Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks continues to be encouraged by his team?s performance in practice now that the Wildcats have had two workouts in full pads.
?About the same,? Brooks said on Monday, when asked how he felt after watching the film of Saturday?s practice. ?There were some little assignment errors on offense and defense, but I?m pleased with the progress. We?re seeing improvement with some of the young guys but also guys like (senior wide receiver) Keenan Burton, who are playing at a different level.?
Kentucky had a two-hour, 15-minute practice in beautiful weather Monday morning at the Nutter Training Facility. Three players, linebacker Wesley Woodyard, free safety Marcus McClinton, and linebacker Micah Johnson, saw their first action of the spring. Woodyard missed the first three practices while at home in LaGrange, Ga., because of an illness in the family. McClinton (violation of team rules) and Johnson (academic responsibilities) have been reinstated to the team after being suspended.
Center Eric Scott was sidelined during practice because of a hyperextended elbow. Brooks said that it did not appear to be a long-term injury. Guard Jess Beets, one of the two junior-college players working to win a job in the offensive line, sat out Monday?s practice to rest an injured knee.
Woodyard Named to Lott Trophy Watch List: UK linebacker Wesley Woodyard is among 42 of the top defensive players in the nation named to the 2007 Lott Trophy Watch List.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, The Lott Trophy is awarded to college football?s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its fourth year, The Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.
Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, the award is given to a player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
Woodyard, a 6-1, 212-pound senior from La Grange, Ga., recorded a team-best 122 tackles last season (18th in the country) and is the leading returning tackler in the Southeastern Conference. He also forced five fumbles and had 9.5 tackles for losses while earning first-team Coaches All-SEC honors. In the classroom, Woodyard earned a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and has been inducted into the prestigious UK Athletics? Frank G. Ham Society of Character.
David Pollack of Georgia won the initial Lott Trophy in 2004. DeMeco Ryans of Alabama won the award in 2005 and Daymeion Hughes of Cal was the recipient in 2006. Georgia, Alabama and Cal each received $25,000 for their general scholarship funds. In three years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated nearly $300,000 to various charities, including the three universities.
Kentucky cornerback Antoine Huffman was a semifinalist for the Lott Trophy in 2005. Huffman, UK?s career leader in pass breakups, also was an Academic All-America nominee and a member of the National Good Works Team for community service.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, The IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisers comprised of many retired NFL players and Master Coaches, a distinguished group of former head college coaches.
The winner will be announced at a banquet at The Pacific Club in Newport Beach, Calif., on December 9, 2007.
Spring Football Calendar: Practices are open to the media and public and are held at Nutter Training Facility unless noted otherwise. Practices may be moved indoors to the Nutter Field House in case of bad weather.
Wed. Apr. 4 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Fri. Apr. 6 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Sat. Apr. 7 – TBA
Mon. Apr. 9 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Wed. Apr. 11 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Fri. Apr. 13 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Sat. Apr. 14 – TBA
Mon. Apr. 16 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Wed. Apr. 18 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Fri. Apr. 20 – 9 to 11:20 a.m. (tentative)
Sat. Apr. 21 – Blue/White Spring Game, 1 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium
