Kentucky Football Fan Day: 9 Observations from Freddie Maggard

The 2022 version of the Kentucky Wildcats were on display for the fans on Saturday. Mark Stoops’ team was on practice number four. The players were wearing shoulder pads and helmets. Here are some of my observations. 

Don’t Worry About Will Levis

Training camp is a time for quarterbacks to attempt throws that they normally will not try during the season. Will Levis tossed some picks, that’s ok. He’ll be fine. I was more focused on his footwork and release than the landing point of the football. Levis was throwing to a plethora of new pass catchers in one-on-ones, 7-on-7, and team pass periods. Yes, the offensive skill group had worked together during the summer, but camp calls for the action to be taken up a few levels. I’m not worried about QB1 at all. He’ll be fine. 

This Kentucky Wide Receiver Room is Different

Been doing this a while now. I’m not sure I’ve seen a position group evolve in a positive manner as quickly as the 2022 receivers. Sure, replacing Wan’Dale Robinson is going to be a challenge. But, there’s a bunch of speedy and youthful playmakers that look and play the part of SEC difference makers. Dane Key, Barion Brown, and others have the chance to be special. Add in the veteran Tayvion Robinson, and the Cats have more choices than a year ago. DeMarcus Harris also moved differently. The veteran is a mix of experience and positive development. Same could be said about Chauncey Magwood, Chris Lewis, and Rahsaan Lewis. Levis targeted Wan’Dale Robinson on an unhealthy level in 2021. The football will be spread around more in 2022. 

Linebacker is a Strength for Kentucky 

DeAndre Square, Jacquez Jones, Trevin Wallace, Martez Thrower, and D’Eryk Jackson construct a deep and influential group of inside backers. Square and Jones have played a ton of snaps and act like coaches on the field. Depth on the inside is noticeable. The quality of play doesn’t decrease when the two’s and threes are on the field. EDGE is not as deep, but JJ Weaver and Jordan Wright combine to give Brad White length, explosiveness and experience on the outside. Both are healthy and should be on the field at the same time more this season. In other words, UK can go base (3-4) and be able to square up in downs one through three. The second level is the strength of the defense. By far. 

Interior OL Will Rotate 

Thank goodness for Zach Yenser. The Big Blue Wall was established by playing multiple offensive linemen during game conditions regardless of the circumstance. This ensured maximum effort and assisted in positional development. That practice went away in 2021. The Cats are solid on the inside. Midyear All-American Eli Cox kicked over to center. I can see him becoming the best center of the Stoops’ era. That’s quite a statement by the way. Guards Kenneth Horsey and Tashawn Manning have played a great deal of SEC football. Redshirt freshman Jager Burton played center on Saturday and can rotate there and at guard. He’s the “Next” of the Big Blue Wall. John Young has worked himself into the rotation. Quintin Wilson didn’t practice but is a super-veteran that can play center or guard. Yenser will have fresh personnel in the game at all times. 

More Corners Mean Better Play 

Football lessons, much like those in life, are taken more seriously if struggle is involved. The 2021 Cats played the vast majority of the season with three scholarship CB’s, one of which was a converted safety. That lack of depth and competition showed especially against spread-passing opponents. Example, the pine (Bench) is a great motivator. That couldn’t be achieved last season because of the low numbers.

Stoops bolstered the corner room by the addition of Ole Miss transfer Keidron Smith who is a seasoned, SEC veteran. True freshman Alex Afari has turned heads. Carrington Valentine is said to have taken the proverbial next step and should be a second-year starter. Livingston College transfer Jordan Robinson adds length to the spot and former Mississippi State starter Londyn Craft provides even more experience. Add in Dru Phillips, and UK has competition in the third level. That was not the case a year ago. That reason alone gives hope that the cornerback position will see a jump in play. 

Tight Ends Are Good at the Football Game 

Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said that there are four or more TE’s on this year’s team that will play in the NFL. That’s quite a statement. Keaton Upshaw returns from injury and joins veterans Brenden Bates and Izayah Cummings. Freshman Jordan Dingle has garnered praise throughout the summer and camp. Josh Kattus is rookie that coaches and players alike are high on going into the season. Tennessee transfer Dee Beckwith is yet another player that could line up at TE, RB, or WR. Scangarello’s background is with the 49ers. That scheme calls for multiple TE sets. Personnel groupings could prove to be beneficial with Marrow’s room being a strength. 

There Are Questions at OT, DL, and RB 

Look, you can’t judge a team in the fourth practice of training camp. Just can’t. However, there are personnel issues that remain to be unsettled. First is offensive tackle. Scangarello seems to like his starters Deondre Buford and Jeremy Flax. Both seemed to move well on Saturday. Behind them were David Wohlabaugh and Paul Rodriguez. Kiyaunta Goodwin did not practice. Protecting Levis’ blindsides is a priority. This position grouping is one to monitor in camp and the first weeks of the season. 

The Chris Rodriguez Jr. Situation

Rodriguez Jr.’s situation remains fluid. It is not known if the All-SEC RB will play week one or at any point in the 2022 season. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, the Wildcats are a different offense when 24 is on the sidelines. There are other options. JuTahn McClain appears to be the all-purpose back that can stretch opposing defenses in the passing game. La’Vell Wright is a bruiser with speed. Many think he’s the “Next” at Kentucky. Kavosiey Smoke has been around for a while now and adds speed to the edge. The RB that interests me is Sam Houston transfer Ramon Jefferson. The former FCS All-American was electric at his former school. Powerfully built, Jefferson may be the physical runner that the Cats need if Rodriguez Jr. is out. We’ll see. 

Who’s the “Dude” on the Kentucky Defensive Line? 

Josh Paschal was special is so many ways. He was a saint off the field and a destroyer between the chalks. Bully McCall was a handful up the middle. There’s both gone to the NFL. There is talent up front, but no identifiable “Go-to” pass rusher or run disrupter. Defensive tackle Octavious Oxendine could fill that role. He flashed before being lost for the season due to injury in 2021. It’s said that he’s dropped weight and moving with more ease. There’s a great deal of expectation for Oxendine to take off this season. The time is now for former 5-star NT Justin Rogers to man the middle of the defense. Joining those two are a bunch of highly ranked defensive linemen who are going to be called on to step up and earn those star rankings. Defensive ends Tre’Vonn Rybka, Sam Anaele, and Darrion Henry-Young could be the team’s designated pass rusher by committee. 

Rookie Deone Walker is standing out early in camp. Joining him are Kahlil Saunders, Josiah Hayes, and Jamarius Dinkins. There’s plenty of players, but none have jumped out to the go-to as of yet. UK’s defensive line will feature rotation and depth. That’s a good thing but there’s a great deal of unproven talent on the first level. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Honestly, not a lot. The defense won practice number four. The offense probably won number three or five. It goes back and forth. You can’t judge a team this early in preseason camp. However, it’s obvious that position groups like receiver and corner are deeper and more talented than a year ago. It’s equally as noticeable that the interior offensive line is going to return to rotating and linebacker is a noticeable strength. 

Don’t worry about Will Levis. Quarterbacks take chances early in camp. He’ll dial it back in as camp advances into the game-planning phase. Now is a time for experimentation and testing limits. UK moved with purpose on Saturday. The practice was highly organized and motivated. That’s a product of the new year-around cycle that includes summer sessions that the coaches can be a part of. The best part of Saturday, no injuries to report. 

Football State.