn't holding back from lighting up a wide receiver when he crosses the middle of the field.  Derrick Baity won't allow Jeff Badet to take it easy on him, forcing him to earn every release, every step, every catch. Baity didn't hold back on Dakota Holtzclaw in the Spring Game.  "Everybody needs to push each other.  There's no guaranteed spots here," Clinkscale said. Even though you might assume Chris Westry and Derrick Baity's spots are safe, that doesn't mean they aren't competing against each other.

Derrick Baity vs. Chris Westry

On the first snap of the season, Chris Westry was thrown to the dogs.  The 6'4" cornerback had plenty of preseason hype, but that all went out the window when Louisiana-Lafayette dialed up a deep ball directed to Westry. "I thought the play was dang near over and in reality it was just getting started.   That was a big eye-opener."  Westry was forced to learn quickly.  "You can't take plays off.  You gotta go 110% every play and you can't stop until the whistles blown." From there, Westry improved each and every game.  He put the dagger in South Carolina's heart on his way to an All-SEC Freshman year. Derrick Baity didn't start the season with hype.  In fact, he was barely on the depth chart at fifth string.  "I took it as a challenge," he said. Baity battled into second string, but was still only receiving limited reps with coaches opting for experience over the young talent.  It ate away at him, but the lack of PT only pushed him even more. "I kinda felt like they should've tried something new sooner in the season.  But I took it as a challenge.  It was good." Now sophomores, they're one of the best one-two combos in the entire SEC.  Both are large and athletic, yet their skills vary, and complement the other's. "Similarly, they use their bodies very well -- their height, their speed and their athleticism.  Derrick has a real good knowledge of the game.  Chris uses his physicality a lot better." Clinkscale said he couldn't say who is better, "It's pretty close." The best of friends off the field, their position coach sees them competing against each other on the field.  Even though they play identical positions, their egos won't allow them to be outdone by the other. "I think they're kind of feeding off each other," Clinkscale said.  "If they feel that one is better than the other at a certain situation, then they try to compete at it.  They've really been competing off each other and feeding off one another." Just because they stand above the rest, doesn't mean there aren't other standouts.  Marcus McWilson and Blake McClain are competent leaders, starting all four years under Mark Stoops.  At the back of the secondary might be Stoops' favorite player, Mike Edwards. “Mike is just a very good football player. He’s fun to coach because he rarely makes the same mistake twice," Stoops said. It's a valuable asset for the centerfielder of the defense.  Injuries have prevented the BBN form seeing him shine, but don't be surprised when No. 27 is on the highlight reel along with other newcomers.

Talented Freshmen

The depth chart in the secondary doesn't drop off from the top to the bottom.  Two true freshmen have already climbed into the two-deep. Davonte Robinson and Jordan Griffin are listed as "or"s behind Derrick Baity. "The freshmen class is a tremendous class.  We're ready to learn under these guys and contribute any way possible," Griffin said at media day. The most difficult adjustment has been in between the ears.  The upperclassmen -- I use that word relatively -- have done their part to ensure the freshmen don't get lost in the shuffle. "All three of the freshmen that came in are being mentored by an upperclassmen at their position," Clinkscale said.   "Some questions they may not understand from me, they can talk to them in a peer-on-peer relationship.  That has helped the transition a lot." For Jordan Griffin, that guy has been the same guy he's trying to steal snaps from. "Derrick Baity has taken me under his wing.  I've been looking up to him a lot and working hard each and every day.  Taking things from his work ethic and implementing it into my game," Griffin praised his elder.  "DB has been a tremendous help." It is never easy.  Clinkscale keeps the freshmen on their toes.  Even when they don't expect to see reps, he likes to throw them into the fire with the ones and twos. "I believe in putting guys in situations for them to show us what they can do early so you'll understand how good they're going to be during the season," Clinkscale said. Pressure and competition have created an environment conducive to success. [caption id="attachment_204494" align="alignnone" width="1687"] Chet White | UK Athletics[/caption] Approaching the season, questions surround every defensive position, except in the secondary.  Although young, the talented group is not prepared to crush under pressure.  "There's no pressure," Edwards said.  "We know what we're capable of."