Wide Receivers
X CRAIG YEAST 5-9 166 Sr-3L Garry Davis 6-2 201 So-1L Mitt Crowe 6-2 178 So-1LY Kevin Coleman 5-10 195 Sr-3L Quentin McCord 5-10 183 So-1LZ Jimmy Robinson 6-3 198 Jr-1L Lance Mickelsen 6-3 175 Sr-1L Jermaine White 6-6 200 So-1L
(Returning players only; incoming freshmen will join the depth chart in August; returning starters in ALL CAPS)
Unproven going into last season, one of the most exciting developments of 1997 was the play of the Wildcats wide receivers. Now, Kentucky appears to be blessed with quality and quantity as nine lettermen return, including four wideouts who caught at least 31 passes a year ago.
Senior Craig Yeast heads the list of returnees at the “X” receiver. Yeast has led UK in receiving each of his three seasons. A year ago he caught a school-record 73 passes for 873 yards and 10 touchdowns while earning second-team All-SEC honors. Already, he’s caught more passes in his career than any player in Wildcats history … Kevin Coleman and Jimmy Robinson are the tentative starters at “Y” and “Z.” Coleman caught 52 passes for 621 yards and eight touchdowns last season and Robinson snared 35 aerials for 366 yards and two scores.
Reserves see plenty of action. Senior Lance Mickelsen hauled in 31 passes for 377 yards and six TDs last season … Sophomore Garry Davis emerged as an up-and-comer during the spring after catching five passes a year ago … Quentin McCord should be a factor despite sitting out last season. He caught 12 passes as a true freshman in 1996 … Mitt Crowe and Jermaine White provide depth, although it is hoped that both will be able to redshirt this season.
Coach Mumme …
“I feel better about this group than the one a year ago. We have a lot of players who have caught balls in games.
“I thought we had a good spring and accomplished what we wanted with the receivers. Garry Davis came on and had the most consistent spring of all the receivers, which gives us a good backup for Craig Yeast. We wanted Craig and Jimmy Robinson to work on catching deep balls from Tim (Couch) and that went well.
“Quentin McCord had a good spring and he and Kevin Coleman give us two good receivers at the slot (Y) position. Lance Mickelsen missed the spring (because of injury) but we’ll get him back in the fall. That should give us the luxury of redshirting Jermaine White, barring injuries.”
Tight Ends
TE JIMMY HALEY 6-3 228 Jr-2L James Whalen, Jr. 6-4 214 Jr-1L Paul McGonagle 6-4 264 Sr-1L Cheddi Acham 6-3 196 Jr-Sq
Jimmy Haley was leading the nation’s tight ends in pass receptions last season before suffering a foot injury that slowed him for the remainder of the campaign. He finished 1997 with 24 receptions for 195 yards. He participated in spring practice and hopes to be fully ready in August … All three of the reserve tight ends have been moved from other positions … James Whalen, Jr., looked very good in the spring. He caught seven passes for 66 yards last season as a wide receiver … Cheddi Acham also is a former wide receiver … Ex-center Paul McGonagle gives blocking punch to the position.
Coach Mumme …
“We were really impressed with the progress James Whalen made this spring, both as a blocker and as a receiver. He’s really putting the heat on Jimmy Haley for the starting tight end job. Haley is still suffering the effects of his injury. We hope he works hard over the summer and comes back strong in the fall. He’s probably going to inherit our long-snapping chores.”
Offensive Tackles
LT JONAS LIENING 6-8 299 Sr-3L Omar Smith 6-3 285 Jr-1LRT KRIS COMSTOCK 6-8 304 Sr-3L David Berringer 6-4 278 Sr-3L
The Wildcats are well-fortified at the tackle positions with the return of seniors Jonas Liening and Kris Comstock. Liening will be a four-year starter and Comstock is entering his third year as a regular. Each responded well to the demands of pass blocking last season in the new “Air Raid” offense. Liening had off-season knee reconstruction surgery and missed the spring, but is expected to be fully ready in August … Senior David Berringer and junior Omar Smith give UK experienced backups, although it is hoped that Smith will be able to redshirt the 1998 season … Guard Matt Brown also can play left tackle.
Coach Mumme …
“Jonas Liening sat out the spring, but we expect him to come back this fall and play better than he did last year because his knee is fixed. He played with a bad knee all last year (after suffering a torn ACL in the second game). We’ll probably try to redshirt Omar this year. On the other side, Kris Comstock had a good spring, and David Berringer did, too. We’re pretty pleased with our tackles.”
Offensive Guards
LG Jeremy Streck 6-5 313 Sr-2L Matt Brown 6-5 304 Fr-RS Brad Ferguson 6-4 297 Sr-TrRG MIKE WEBSTER 6-6 281 Sr-1L Josh Parrish 6-6 327 Fr-RS
Mike Webster, who saw his first game action as the starting left guard in 1997, moves to right guard for the 1998 campaign … Jeremy Streck, a starter two years ago, moves into the lineup at left guard … He will be pushed by impressive redshirt freshman Matt Brown, who also can play left tackle if needed … Another redshirt freshman, Josh Parrish, is the backup right guard … Brad Ferguson, a transfer from Marshall, gives the team some experienced depth … Center Nolan DeVaughn also might see some time at guard.
Coach Mumme …
“Mike Webster is over (at right guard) where (John) Schlarman played last year, and that turned out to be a good move. Jeremy Streck and Matt Brown are probably going to battle. Both of them had good days this spring. Some of the young guys, like Josh Parrish and (center) Nolan DeVaughn, really came on.”
Centers
C JASON WATTS 6-3 271 Sr-3L Nolan DeVaughn 6-5 306 Fr-RS Aaron Daniel 6-3 267 So-1L Mike Riddle 6-0 260 Sr-Sq
Senior Jason Watts, a two-year starter, is an outstanding center. He handles the shotgun snap well. His notable quickness helps him excel at making downfield blocks after short passes … The backup role is between Aaron Daniel and Nolan DeVaughn, who also can play guard … Senior Mike Riddle saw his first extensive game action last season on the junior varsity team.
Coach Mumme …
“Jason Watts could be an all-conference player and he didn’t do anything to hurt his chances this spring. He has gotten better command of the offense. Aaron Daniel will back him up, although we looked at Nolan DeVaughn there some. Nolan may be a guy who can move in there in the future.”
Quarterbacks
QB TIM COUCH 6-5 225 Jr-2L Matt Mumme 6-3 175 Sr-Tr Dusty Bonner 6-2 203 So-1L Corry Doyle 6-0 170 So-Sq
Junior Tim Couch flourished last season in the new pass-oriented offense. He completed 363 of 547 passes (66.4 percent) for 3,884 yards and 37 touchdowns. He led the nation in completions, attempts, percentage, and yardage. He broke or tied 17 school records and 10 Southeastern Conference records. Already a master of the “Air Raid” attack, his year of experience should make him even better at reading defenses and finding the best target. He did not throw an interception in 91 pass attempts during the spring scrimmages … Matt Mumme, who transferred from Valdosta State, is eligible for his senior season and is projected to be the backup … Barring injury to the other QBs, Dusty Bonner could be redshirted … Corry Doyle gained experience last season with the junior varsity team.
Coach Mumme …
“I thought Tim Couch had a solid spring. There were some areas we wanted him to improve, such as throwing the deep ball, working on play-action passes, some of his checks, staying on some reads longer, and I think he improved on all of them. I thought he was really at ease with the offense. I thought Matt Mumme knocked some of the rust off and had a solid spring. He’ll be the backup, which will let us redshirt Dusty Bonner, who also had a good spring. We want Dusty and the two young guys coming in to work on the fundamentals of our offense without the pressure of having to prepare for a game.”
Fullbacks
FB DEREK HOMER 5-11 203 So-1L A. J. Simon 5-11 225 Jr-1L Mike Kamphake 6-0 200 Fr-HS Larry Morris 6-2 232 Jr-Sq
The fullback is the primary ballcarrier in the offensive scheme … Derek Homer played well last season for a true freshman as he split the fullback and halfback positions with Anthony White. Homer rushed for 502 yards, including 137 yards in the season finale against Tennessee, and averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. He also caught 31 passes for 364 yards and two scores and was named to the Freshman All-SEC team. He is expected to play mostly at fullback in the coming season … A. J. Simon is a heady player who handles his assigned roles well … Mike Kamphake, who joined the team last January, and Larry Morris, who moved over from defensive end, have begun learning the offense.
Coach Mumme …
“Derek Homer is going to be the focus of our ballcarrying responsibilities. I thought he had a good, solid spring. We asked him to work on some fundamental things and he did. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team. A. J. Simon worked on his blocking and pass catching. He also improved his speed. A. J. has certain roles to fill and I feel like he got better at them.”
Halfbacks
HB ANTHONY WHITE 6-1 191 Jr-1L Alex Herman 5-10 180 So-Sq
Anthony White split time at fullback and halfback last season and played both very well, combining for 1,176 yards. He led the team in rushing with 723 yards and four touchdowns and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. He also set a school record for receptions by a running back with 59, good for 453 yards and four TDs … Walk-on Alex Herman is the only backup on the roster, but incoming freshmen could play a key role here
Coach Mumme …
“We’ll use Anthony White a little more in the receiver capacity and a little less as a ballcarrier. I felt like he had a good spring. We’ll take a look at some of the freshmen at this position.”
Wildcats Defense
Defensive Tackles
DT MARK JACOBS 6-3 274 Sr-3L Gordon Crowe 6-3 288 Jr-2LDT MARVIN MAJOR 6-3 281 Sr-2L George Massey 6-3 272 Jr-2L Derrick Johnson 6-2 298 Fr-RS
All five players are likely to see action in the playing rotation … Senior Mark Jacobs enters his third year as a starter and senior Marvin Major enters his third season as a regular. Major led the Wildcats linemen with 60 tackles last season, including three for loss. Jacobs had 21 stops, including three for loss … With juniors Gordon Crowe and George Massey, these are the only positions on defense with experienced depth. Crowe, who had 17 tackles last season, has a knack for the big play as he made six tackles for loss. Massey made three tackles last season … Derrick Johnson, who has impressive strength and athletic ability, moved over from the offensive line during the spring.
Coach Mumme …
“I thought Marvin Major and Mark Jacobs really had an outstanding spring. They showed some good leadership skills and got quicker. George Massey made a lot of improvement and Derrick Johnson showed us some things. I thought Derrick worked hard to get on the field, and he impressed us this spring. He has some pretty good skills.”
Defensive Ends
DE Matt Layow 6-3 238 So-1L Brandon White 6-3 220 So-SqDE Robert Jones 6-3 240 Sr-1L Grayson Smith 6-1 233 So-1L
Robert Jones is the only end with significant game experience. He played very well as a reserve last season, showing a knack for making big plays. He sacked the quarterback six times last season, caused two fumbles, had two pass breakups, and totaled 18 tackles … Sophomores Matt Layow, Grayson Smith, and Brandon White all have limited game experience. Layow made some big plays during the spring and enters August as the starter at the other end … Incoming freshmen are likely to be a factor at the end slots.
Coach Mumme …
“Robert Jones had a great spring and has really become a leader on the team in terms of his play. Matt Layow is a very athletic guy and we were hoping he would make some strides this spring. He really gave us some trouble knocking down the ball. He’s still a little green at that position, but we expect him to contribute in the fall and be a good player for us. Grayson Smith came on and has earned a scholarship. He’ll help us some on special teams and he’s a guy who always gives you great effort.”
Linebackers
OLB LEE WESLEY 6-0 218 Jr-2L Stephan Walters 6-0 218 Sr-2LMLB JEFF SNEDEGAR 6-2 240 Jr-2L John Rader 6-5 233 So-1L Teddy Neptune 6-2 210 So-SqOLB Marlon McCree 6-1 205 So-1L Gus Jacobs 6-0 214 So-Sq
Junior Jeff Snedegar moves from outside linebacker to the middle for 1998. He missed spring practice while rehabilitating an injured shoulder, so he will have to do some quick on-the-job training come August. Snedegar led the team in tackles last season with 97, adding 10 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks, two interceptions, and an assortment of other big plays … Junior outside linebacker Lee Wesley was third on the team in tackles last season with 88, including nine for loss, and had five pass breakups … Former safety Marlon McCree was one of the pleasant developments of spring practice. He played very well during the spring and claimed a starting berth at outside linebacker. McCree has a taste of game experience and made 11 tackles last season.
The reserves are mostly inexperienced … Sophomore John Rader played briefly last season at middle linebacker and appeared to make good progress during the spring … Senior Stephan Walters moved from safety to outside linebacker in the spring … Teddy Neptune and Gus Jacobs got experience on the junior varsity team last season … Some of the talented incoming freshmen are likely to contend for backup roles.
Coach Mumme …
“Jeff Snedegar is a premier linebacker and we look forward to getting him back in the fall. There’s no question that he’s our defensive leader. Two guys who really came on in the spring were Marlon McCree and John Rader. We’re hoping they’ll come back in the fall and continue their play. Lee Wesley also was very solid this spring.”
Cornerbacks
CB Eric Kelly 5-11 190 So-1L Kenneth Grant 6-0 198 So-1LCB Jeremy Bowie 5-10 176 So-1L Marvin Love 5-10 161 Sr-1L
A big story of the spring was the play of the Wildcats’ young cornerbacks, Eric Kelly and Jeremy Bowie, who turned in strong performances during the spring drills. Each player got some good game experience a year ago. Kelly started four games and made 26 tackles. Bowie played as the team’s nickel back in passing situations. He made 12 tackles and pounced on the fumble that ended Alabama’s possession in overtime.
The backup corners, Marvin Love and Kenneth Grant, have moved over from offense. Both players have great speed and are former dash champions in track. Given his lack of experience, Love showed good aptitude during the spring and Grant has a tremendous amount of potential.
Coach Mumme …
“That was a spot where I felt we needed to improve and we moved some people. Marvin Love and Kenneth Grant had good, solid spring practices, Marvin in particular. Both of them have tremendous speed. Jeremy Bowie, who played some last year and also can play nickel back, had a good spring. Eric Kelly played well, too. We’re a little more experienced than meets the eye. We have tremendous speed there, and you obviously can’t coach that. All those guys can run 4.4 (seconds in the 40-yard dash) or better.”
Safeties
SS Jeff Zurcher 6-1 207 Sr-2L Brackston Poitier 5-10 190 Fr-RSFS WILLIE GARY 5-10 190 So-1L Chris Gayton 6-1 206 Fr-RS
Free safety Willie Gary is the only returning starter in the secondary. He started all 11 games last season and made 82 tackles. He was named to the Freshman All-America team by The Sporting News and the Freshman All-SEC team by the Knoxville News-Sentinel … Senior Jeff Zurcher came on strong during the spring in his first significant action with the first team. He led the defense with two interceptions during the four scrimmages and made a number of other big plays. He made 12 tackles last season and was a stalwart on special teams … Redshirt freshman Chris Gayton has good speed but needs experience … Walk-on Brackston Poitier joined the team during the spring … The incoming freshmen will help the numbers situation.
Coach Mumme …
“Willie Gary is obviously the big name that’s back. He had an outstanding spring. I thought Jeff Zurcher came on and produced for us. He looked good and we’re pleased with that. Chris Gayton had a good spring and gives us a little bit of depth back there.”
Special Teams
K SETH HANSON 6-2 198 So-1L Marc Samuel 5-10 160 So-1LP JIMMY CARTER 6-0 175 Sr-3L Andy Smith 6-3 207 Jr-SqKOR CRAIG YEAST 5-9 166 Sr-3L Derek Homer 5-11 203 So-1LPR CRAIG YEAST 5-9 166 Sr-3LSNAP Jimmy Haley 6-3 228 Jr-2L
Sophomore Seth Hanson was the starting kicker for the final eight games last season. He made 30-of-31 extra points with the only miss coming on a blocked kick. He made 4-of-7 field goals with a long of 30 yards and was chosen for the Freshman All-SEC team. One of the most exciting plays of spring practice was his 56-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright but bounced away, no good. Still, the kick showed Hanson’s considerable range … Marc Samuel handled most of the kickoffs last season and will contend with Hanson for that duty this year.
Jimmy Carter is back for his fourth season as the starting punter. He averaged a career-best 40.2 yards per punt last season, despite adopting the technique of kicking out of bounds or near the sidelines on most punts … The Wildcats have a fine backup in junior Andy Smith, who was Western Kentucky’s starting punter in 1995.
Wide receiver Craig Yeast has the speed and elusiveness necessary to be a top-notch kickoff returner. He has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of the last two seasons. He averaged 23 yards per return last season, including the 97-yarder for a TD at Vanderbilt … Derek Homer gained some experience on kickoff returns last season with eight returns for a 12.4 average.
Yeast also is a danger on punt returns. He averaged 15.6 yards per return a year ago, including an 85-yard touchdown jaunt at South Carolina … No one else on the team has returned a punt.
The long snapper’s role is open following the graduation of reliable Darrin Clark. Tight end Jimmy Haley is the top candidate to assume that duty.
Coach Mumme ...
“I think Seth Hanson and Marc Samuel have both gotten stronger. I thought their kickoffs were better during the spring, deeper with more hang time. Seth, in particular, really improved his field goals. We’ll probably use both of them like we did last year.
“We have Jimmy Carter back at punter and he averaged over 40 yards a punt. If you check the return stats, you’ll see that’s where he really helped us. We expect him to do the same this year. Andy Smith had a good spring as a backup. He might not get to punt much this year if Jimmy stays healthy, but he gives us a guy who can step in next year. He’ll be a good punter for us.
“We felt we did a good job with punt and kickoff returns last year, so we’ll stay with pretty much the same guys. What will help us is that a lot of the incoming freshmen are kick returners. We have some really talented guys coming in the fall. There are several who can bring them all the way back.”
