Media Day Roundup

Nick Roush from KSR College was in attendance at the UK Football Media Day. Below are some of the notes, thoughts and quotes from Roush's experience... (La’Rod King is poised to be a Sr Leader for a promising WR core)   A gloomy Friday morning didn’t make for the greaatest Kentucky Football Media day, but it did without a doubt provide for some entertainment. - The day started off on the wrong foot when Joker Phillips announced at his press conference that starting Safety Marcus Caffey was ruled academically ineligible for his Sophomore season. A tough way to open up a day that you want to be about positivty around the program. In my mind Caffey was without a doubt the best player in our secondary, and proved it in the Spring game. Like Quentin McCord and Marcus McClinton at Safety, Caffey is a great open field tackler that the defense will miss. However he can still practice, and will have a year to get ready for the next season. - LB Avery Williamson is up to 244 lbs and has gained a lot of muscle putting in extra time in the weight room and film room, and is ready to fill the hole that Danny Trevathan left.

I mean there definitely is a gap, he was a great linebacker, it’s not really a fact of replacing him because you can’t replace him, it’s a fact of just getting better. I just got to be myself and be a great leader for the team, I gotta be Avery Williamson. I’m just excited to get on the field, It feels like I’ve been waiting five years but it’s only been two.

- WR Demarco Robinson (you can call him Marco) showed us in the Spring that he has great big playmaking ability. Joker said it himself, there hasn’t been a scrimmage that he hasn’t done something that has WOWed the coaching staff.This is what he had to say for the fans.

Everybody needs to know that we feel like this is gonna be our breakout year and we comin.

- TE Tyler Robinson had a great Spring game, along with all of the veteran group of TE’s that include Ronnie Shields and Jordan Aumiller. They have persisted with getting more balls thrown to the TE’s. There are many competitive positions that are being fought for, and this is one of them.

It’s good for us, we’ve all been here 3 or 4 years and we’re all really good friends. It’s good for the competitive level, and it’s good for the team because we all have been here and all know the offense. We always push each other, it’s not like a feud or nothing, we want everybody to do well including ourselves. It’s great friendly competition.

  [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="504"] (Josh Clemons)[/caption]   - Sophomore RB Josh Clemons is coming off of a season ending knee injury after showing us a glimpse of great things to come. Clemons will be taking it day to day during camp, but couldn’t be more excited to get back on the football field.

I’m just trying to get back out there with the team. Sitting there watching it on TV, isn’t the same being there with them on the field, feeling the crowd and celebrating wins with the team, or losing and trying to move forward with the team. I’m just ready to be apart of that again.

  - DE Collins Ukwu is also coming off of the injured list after having shoulder surgery in the offseason. Ukwu is just as anxious to get back with the team as Clemons is.

Being back with the guys having that team chemistry. Looking outside of football, just the fun times at camps. Being in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria with the guys, dreading practice together. That’s the good part, this being my last year I just want to remember it all.

On a side note, he’s been growing his hair out for 5 years. That’s dedication. - Freshman WR A.J. Legree has had the chance to work with all 3 QBs during the summer, but like the coaching staff, he can’t pick a favorite.

You try and get adjusted to a different one. Some have a certain touch to the ball, certain ones have a lot of arch, some put some zip behind it. I don’t have a favorite, all of them are good I’m just excited to get adjusted to it and soaking it all up. I love it.

He’s excited to get camp started, “but they call it Boot Camp for a reason.” - Freshman QB Pat Towles enters the season with high expectations after winning MR. Football and throwing for 46 Touchdowns and 1 Interception. However, you can’t expect the transition from High School to the SEC to be easy, and he knows it.

It’s a big difference going from KY HS Football to the SEC, (he says with a grin) it’s not insurmountable, but it is a lot. [On working with new receivers] They can run, that’s for sure they can run and jump. It’s good though, I have a lot of guys that I don’t necessarily have to throw a perfect ball to, that can make plays.

  -@RoushKSR