Kentucky
Kentucky

Kentucky Team Report

Updated: April 22, 2012 04:25 EST

It's hard to conduct a quarterback competition when the most experienced signal caller in the program is recovering from shoulder surgery and the most talented player in the group doesn't arrive until August.

Kentucky might have a three-way battle for the job in fall camp but sophomore Maxwell Smith has the opportunity to take a significant lead if he can have a successful spring.

Smith was forced into the starting role last season when Morgan Newton was plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness. Smith had the typical growing pains of a quarterback who was playing in games well before he was fully ready.

Newton isn't yet able to throw well enough to compete in the spring so Smith will get the majority of spring repetitions. Highly acclaimed freshman Patrick Towles arrives in August amid plenty of hype after being named the state of Kentucky's "Mr. Football" after his final high school season.

Eastern Kentucky transfer Jacob Russell is the backup quarterback this spring but isn't considered a candidate for the starting job.

That leaves the door wide open for Smith to separate himself and be in the lead entering the fall.

"I need to keep progressing in the playbook and keep progressing learning defenses," Smith said.

Quarterback isn't the only position where competition will be raised.

The Wildcats don't have a starting running back and have major holes at the receiver and linebacker position as well as in the secondary.

Kentucky lost All-American linebacker Danny Trevathan and needs to identify three new starting linebackers after Ridge Wilson was booted off the squad after a winter drug arrest. The secondary lost standout safety Winston Guy and the group of receivers were subpar last season.

"There are some pretty good position battles -- especially at linebacker, the secondary and wide receiver," coach Joker Phillips said. "Those guys are starting to compete."

The Wildcats finish spring drills April 21 with the annual Blue-White Scrimmage.

--The Wildcats changed the positions of two redshirt freshmen. Quarterback Bookie Cobbins has been switched to receiver, a position in which Kentucky lacks established players. Running back Marcus Caffey is working at cornerback this spring and the staff is hoping he takes to the defensive role.

--Kentucky suffered a blow when highly regarded receivers coach Tee Martin left to take a similar position at USC. Pat Washington was hired to fill the opening and Washington previously coached with offensive coordinator Randy Sanders at Tennessee. The other coaching addition is defensive backs coach Mike Cassity, who played for Kentucky from 1971-74.

KEY QUESTIONS: In addition to the quarterback dilemma, the Wildcats need to identify a significant force at tailback. Josh Clemons was off to a strong start last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury and Raymond Sanders hasn't been able to stay on the field much. After-thought CoShik Williams was the late-season starter but Kentucky doesn't see him as a 200-carry back.

SPRING MOVERS:

MLB Avery Williamson -- The junior is making the move from valuable backup to starting middle linebacker and he's off to a good start. His presence is making a difference in a unit that was hit hard by departures.

DE Taylor Wyndham -- The senior is still best known for his crushing hit on Tim Tebow in 2009 and that's because his play hasn't elevated the way the defensive staff thought it would. He had just 14 tackles as a junior and the Wildcats will be watching him closely this spring.

WR Daryl Collins -- The spring is important for the redshirt freshman to show he can play a role this season. He was having a superb fall camp in 2011 before going down with a knee injury.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's still a tough transition. Learning how to run routes versus the different coverages and all those things. He struggled a little bit at times making the adjustments on the routes." -- Kentucky coach Joker Phillips on the move of quarterback Bookie Cobbins to receiver.

2012 OUTLOOK: The Wildcats went 5-7 in Joker Phillips' second season as coach and it's hard to see much improvement in the record even with Kentucky's traditionally soft nonconference slate. The Wildcats don't have the talent to compete with the elite programs of the SEC and that three-week string of bludgeonings to Florida, LSU and South Carolina by a combined score of 137-20 emphasized how far away the program remains to being a viable contender. Making strides would be qualifying for a lower-level bowl berth, while another losing season would put Phillips' future in doubt.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Maxwell Smith gets a chance to grow as a quarterback with Morgan Newton rehabbing from a shoulder injury. Smith needs the repetitions and will battle Newton and incoming freshman Patrick Towles for the starting gig in August. There are a lot of options at tailback between CoShik Williams (strong late in the year), injury prone Raymond Sanders and Josh Clemons, who got off to a strong start as a freshman before suffering a season-ending knee injury. La'Rod King is the only receiver assured of playing time and the Wildcats are looking for either Gene McCaskill or Brian Adams to step up. Guard Larry Warford and center Matt Smith are the bellcows of the offensive line.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The biggest chore is replacing standout linebacker Danny Trevathan, one of the top defensive players in school history. Trevathan was the leader of the unit as well as the most productive player. Kentucky has experience on the defensive line with ends Collins Ukwu and Taylor Wyndham and tackles Mister Cobble and Donte Rumph. Avery Williamson and Alvin Dupree are the top returning linebackers with Williamson counted on to be a leader as the middle linebacker replacing steady Ronnie Sneed. The back end is in transition mode and the Wildcats will badly miss safety Winston Guy. Kentucky needs to identify two new starting cornerbacks. Safety Martavius Neloms is the most reliable returner in the secondary.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Craig McIntosh is reliable on field goals and has a strong leg. The punting job is open and it will be quite a chore for somebody to match the success of Ryan Tydlacka. Joe Mansour and Jay Willmott are competing for the gig. The days of Randall Cobb making a difference as a returner seems long in the past as Kentucky was lackluster in the return game last season. Athletic Demarco Robinson is receiving a long look as a possible kickoff returner.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

QB Patrick Towles (Highlands High, Fort Thomas, Ky.) -- The state of Kentucky's "Mr. Football" may get a chance to play early with the quarterback situation being unsettled. Senior-to-be Morgan Newton bombed badly in his first full season as a starter and sophomore Maxwell Smith is probably Towles' biggest competitor. So there's really no reason to wait to play the future face of the program if Towles proves to be ready.

LB Khalid Henderson (Pebblebrook High, Mableton, Ga.) -- Here's how thrilled the Wildcats were to get him -- they are assigning him No. 22, the uniform number worn by Danny Trevathan, the SEC's leading tackler in each of the past two seasons. Henderson originally committed to Tennessee before changing his mind.

S Zack Blaylock (Walton High, Marietta, Ga.) -- Should be the anchor of the back end pretty quickly due to outstanding blend of athleticism and football awareness. Blaylock had 11 interceptions as a high school senior and returned five of them for touchdowns. His twin brother, Daron, also a defensive back, signed with the Wildcats as well. The Blaylocks are sons of former NBA star Mookie Blaylock.

ROSTER REPORT:

--DE Collins Ukwu ins't participating in spring drills due to shoulder surgery.

--RB Josh Clemons will avoid contact drills as he continues his recover from last season's knee surgery.

--RB Brandon Gainer is sitting out the spring due to academic reasons.

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