Aug. 10, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky football team held its first two-a-day practice Wednesday in day seven of fall camp. The Wildcats practiced in full pads in the morning session before coming out for the afternoon practice clad in helmets and shoulder pads.

After practice, head coach Joker Phillips announced that sophomore linebacker Qua Huzzie had elected to transfer from Kentucky, while senior free safety Josh Gibbs has given up the game of football for personal reasons.

Phillips also announced after practice that senior offensive lineman Stuart Hines suffered a sprained knee on Tuesday. However, the native of Bowling Green, Ky., is not expected to miss the season opener against Western Kentucky. Hines is a two-year starter for the Wildcats.

Other than a few exceptions, Phillips says the team is healthy.

“We have typical injuries for this time of the year after you have got in seven practices,” Phillips said. “We have some bumps and bruises and a couple of guys we held out this afternoon because they needed a break. Gene McCaskill needed a break on his knee and we will continue watch him. We have to get Gene McCaskill to the games. He is a guy that has played a lot of ball around here and is another coach on the field for those young receivers. We have some other bumps and bruises so we held those guys out, not because they are injured just because they could use a break. It is only going to give us a chance to give some of those young guys some reps also. We are building depth. That is what we are trying to do. When a guy has done it for a long time around here and he has a couple bumps and bruises and we have a chance to rest him we need to do that.”