Connections Run Deep for EKU and Kentucky Football

Only 26.7 miles lie in-between Kroger Field and Roy Kidd Stadium. The proximity between the two programs isn’t the only thing that connects these football teams. On Saturday Mark Stoops‘ Kentucky Wildcats will host three of his former pupils when the Eastern Kentucky Colonels take take the field at 3 pm EST.

Before he was named ASUN coach of the year in back-to-back season, EKU head coach Walt Wells spent two seasons on Mark Stoops’ staff as a quality control analyst. The Kentucky head coach has a ton of respect for Wells and still maintains a great relationship with the EKU coach.

“When he was here, obviously he was a guy I talked to quite a bit, the role that he was in and the experience that he had, I just got to visit with him a bunch. We became good friends and, try to catch up here and there,” Stoops said at his Monday press conference.

He continued, “He’s just a really good person. I think he’s a really good coach. He does a great job in recruiting and a lot of experience in coaching. It’s evident, I want to say, wasn’t he coach of the year the last two years in that league? He’s done a really good job and they played really good a year ago.”

“One of The Best Guys I Ever Worked For”

Walt Wells cut his teeth as an offensive line coach, beginning his career with Roy Kidd back in 1997. Fast forward a little more than two decades later and he found himself in Mark Stoops’ office.

“I got to Kentucky at a time that I needed Kentucky more than Kentucky needed me,” Wells said.

Turns out, they needed him too. John Schlarman was battling a deadly form of cancer. He fought like hell to never miss a practice or a meeting, but if he needed a breather, Wells was there to step in and help the team. Not only did he contribute in the Xs and Os department as an advanced scout for Brad White’s defense, Wells served as a sounding board for the head coach. The two are about the same age with similar backgrounds and experiences. They worked well together.

“I think I was somebody that he could talk when he needed to get things off his chest that wasn’t in the fray, so to speak; that wasn’t going to take it personally, that wasn’t going to wonder this, that and the other. As we evolved in our friendship, it just came on and on and on,” said Wells.

“We would just stand back there (behind) the defensive secondary during practice. Everybody thought we were talking about scheme all the time and this and that. No, sometimes we were just talking about life, and it really grew our friendship.”

Although the rigors of the job have made the relationship more passive over the years, Stoops has consistently given Wells a hand throughout his first three seasons in Richmond. The Kentucky coaching staff helped EKU navigate COVID-19, then went the extra mile to help Wells and his family after he suffered a near fatal heart attack last summer.

“He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever worked with because he’s a true people person.”

CJ Conrad, Maxwell Smith Return to the Kentucky Sidelines

Maxwell Smith was the quarterback under center when Mark Stoops coached his first game at Kentucky. Injuries limited him to just nine games, but he threw for 1,276 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception in Kentucky’s 2-win 2013 campaign. He transferred to San Diego State for his final year of college football, then returned to Lexington to begin his coaching career where he served as a graduate assistant for three seasons.

C.J. Conrad followed a similar path to his first job as a full-time assistant coach. The former Kentucky tight end was a graduate assistant and analyst for three years at his alma mater. He joined Wells’ staff this summer as the Colonels’ tight ends coach.

“I’ll enjoy seeing those guys, but the focus will be there on all sides,” said Stoops. “They’re competitors, believe me, you ask them and I know they love UK and have strong relationships on this staff, but I expect them to want to go in there and try to rip our eyeballs out. And our team’s going to go out there and try to play hard and play physical and win.”

Conrad was a four-year starter in Lexington and served as a team captain during Kentucky’s historic 2018 season. He caught 80 passes for 1,015 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, the second-most ever by a Kentucky tight end. His most memorable touchdown was with zeroes on the clock, giving the Wildcats a walk-off win at Missouri to set up a battle for the SEC East title the following week vs. Georgia.

Notable Names on the EKU Roster

“Hey, I know that guy.” That will happen a lot when you scan through the EKU football roster. It’s filled with former Kentucky high school football standouts and one-time Wildcats.

Jakob Dixon — The 6-foot-5 PRP standout earned a scholarship at a summer camp and committed shortly after. He actually reported to preseason practices this summer, but only last a few weeks before transferring to EKU.

Isaac Dixon — Spent a year in Lexington as a walk-on for the Wildcats. The running back from Belfry was named Mr. Football in 2021 after rushing for 1,986 yards and 29 touchdowns to help the Pirates win the 3A State Title.

Cam Hergott — Thanks to the COVID-19 waiver, he holds the distinction as the only reigning Kentucky Mr. Football to play in the KHSAA. He won the honor as a senior in 2020, then came back to win his third state title for Beechwood in 2021.

Treyveon Longmire — He was a four-star talent when the Corbin athlete committed to UK on Kentucky Sports Radio. The production did not follow and his commitment did not stick. Last fall as a true freshman he played in nine games and recorded one tackle.

Jackson Hensley — One of the most talented players from the Commonwealth in the class of 2020, the Pikeville wide receiver had 49 receptions, 809 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior to lead the Panthers to an undefeated season and a State Title. He committed to Wake Forest where he was used in special teams and last fall he caught his first collegiate pass, a 15-yard gain vs. Louisville.