What’s Going On With Kentucky Football In June 

The college football offseason was formerly a lonely time for hungry fans in June. The only summer news from your favorite program was normally bad. Today, the month is a happening time and updates come on a daily basis. Let’s get into it. 

Prospect Camps and Official Visits

So, what goes on in June? Prospect camps and official visits are now THE focus. UK has hosted multiple one-day camps so far with more to come. Potential Cats come to campus for an unofficial, on-field tryout in front of the coaching staff during these one-day camps. Committed players also attend in order to recruit fellow high schoolers and to learn from their future position coach. Future QB Cutter Boley did just that recently. This is a good sign of the young signal caller’s leadership and commitment. 

Mark Stoops is hosting several top targets and committed players this weekend when multiple hopefuls will be on campus for their official visit. This is a new happening in college football. Formerly, OV’s took place in-season and in early winter. In-season official visits never made sense to me. Coaches and player-hosts are dialed in on the game and under challenging time constraints. 

I like these visits in June much better. Coaches and players have more relaxed time to focus on the prospect and their families. Coaches are different in the summer. They just are. The stress of the season can be exceptionally draining. The summer is the most opportune time for all involved parties to have the most thoughtful and intentional collaboration.

Team Workouts/Strength and Conditioning

The actual team is also a priority as you can imagine. The strength and conditioning, sports science, and nutrition staff play a larger role during the summer than they do throughout any other time of the year. 

You’ve likely heard or read me praise Cory Edmond and Mark Hill on various media platforms. I do so for good reason. The combo leads the best strength and conditioning team in the business. In essence, Mark Stoops hands his team over to the pair during the summer. That is a heavy responsibility. Hill and Edmond have the majority of staff interaction with the team. Their central emphasis for yearlong improvement plans take during the months of June and July. 

June is a time for players to get bigger, stronger, and faster. Workouts are detailed and specifically focused for each player. Rookies need to gain weight and strength. Their needs can be different than those that have been in the program for four or five years. Veterans may need to concentrate on twitch and explosiveness. Some begin their initial training for the NFL Combine. Regardless of need, Hill and Edmond construct a whole-player program that challenges the players physically and mentally. 

Conditioning sessions are not merely intended to get players into game-shape. There is a method to the madness. Workouts are designed to strengthen teamwork and to challenge the player’s ability to reach deep within inside when fatigued. This trait is tested in the fall during game scenarios. Again, Cory Edmond and Mark Hill are the best in the business. You can rest easy knowing those two are in charge during the summer. 

Pitch and Catch

Player led throwing sessions are a must in June. Normally, the starting quarterback organizes and manage coach-less throwing sessions with receivers, tight ends, and running backs. Defensive players do the same which leads to 7 on 7 scrimmages. These sessions can be extremely competitive and at times, heated. Devin Leary needs these workouts to become familiar with his pass catchers and to boost his knowledge of Liam Coen’s system. 

4 for 40 Wednesdays

Some coaches talk player development, others truly believe in helping players both on and off the field. Mark Stoops sincerely believes in preparing his athletes for life after football. The head coach takes tremendous pride in player development and it is a staple of his program. 

Stoops initiated the 4 for 40 Wednesdays four years ago. On these days, a guest speaker is brought in to educate or motivate the team. The speaker session is followed by a cookout with the team behind the training facility and is accompanied by games such as whiffle ball, basketball, corn hole, etc. Players and coaches have fun, bond, and learn more about each other off the field. Brad White and Anwar Stewart often man the grills. Vince Marrow challenges players to a game of horse on the basketball court. 

These Wednesdays are also vital for freshmen. The rookies are away from home for the first time. Their world is a whirlwind as they become accustom to college life and football. Bonding with fellow players and coaches in a chilled environment offers a piece of home during their first month on campus.

Summer School

The “student” part of student-athlete is also addressed in June when players attend summer school. This helps the athletes to get ahead, catch up, and to focus on the books. This is very important. Summer classes assist the players to graduate on time or even early. 

What Does All This Mean?

I recently read that Nick Saban said that he and his staff work 44 out of 52 weeks in a year. Mark Stoops and his coaches do the same. There is very little downtime in college football these days. I don’t think this pace can be sustained and needs to be addressed. 

KSR has you covered in the offseason. Follow along as Nick, Adam, Jacob, and Zack provide updates from prospect camps and news from official visits. We’ll get through the summer together.