May. 1, 2000
LEXINGTON, Kty. – The Kentucky football team had 15 practices under coach HalMumme. The team had four scrimmages, including the Blue/White Game onApril 22 that marked the conclusion of spring practice.
The spring game saw the Blue Team, comprised of first- andsecond-team players, defeat the White Team, comprised of second- andthird-team players, 45-21.
Quarterbacks Dusty Bonner and Jared Lorenzen looked sharp indirecting the Blues. Bonner completed 19 of 30 passes for 274 yards andthree touchdowns, including scoring bombs of 78 and 59 yards to DerekAbney. Lorenzen completed 22 of 33 passes for 318 yards and twotouchdowns.
Tight end Derek Smith led all receivers in catches with eightfor 122 yards and one TD. Abney had the most yardage, with all 137yards coming on his two touchdown receptions.
As he has done all spring, running back Artose Pinner turned ina steady performance as a runner and receiver. He rushed six times for38 yards and caught six passes for 59 yards.
Letterman/Starter Update
Lettermen – 62 returning (32 offense, 29 defense, 1 specialist),15 lost (7 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists).
Starters – 16 returning (9 offense, 7 defense), 6 lost (2offense, 4 defense).
Checking the Position Changes
Here is some news on position changes made during springpractice:
As expected, senior offensive lineman Omar Smith spent time atboth right guard and right tackle. Smith, who started at tackle lastseason, is ready to handle either position this fall. Junior JoshParrish, who started last season at right guard, saw action at bothguard spots during the spring.
With the Wildcats thin on numbers at defensive tackle, seniordefensive end Grayson Smith moved to tackle. Smith showed good aptitudeand is likely to see action there in the fall.
Midway through the spring, two wide receivers moved to defensefor a trial on that side of the ball. Redshirt freshman Octavius Bondwas impressive at cornerback until sustaining a knee injury the lastweek of practice. Junior Jermaine White switched to defensive end andshowed promise, making a quarterback sack in his first scrimmage. At6-6, 218 pounds, White has the height to play in the line but will needto add weight to handle the demands of playing end.
Position-by-Position Update
(Note: statistics are from UK’s four spring scrimmages.)
Offensive Line – All five starters are back from last season,including LT Matt Brown, LG Kip Sixbery, C Nolan DeVaughn, RG JoshParrish, and RT Omar Smith … Line coach Guy Morriss experimented withsome different combinations during the spring, looking at Parrish atleft guard and Smith at right guard … The depth situation is improved,sophomore C Keith Chatelain and soph OT Matt Burke are ready for gameaction, according to Morriss … Incoming freshmen could add depth orcompete for starting roles.
Quarterback – Junior Dusty Bonner, the returning starter, wonthe spring competition with redshirt freshman Jared Lorenzen … SeniorMark Perry is the third-team quarterback.
Running Backs – With senior Derek Homer sidelined whilerecovering from minor knee surgery, several young runners got theirchance … Sophomore Artose Pinner was impressive in the scrimmages,rushing 40 times for 255 yards, a 6.4 average, and one touchdown.Pinner’s bullish style proved hard to tackle, as he often broke firstcontact. Pinner also showed himself as an able receiver, catching 17passes for 242 yards … Soph Martez Johnson ran for 107 yards on 26carries, a 4.1 average, and one TD, he also caught 15 passes for 152yards.
Tight Ends – Sophomore Derek Smith appears to be successor todeparted All-American James Whalen. Smith was the leading receiver ofthe spring with 25 catches for 368 yards, a 14.7 average, and one TD …Sophomore Chase Harp also looked good, grabbing 14 balls for 207 yardsand one TD … Sophomore Bobby Blizzard can also play tight end ifneeded.
Wide Receivers – Senior Quentin McCord, redshirt freshman DerekAbney, and sophomore Ernest Simms were big play performers at the “X”receiver … McCord caught 12 passes for 259 yards (25.9 average) andsix touchdowns during the scrimmages … Abney caught eight passes for327 yards, a 40.9 average, and 3 TDs … Simms caught four passes for175 yards, a 43.8 average, and two TDs.
Sophomore Neal Brown (16-180, 2 TD) and junior Gary Hughes(11-76) finished the spring as the leaders at the “Z” receiver …However, junior Dougie Allen will challenge strongly in August if he isfully recovered from knee surgery.
Sophomore Bobby Blizzard (18-190, 1 TD) ended the spring as thestarter at the “H” receiver … Junior Mike Beirne (12-89) also willsee action … Senior Jimmy Robinson looked great in the spring beforere-fracturing his arm. If he can play injury-free in the fall, he willbe a major contributor at this position.
Defensive Line – Junior Dennis Johnson is a fixture at one end.His highlight of the spring was making five sacks in one scrimmage …Senior Matt Layow is solid at the other end spot … Junior end ChrisDemaree had a strong spring … Sophomore Otis Grigsby missed most ofthe spring because of mononucleosis, but should be a contributor in thefall.
Senior Grayson Smith moved inside from end to tackle andfinished the spring as a starter … Redshirt freshman Nick Seitze endedthe spring as the starter at the other tackle … Sophomores JohnRobinson and Richard Hardin are the top reserves … Incoming freshmencould contend for playing time.
Linebackers – On the weak side, senior Marlon McCree sat outmost of the spring with a hamstring strain, but should return in August… Junior Ronnie Riley got good experience by soaking up most of thepractice reps at the position.
Junior Ryan Murphy held on to his starting position at middlelinebacker, but junior Jamal White played well and also should seesignificant playing time.
Junior Chris Gayton has stepped into the strong side linebackerspot vacated by departed All-SEC performer Jeff Snedegar … Soph MikeBeshara will be the backup.
Cornerbacks – Seniors Eric Kelly and Kenneth Grant appear to beset as the starters … One of the most pleasant developments of thespring was the play of sophomore Derrick Tatum. He had one interceptionduring the scrimmages and several pass breakups. He looms as the topreserve.
Safeties – Perhaps the deepest area of the team with fivecapable players ready for action … Junior Anthony Wajda returns atfree safety, backed by soph Quentus Cumby … Senior Willie Gary is thestarter at strong safety, with excellent competition from junior PatrickWiggins and sophomore David Johnson.
Kickers – It appears that junior Seth Hanson will handle boththe punting and placekicking duties. As a punter, Hanson averaged 37.5yards during the spring. He made 3-of-5 field goal attempts. Hansonwas the starting kicker in 1997-98, but missed last season because ofinjury … Senior Brandon Sanders will probably do kickoffs.
Injury Report
Junior WR Dougie Allen (knee reconstruction) took part in thenon-contact drills. He will resume full practice in August and willplay in the 2000 season if his knee is ready. If not, he will redshirtand return for the 2001 season.
Redshirt freshman CB Octavius Bond incurred a torn meniscus inhis knee. He will have arthroscopic surgery and be limited duringsummer conditioning, but hopes to be ready for practice in August.
Sophomore DE Otis Grigsby was sidelined for most of the springby mononucleosis. He returned for the final week of practice andappeared to be fine. Because he is a young player with excellentpotential, the coaching staff was keenly disappointed at not having himavailable for all of the spring.
Senior WR Alex Herman sat out the spring after shoulder surgery.A standout on the punt coverage team, Herman will return to practice inAugust.
Senior FB Derek Homer missed most of the spring whilerehabilitating from arthroscopic knee surgery. He did participate innon-contact work the last week of practice. He should be ready to go inAugust.
Senior LB Marlon McCree sat out most of the spring whilerecovering from a hamstring injury. He is expected to be ready to playin August.
Senior WR Jimmy Robinson re-fractured the humerus (upper armbone) in his left arm. The break was less severe than the break hesustained last summer. He is expected to heal in time to resumepractice in August.
Freshman DT Chris Sheehan dislocated his right shoulder duringthe spring. He had reconstructive surgery on the shoulder. At thistime, it appears doubtful that Sheehan will be ready to play in the 2000season.
