Feb. 7, 2002
“This is a good day for us at UK football. It’s a culmination of a strong year of recruiting and we feel good about the class that we signed.”
“I need to thank some people publicly. I want to start with Dr. and Mrs. Todd and Larry and Dorene Ivy. They have taken a lot of time out of their weekends. Every time we had a function, they were there, making themselves available to these kids and their parents. It’s good that the administration is active and supports our efforts.”
“I need to thank the staff. They worked hard and did a good job this year. Recruiting goes a lot further than coaches going and visiting players. It involves the whole university and to some degree the whole state.”
On which players will possibly contribute next year???
“Kamaal Ahmad, a linebacker, is going to have to be ready to play and wide receiver Chris Bernard. Coming out of a JUCO program, they are going to have to be ready. We are counting on those two guys and they were recruited to come here and play. We are counting on Chad Anderson coming in and playing some. He is a year older and a little more mature. I think he has a chance to help us. Jared McGowan, a big lineman from Mississippi, has a chance to get on the field next fall. Yancey Reynolds, the All-American out of Georgia Military, was recruited to be a starter. I think Durrell White has a chance of playing, and playing quite a bit.”
On Monquantae Gibson’s chances of playing right away???
“He and Arliss Beach will be here in early June and go through summer workouts. They are going to have a chance to compete for a starting job.”
On the breakdown of offensive vs. defensive signees???
“We were hoping to get another defensive lineman, and we’re still looking for a real quality player in that area. I think overall it shook out pretty well. I think we addressed our needs on the offensive line. We had to get our numbers back in balance there as we will go through spring practices with just eight offensive linemen. I think we helped ourselves with defensive backs.”
On how the offensive numbers outweigh the defensive numbers right now???
“There are some players here that were two-way players in high school. There are some good athletes here. We will bring them in and start them at the position they asked to play, but generally what happens with kids like that is they see they are down the depth chart a ways, they see an opening at another spot, and a lot of times they will approach us because they want to get on the field and play early.”
On what attracted some of the signees to UK vs. other programs???
“I think it was a combination of facilities, academics, playing time, the staff and playing in the Southeastern Conference. I feel like, and I think it’s justifiable, that we play in the premier conference in America. We tell a kid you come here and you are going to play against the best week-in and week-out. I think that whole package together helps get kids to come here.”
On Jared McGowan???
“It was a tough battle to get him. He has size and frame and feet. He’s got a little attitude that we like. He is the kind of kid that is not lacking for self-confidence whatsoever. His host was Antonio Hall and they got along magnificently and Antonio did a great job of recruiting him. They are of the same cloth and they are already talking about being bookends together. The kid is mature for his age. He knows what he wants. I think the only thing he needs to do now is to get in the weight room and start lifting. He is physically blessed and mature enough to get on the field next fall and we will certainly give him that opportunity.”
On Michael Aitcheson???
“He is very athletic for an offensive lineman. He is the type of kid that might help us next year. He needs to get in the weight room and start training as hard as he possibly can.”
On Glenn Holt Jr???
“I think he’ll be a special kid here and he’ll have a great career. He’s tall, lean and can run and he has the attitude that he wants to be the go-to guy – ‘give me the football, coach’ – which, as much as we like to throw the ball, we’d like to have four or five more just like him.”
On Kareem Reid???
“Kareem is a big kid, 6’5″, 240 lbs. and can run. Kareem looks like the kind of defensive ends we play week-in and week-out in this conference. He has a bright future ahead of him. Bright kid, real sharp. Same thing for him, he needs to get in the weight room and start lifting.”
On all of the signees???
“The thing I like the most about all of these kids is that they want to be at Kentucky. That’s 99 percent of the battle right now. These kids want to be here and they are excited about playing for the Blue and White.”
On Andre’ Jones???
“He runs very well. He was one of those guys that was a two-way player. He’ll come in this fall and we’ll work him as a corner and we’ll see how that works out for him. But he has the talent that he could come over to the other side and be a real fine receiver also.”
On Yancey Reynolds???
“We’ll bring him in and probably start him on the inside. He’s a big, strong physical guy that can handle the big defensive linemen in the conference. But if he has to, he has good enough feet that he can play tackle for us also. He’ll get some work at both spots and then we will settle on what position is best for him, but right now I envision him as an inside player.”
On Monquantae Gibson???
“He’s a big back with a powerful build. He has pretty good speed. He obviously has great ability. He has put up some gaudy numbers. He’s a bright kid and I don’t think we will ever have to worry about chasing him to class. He’s a good character kid and he comes from a good family. He’s a kid that wanted to be here really badly. It is those type of kids that tickle my fancy.”
On Chad Anderson???
“I think he might have some rust to knock off. The summer program and two-a-days will help him. It will take him a game or two to round into shape because he has been out for a while. He’s a kid who has been blessed with a lot of abilities.”
On Durrell White???
“He has speed and is athletic. He is a linebacker, defensive end type. Durrell has indicated he doesn’t care where he plays, he just wants to get on the field and play. We’ll find a spot for him.”
