Kentucky Football Position By Position Preview
Part eight in an eight part series previewing the 2014 Kentucky Football Wildcats.
One of many gems from the outstanding Kentucky Specialists Twitter Page.
DEPTH CHART:
Placekicker:
Austin MacGinnis 5-10, 168 Fr.-RS Prattville, AL
Max Strong 5-11, 183 So. Louisville, KY (Trinity)
Punter:
Landon Foster 6-1, 198 Jr. Franklin, TN
Long snapper:
Kelly Mason 6-3, 223 Jr. Rockton, IL
Punt Returners:
Ryan Timmons, Demarco Robinson, Javess Blue
Kickoff Returners:
Ryan Timmons, Demarco Robinson, Javess Blue, Boom Williams, TV Williams, JD Harmon
The final installment in the 2014 Kentucky football position previews features the Wildcats' special teams units. While this position may lack the luster of some of the higher profile positions on the roster, Kentucky's specialists will be as critical to the success of the 2014 Wildcat season as any other position group. Think that's an exaggeration? Ask Nick Saban, who saw arch rival Auburn leapfrog his Crimson Tide to reach the National Championship game in 2013 based on one spectacularly bizarre special teams play. Watch the opening slate of games next weekend. Games will be won with a big return or a late field goal. Games will be lost with a blocked kick or a bad snap. With little margin for error on offense and defense as Mark Stoops continues to build depth in his Wildcat program, the Cats must win the special teams battle every week to move out of the SEC basement.
KICKERS:
There is no player more secure in his position on the Wildcat roster than punter Landon Foster. The official depth chart does not even list a backup. Foster has been Kentucky's starting punter since his true freshman season, when he was named Freshman All American. Going into his junior season, Foster's career punting average of 42 yards per punt ranks third all time in Kentucky football history. The starting placekicker is clear but unproven. Redshirt freshman Austin MacGinnis, regarded as a top 3 kicker nationally out of high school, may be the most highly regarded kicker the Wildcats have ever signed. Coaches are confident in his ability both as a field goal kicker and on kickoffs, but questions will remain until he actually executes the operation on the field. Assisting both the kickers and punters will be two year starting long snapper Kelly Mason. Though long snappers rarely go early in fantasy drafts, Kentucky coaches can rest easy at night knowing that Mason will deliver the ball accurately on both field goals and punts.
RETURNERS:
Kentucky football history is not loaded with moments about which Wildcat fans can brag. But one area of relatively constant success has been the return game. Dicky Lyons, Sr. ran back three punts for touchdowns in the late '60's. (And went on to spawn a son specifically designed to win SEC Media Day and destroy LSU's Craig Steltz.) Craig Yeast scored three touchdowns via kickoff return in the 1990's. And in the early part of the current millennium, Derek Abney became the nation's all time leader in kick returns for touchdown. But the Cats' return game has hit a lengthy dry spell. In fact, Kentucky has not scored a touchdown via return since the great Randall Cobb returned a punt for touchdown against Western Kentucky in 2010. Kentucky's leading returners on both punt and kickoffs in 2014, Demarco Robinson and Javess Blue, both return, and will be in the mix to return kicks this Fall. But the most intriguing candidates may be sophomore Ryan Timmons and true freshman Boom Williams. Almost without exception, viewers of Kentucky practices this Fall have raved about Williams' elite speed and natural elusiveness. With the running back depth chart relatively stacked, special teams may be the best option for Kentucky's coaches to utilize these skills. Timmons made a cameo appearance in the return game during his freshman season, but is primed to be a force there in 2014. In fact, he is my bet for breaking the three season touchdown drought for Wildcat returners. I base that in part on one of my favorite statistics of all time. In Timmons' senior year of high school, opposing coaches understandably kicked away from him. In fact, he only returned three kickoffs all season. In something that sounds like a Chuck Norris joke, Timmons returned all three for touchdowns.
Hope you've enjoyed these previews. See you at Commonwealth in just over a week. Go Cats!
One of many gems from the outstanding Kentucky Specialists Twitter Page.
DEPTH CHART:
Placekicker:
Austin MacGinnis 5-10, 168 Fr.-RS Prattville, AL
Max Strong 5-11, 183 So. Louisville, KY (Trinity)
Punter:
Landon Foster 6-1, 198 Jr. Franklin, TN
Long snapper:
Kelly Mason 6-3, 223 Jr. Rockton, IL
Punt Returners:
Ryan Timmons, Demarco Robinson, Javess Blue
Kickoff Returners:
Ryan Timmons, Demarco Robinson, Javess Blue, Boom Williams, TV Williams, JD Harmon
The final installment in the 2014 Kentucky football position previews features the Wildcats' special teams units. While this position may lack the luster of some of the higher profile positions on the roster, Kentucky's specialists will be as critical to the success of the 2014 Wildcat season as any other position group. Think that's an exaggeration? Ask Nick Saban, who saw arch rival Auburn leapfrog his Crimson Tide to reach the National Championship game in 2013 based on one spectacularly bizarre special teams play. Watch the opening slate of games next weekend. Games will be won with a big return or a late field goal. Games will be lost with a blocked kick or a bad snap. With little margin for error on offense and defense as Mark Stoops continues to build depth in his Wildcat program, the Cats must win the special teams battle every week to move out of the SEC basement.
KICKERS:
There is no player more secure in his position on the Wildcat roster than punter Landon Foster. The official depth chart does not even list a backup. Foster has been Kentucky's starting punter since his true freshman season, when he was named Freshman All American. Going into his junior season, Foster's career punting average of 42 yards per punt ranks third all time in Kentucky football history. The starting placekicker is clear but unproven. Redshirt freshman Austin MacGinnis, regarded as a top 3 kicker nationally out of high school, may be the most highly regarded kicker the Wildcats have ever signed. Coaches are confident in his ability both as a field goal kicker and on kickoffs, but questions will remain until he actually executes the operation on the field. Assisting both the kickers and punters will be two year starting long snapper Kelly Mason. Though long snappers rarely go early in fantasy drafts, Kentucky coaches can rest easy at night knowing that Mason will deliver the ball accurately on both field goals and punts.
RETURNERS:
Kentucky football history is not loaded with moments about which Wildcat fans can brag. But one area of relatively constant success has been the return game. Dicky Lyons, Sr. ran back three punts for touchdowns in the late '60's. (And went on to spawn a son specifically designed to win SEC Media Day and destroy LSU's Craig Steltz.) Craig Yeast scored three touchdowns via kickoff return in the 1990's. And in the early part of the current millennium, Derek Abney became the nation's all time leader in kick returns for touchdown. But the Cats' return game has hit a lengthy dry spell. In fact, Kentucky has not scored a touchdown via return since the great Randall Cobb returned a punt for touchdown against Western Kentucky in 2010. Kentucky's leading returners on both punt and kickoffs in 2014, Demarco Robinson and Javess Blue, both return, and will be in the mix to return kicks this Fall. But the most intriguing candidates may be sophomore Ryan Timmons and true freshman Boom Williams. Almost without exception, viewers of Kentucky practices this Fall have raved about Williams' elite speed and natural elusiveness. With the running back depth chart relatively stacked, special teams may be the best option for Kentucky's coaches to utilize these skills. Timmons made a cameo appearance in the return game during his freshman season, but is primed to be a force there in 2014. In fact, he is my bet for breaking the three season touchdown drought for Wildcat returners. I base that in part on one of my favorite statistics of all time. In Timmons' senior year of high school, opposing coaches understandably kicked away from him. In fact, he only returned three kickoffs all season. In something that sounds like a Chuck Norris joke, Timmons returned all three for touchdowns.
Hope you've enjoyed these previews. See you at Commonwealth in just over a week. Go Cats!
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