Introducing First Down Kentucky, a Daily UK Football Notebook

Good morning, Big Blue Nation. Welcome to the first ever edition of “First Down Kentucky,” a new daily UK football notebook on Kentucky Sports Radio. I’ll serve as the primary architect, constructing a blog that shares news about Mark Stoops’ football team, commentary about the biggest stories around the facility and a grab bag of fun from the wildest sport in the United States of America.

We’re picking one heck of a day to roll out this new Kentucky football notebook. The Wildcats are going to the Gator Bowl, coaches are on the road recruiting and the transfer portal is officially open. We’ll save the latter for later once the portal really gets humming, but first, one big takeaway you should have from Bowl Selection Sunday.

Kentucky gets a Name Brand in a Noteworthy Bowl

Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Iowa — those names don’t excite Average Joe College Football Fan. Those are the kind of teams Mark Stoops has been stuck playing throughout his record-setting postseason run in Lexington. In the lead-up to last year’s Music City Bowl, national pundits made it a “must watch game” for all of the wrong reasons. They were proven correct and the loss to Iowa was even uglier than advertised.

We were on the verge of a similar situation in 2023. Duke was a common opponent projected to play Kentucky in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Pundits were prepared to call it the “Basketbowl,” distracting average fans from acknowledging the positive things happening in Lexington. The game would be against a school without a head coach. It was a no-win situation, one the Cats avoided with a significant upgrade.

Instead of playing a basketball blueblood in the Mayo Bowl, Kentucky is playing Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Every college football fan has heard of the Gator Bowl. Only five bowl games are older than the contest in Jacksonville. Not only does every college football fan know Clemson, they have an opinion on Dabo Swinney’s program. People will tune in, likely to cheer for the underdog.

Few expect the Cats to win. Kentucky is playing with house money and if they can knock off Clemson, it will create a significant buzz around the program. The only signature opponent Kentucky has faced in the postseason was a victory over Penn State. Hopefully history repeats itself Dec. 29.

Kentucky Football Coaches on the Road Recruiting

The transfer portal will consume most of the oxygen during the December roster building period, and rightfully so. Kentucky has 23 players in its Top 25 high school recruiting class and there aren’t a ton of big fish available to secure those final spots in the lead up to the start of the Early Signing Period, which begins Dec. 20. Former Missouri commit S Cam Dooley is a name to watch, and there are some potential flips, like Alabama WR Rico Scott.

Just because the Kentucky football recruiting class is nearly complete, doesn’t mean Stoops’ staff is remaining stagnant. Vince Marrow is already on the road solidifying commitments with this group and it all started Sunday night when Brad White accompanied him on a trip to Corbin to visit the Smith Twins. We’ll be following the coaches closely as they hit the road in the coming weeks.

Family🤞🏼 pic.twitter.com/7fr3GsTYob

— Cutter Boley (@cutterBoley) December 2, 2023

A Big Transfer Portal Visitor Weekend Awaits

The transfer portal had a soft opening last week, allowing grad transfers and lower division prospects to get a head start on the rest of the pack. Two former Indiana Hoosiers have already emerged as significant targets that are expected to be in Lexington this weekend.

Donaven McCulley, a 6-foot-5 X-receiver, led the Hoosiers in receiving yards (644) and touchdowns (6) in 2023. The high school quarterback is one his way to becoming an NFL Draft pick and Kentucky might just end up being his final proving ground. His teammate, Carter Smith, is expected to join him this weekend. The offensive tackle started in every game as a redshirt freshman. With three years of eligibility remaining, the Ohio native could provide some much-needed depth next fall and give the Cats a succession plan following Marques Cox‘s departure.

The list of visitors will only grow throughout the week. Make sure you regularly check the Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker and KSBoard to stay up to date as the Cats narrow their crosshairs on transfer portal targets.

Wesley Woodyard Represents UK in Atlanta

Each year the league invites one former player from each team to the SEC Championship Game to be recognized as “legend.” This year the Wildcats were represented by a player who embodies the heart and soul of the Big Blue Nation, Wesley Woodyard. A four-year captain, the Wildcat linebacker fueled Rich Brooks’ turnaround by totaling 395 tackles during his illustrious career. Now that his professional career has ended after more than a decade, he has some free time to yuck it up with all of the big wigs in Atlanta.

Legendary status, @WoodDro52 pic.twitter.com/8NremIljhX

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) December 2, 2023

Teach Tape

Hustle, heart, resolve — those are the qualities coaches try to instill in their players at all levels of every sport. The Big Ten Championship did not deliver much to the viewing audience, except for one display of perseverance on the punt team. The Iowa gunner missed a tackle that would have backed up Michigan inside their own 10-yard line. He did not give up on the play until he made the touchdown-saving tackle almost 100 yards down the field.

Just showed this to my son. Awesome. pic.twitter.com/oQ7wjBHx3z

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) December 3, 2023