UK Football Spring Practice Notes

(UKAthletics.com)

Coach Joker Phillips held a brief press conference after today’s spring practice. With only six practice until the Blue/White game on Saturday, April 21st the team continues to figure out their individual roles and grasp scheme concepts. Phillips and his team are preparing for a scrimmage in Commonwealth Stadium tomorrow morning. This is the second of three scrimmages that the team will have before the Blue and White game. Here are a few notes from today:

-Running back CoShik Williams (shoulder) was limited in practice today and will likely sit out of the scrimmage tomorrow. Phillips is confident that Raymond Sanders and Johnathan George will be able to pick up the slack. He often calls tailback the deepest position on the team.

-Coach Phillips said that the idea of these scrimmages are to find out who the potential playmakers are, and to give a chance for players to impress coaches.

-Joker identified wideout Demarco Robinson as the number one kick returner going into the season.

– Joker spoke highly of linebacker Bud Dupree and said he’s not only a great athlete, but a great kid. Dupree is leading a study group of his History 109 class, which Phillips thinks not only shows his maturity, but his responsibility in the classroom.

-Defensive Coordinator Rick Minter shared the same sentiments about Dupree and also WLB Malcolm McDuffen. He believes both these guys have the talent to be the heir apparent to the great linebacker tradition that Kentucky has had over the past five years.

-Minter also said that it’s hard to identify what the output will be by each player when the season starts and stressed that spring practice is about learning schemes and getting better in individual positions.

-Offensive Coordinator Randy Sanders called Darryl Collins the complete package at the wideout position. He thinks he has all the physical tools to be a great player, but needs to get tougher mentally.

-As one of the more experienced players on the defense, safety Mikie Benton is trying to do his part to help out. One of the major things he said is trying to help the younger players out with understanding the playbook. He also talked about emphasizing effort, and teaching technique as well.

-Benton added that when everything comes together and everyone gets the playbook down pact this is going to be a fun defense to watch.

Here is Joker’s presser in full:

 

 

On, On, U of K.