Monday Huddle: Football is coming

Welcome to the football zone.

For the second year in a row, KSR will be here every Monday throughout the season to act as your guide for the week in the Monday Huddle. We will keep all of our faithful followers updated on the Wildcats throughout training camp and into a 2021 season that has a chance to be a special one for the Kentucky football program.

Throughout August, the football team at KSR will keep you up to date on what is happening during camp and if any buzz is building for certain players heading into the Labor Day weekend opener against ULM at Kroger Field. Once the season starts, the Monday Huddle will preview every game week as we turn the page from last weekend’s results. The plan is for this to be a must-read piece every Monday for all Kentucky football fans.

Let’s get the party started on this four-month journey that will end with us yelling at ESPN during their unbelievably long bowl selection show in December.

First Down: 2021 team makes its debut

SEC Media Days was the unofficial starting point of the 2021 season as each head football coach and various players throughout the Southeastern Conference got to promote their programs down in Hoover, Alabama. However, on Friday, the entire program will take the stage in Lexington.

KSR will be on location for Friday’s media day with coverage from the press conferences as well as getting to talk to just about every player on the roster. Expect a jam-packed day as the 2021 training camp gets started at the University of Kentucky. Look for Mark Stoops to drop a similar quote on his belief in the team like some of the quiet confidence we heard down in Hoover.

“I said it when I got to Kentucky that we were going to recruit, we were going to develop, we were going to compete, and I wanted to take this program to national prominence, and people laughed at me,” Stoops told reporters at SEC Media Days. “We’re not there yet, but we’re on our way. I’m going to continue to work. I feel good about where we’re at.”

“I think we have a very good team, and we have some things in place, and we’re constantly learning, constantly growing, and we’re getting better.”

Second Down: QB scuttlebutt

Last week, KSR learned that redshirt junior quarterback Joey Gatewood has come a long way since the end of last season and that a strong QB competition should be expected to occur between the former top-100 recruit and Penn State transfer Will Levis.

Heard from two VERY good sources in last few minutes today same info…one said directly:

“Joey Gatewood has stepped it up BIG TIME last couple of weeks. There is a QB battle”

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) July 28, 2021

This all comes after new offensive coordinator Liam Coen quickly hit the transfer portal to add Levis once arriving in Lexington. Both quarterbacks are unproven at the FBS level, but Levis has long been considered the favorite in this battle. However, Gatewood is making a strong last push and will look to hold off the fellow transfer.

Don’t expect anything juicy to come from Stoops or Coen on Friday, but get ready for a couple of weeks of dancing around questions from all parties in the program until a strong candidate emerges late in training camp.

Third Down: Replacing Keaton Upshaw

While at SEC Media Days, we learned that Kentucky’s redshirt junior tight end will have to miss the 2021 season. Many figured Keaton Upshaw could be due for a breakout season as Coen was bringing a pro-style passing game to the SEC. This new attack could use some heavier personnel groupings that could allow the Wildcats to take advantage of a strong tight end room.

That could be off the table now.

The Wildcats now have just four scholarship tight ends on the roster with the news that wide receiver Izayah Cummings is switching positions. Now the offensive staff must figure out how the unit will replace one of its top pass-catching options to go along with their top red zone threat. Super senior Justin Rigg will be asked to play a ton of snaps, but the Wildcats must get more from the wide receiver room.

Kentucky will likely go to a heavy amount of 11 personnel — one running back, one tight end, three receivers — needing the perimeter players to make an impact. This is a group that should feel confident in both super senior Josh Ali and Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson. However, after that, there are a lot of questions.

Isaiah Epps and DeMarcus Harris are returnees who have SEC playing experience. Tae Tae Crumes, Earnest Sanders, and Michael Drennen II were all solid recruiting wins who have yet to make a splash. Newcomers Dekel Crowdus, Chauncey Magwood, Chris Lewis, and Tre’Von Morgan will each get a longer look during fall camp.

The Wildcats need to find answers on the perimeter. Plenty of candidates are out there. These are the guys who must replace the void left by Upshaw.

The week ahead at KSR

Want podcasts? Both 11 Personnel and The Depth Chart Podcast will be recording this week. Want position previews? KSR will be kicking off our yearly series on Tuesday to get everyone charged up for the football season.

Expect multiple loaded weeks of football content as the season quickly approaches. There will be a large amount of recruiting news as we get closer to the season, but now we have the chance to talk about actual football and not hypotheticals. It feels good to type that. Let’s go have some fun as we are now just 33 days away from kickoff.

Football is coming.