First Down Kentucky: Coaching Staffs could be Growing

College football is a continuous arms race that changes its weaponry every few years. Initially, all of the focus was on upgrading facilities. Then it transitioned to NIL. The next phase is in the coaching ranks. The one thing Billy Napier has done well at Florida is hire people. Soon, all of those quality control, game-changer analysts may be able to receive full-time coaching duties.

Ross Dellenger reports the college football oversight committee has proposed legislation that would eliminate restrictions for support staff, allowing all analysts and assistants the ability to provide skill development and tactical advice during practices and on game days. This proposal would eliminate the rule that restricts programs to ten assistant coaches and two graduate assistants.

Under this rule change, graduate assistants would no longer be the exception to on-field instruction. It also would not expand the number of off-site recruiters. Only 10 assistants could hit the road, but coaches may receive discretion to alternate which staffers can recruit on the road or stay home. (I think Kentucky would utilize this right away, designating one or two analysts as full-time recruiters, while a couple of position coaches remain in Lexington to keep their focus on on-field coaching.)

A similar proposal did not pass last year. I got a feeling they will move forward with this change in mid-May. The rule is already unenforceable. What technically is “coaching” and what isn’t? It’s an unnecessary gray area for the sport. Even though some big-budget programs may try to gain an advantage with more staffers, that’s already happening. Take off the handcuffs and let the analysts cook.

More Brock Bombs

We received another small snippet from the action at Nutter Field House. A day after players and coaches praised Hardley Gilmore, UK shared a video of Brock Vandagriff dialing one up for the freshman wide receiver.

Working towards our goals. pic.twitter.com/2wBXeiEhxH

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) March 27, 2024

The New Indoor Facility Rocks

UK Pro Day was my first opportunity to actually go inside the revamped Nutter Field House. Whatever you see on video, it’s even better in person. There’s so much more space to operate. Instead of track and field equipment in the corner, there are sleds. The lighting is significantly better. Most importantly, the turf is outstanding. It’s not as hairy as its predecessors and significantly firmer. Identical to the playing surface at Kroger Field, it gets the players game-ready instead of serving as a potential injury liability.

Barion Brown says Cats are “locked in” with new offense

Barion Brown‘s third college football season will kick off with his third play-caller and third quarterback. Learning how to catch passes from a new guy is becoming an offseason routine. It’s all about creating chemistry, a phrase we use often, but what does it really mean?

For Brown, it’s reps and feedback. When a play goes wrong, or right, he speaks with Vandagriff about where he prefers certain passes as the QB shares where he expects Barion to be. It’s been a seamless transition so far for the receivers, and the offense as a whole, because this team is hungry.

“I feel with this group, we’re very locked in and we know where we want to be,” said Brown. “We kind of picked up on it fast. We’re trusting the coaches. It’s a great, great set of coaches, so we’re buying in, listening in meetings, getting to work early before practice and after still working. Everybody’s buying in and trusting the process.”

Kentucky Commit Returns to Campus

Most visits during the spring take place on days the Wildcats host practice. RB commit Isaiah West didn’t get to see practice, but he did make the trip from New Jersey to hang out with the players and coaches at the facility.

Kentucky Wildcats in ESPN’s 7-Round Mock Draft

The NFL Draft kicks off in Detroit one month from tomorrow. As we get closer to the event, mock drafts are growing larger. Matt Miller shared the first seven-round mock draft for ESPN and five Wildcats are featured, but only one in the first two days of the NFL Draft.

3rd Round, No. 76: Andru Phillips to the Broncos
4th Round, No. 113: Trevin Wallace to the Ravens
5th Round, No. 138: Ray Davis to the Cardinals
5th Round, No. 170: Devin Leary to the Saints
7th Round, No. 248: Tayvion Robinson to the Bills

Even though Wallace is projected as a fourth-rounder, he is still taking a few top 30 visits to NFL campuses. The former Kentucky linebacker was in Green Bay today to speak with Packers’ brass.

11 Personnel Returns Tomorrow

A busy March Madness + a little paternity leave for Mr. Luckett briefly sent us to the bench. We’ll be back with plenty of Kentucky football to talk about tomorrow. Catch 11 Personnel LIVE at 1 pm EST on the KSR YouTube Channel or find us afterward wherever you get your podcasts.