Coach Guy Morriss begins his second spring with the Wildcats in a situation that is far more settled than a year ago.
During the past year, Morriss has instilled his practice and playing philosophies, watched his team battle toe-to-toe with the heavyweights of the SEC, and re-organized his coaching staff. Those experiences should help the team have a more cohesive spring.
“I think we’re going to be way ahead of last year,” Morriss said. “The attitude and zeal with which the players attacked winter workouts have been super. We can get after it and have a tough, physical spring.
“We’ve been in the system for a year but we made some changes in assignments with the coaching staff. The players with new position coaches have to get on the same page. We have to look at our young players and develop some backups. We’re eager to get started.”
On offense, Morriss and offensive coordinator Brent Pease will welcome back a number of veterans from a group that caught fire over the second half of last season. Beginning with the games of Oct. 20, the Wildcats led the league in passing offense (376 yards per game) and ranked third in total offense (456.2 ypg) while averaging 29.8 points per game.
“We have a lot of room for improvement in understanding the offense,” Morriss said. “Our philosophy is the same – we want to run the ball more (to help balance the pass). We made some progress there last season, but when we got three starting linemen hurt it made it harder to blow people off the ball. But, last year’s experience will help them be what we need them to be.”
Up front, UK can field a line with five players who have starting experience. Left tackle Matt Huff, left guard Jason Rollins, center Nick Seitze, right guard Keith Chatelain, and right tackle Antonio Hall have combined for 53 starting assignments. And, with Chatelain being the only senior, the combination of youth and experience bodes well for this season and the future.
The line will be called upon to protect junior quarterback Jared Lorenzen, whose re-emergence into the starting lineup at mid-season coincided with the offensive resurgence. Over the last five games of the season, Lorenzen threw for 376 yards per game, including 17 touchdown against just six interceptions. Backup Shane Boyd will split time between spring practice and the baseball field, where he is a relief pitcher on the UK baseball team.
The quarterbacks have a good group of veteran wide receivers, including seniors Aaron Boone (18 receptions for 268 yards, six touchdowns last season) and Ernest Simms (16-218-1 TD), junior Derek Abney (66-741-6 TD), and sophomore Tommy Cook (20-298-3 TD), who came on strong at the end of the 2001 season. Adding to the mix will be junior college All-America wideout Chris Bernard.
Another key target is likely to be senior tight end Chase Harp, who caught 22 balls for 251 yards and two TDs last season. Harp also gives punch to the running game as a tenacious blocker.
Returning to lead the running game is senior Artose Pinner, who rushed for 441 yards and four TDs a year ago. Pinner is a hard-charging runner with a good combination of speed and strength. Senior Mike Kamphake gets the call at fullback, primarily a blocking position, when the Wildcats go to a two-back set.
Developing depth will be a priority in the spring, as there are no proven backups in the offensive line, tight end and running back.
Defensive coordinator John Goodner is challenged to choose starters as well as find depth during the spring. Seven starters departed from last year’s defense, including the top six tacklers.
The strength of the defense could be up front, where several veterans return. At defensive tackle, juniors Dewayne Robertson (6-3, 314) and Jeremy Caudill (6-3, 295), sophomore Ellery Moore (6-3, 289) and senior John Robinson (6-4, 279) all have significant game experience. If Robertson, Caudill, and Moore all bounce back from last season’s injuries, the Wildcats could be strong in the middle of the line.
Senior end Otis Grigsby had 15 tackles last season, including 2.5 quarterback sacks. He will be counted upon to lead the pass rush. Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns, a transfer from Northern Arizona, looked good in practice last fall and the coaching staff hopes he will emerge as a regular at the other end.
Senior Ronnie Riley returns after an injury redshirt season. He will sit out the spring while rehabilitating his knee, but is expected to be a starter when August rolls around. Fellow senior Morris Lane hopes to emerge as a starter at the other inside post.
There will be several other contenders at the inside linebackers, including sophomores Kamaal Ahmad, Justin Haydock, and Anthony Stevenson, and redshirt freshmen Dustin Williams and Jon Sumrall. Ahmad is a junior college transfer who has three years of eligibility remaining. Williams played early last season before injury sidelined him, forcing him to apply for a medical hardship.
Senior David Johnson, who has four interceptions during his career, is expected to help lead the secondary from his outside safety position. After showing good potential last season as a freshman cornerback, sophomore Mike Williams opens the spring as the starter at the other outside safety. Also looking for playing time at outside safety are seniors Jed Bassett and Adetayo Agboke, sophomore Claude Sagaille, and talented redshirt freshman Keith Shelton.
At cornerback, senior Derrick Tatum and junior Leonard Burress are returning starters. Tatum had nine pass breakups and an interception last season while Burress had 10 PBU. Sophomores Earven Flowers and Warren Wilson give the team talented depth and are likely to earn some game action.
Senior Quentus Cumby should be a full-time regular at free safety after starting five games at that position a year ago. Backing up Cumby are sophomores Travis Atwell and Tim Funderburk and talented redshirt freshman Muhammad Abdullah.
“Last year we started to understand what it means to play hard every play and be a physical, hard-nosed defense,” Morriss said. “We won’t change from a philosophical standpoint. The players have confidence in Coach Goodner and the system, and that should help us get a better overall grasp of what everybody else is doing.
“We redshirted a lot of players last season on defense. They’ll get a lot of looks and we need them to be ready.”
Wildcat special teams play improved last season under the guidance of special teams coordinator Mark Nelson. Senior punter Glenn Pakulak averaged 44.5 yards last season and was an All-SEC selection. Wide receiver Derek Abney also handles kickoff and punt returns and was an All-SEC pick last season as an all-purpose player.
A new placekicker and kickoff man must be found. Fortunately, there are several young, talented kickers available, including sophomore Clint Ruth and redshirt freshman Taylor Begley.
