The Kentucky football team reached the midway mark of spring practice Monday morning with a two-hour, 15-minute practice in full pads at the Nutter Training Facility.

After the defense dominated the offense during the last two practices, including Saturday?s scrimmage in which the offense was held scoreless, Coach Rich Brooks had a positive review of the overall team performance following Monday?s workout.

?Today was much better,? Brooks said. ?The offense responded a little bit from Saturday. We blocked better and played more aggressively (on offense).?

Asked about young players who continue to catch the eye of the coaching staff, Brooks mentioned freshman Maurice Grinter, who is making the adjustment from strong safety to linebacker; redshirt freshman safety Michael Schwindel; junior defensive end Dominic Lewis; sophomore walk-on linebacker Patrick Barnette; sophomore defensive tackle Ventrell Jenkins; sophomore defensive end Nii Adjei Oninku; and redshirt freshman running back Alfonso Smith. Brooks elaborated on Oninku and Smith.

?Nii Adjei is a much better player than he was last fall,? Brooks said. ?Alfonso is learning what it means to ?run downhill.? I compare him to what (former UK running back) Arliss Beach was like when I first got here. Arliss became one of the most physical running backs I?ve had.?

The Wildcats return to the practice field Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Kentucky Football Calendar: Practices at Nutter Training Facility except when indicated otherwise.

Wed. Apr. 12 – Practice, 9 ? 11:15 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 14 – Practice, 9 ? 11:15 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 15 – Practice, 10 ?noon, Commonwealth Stadium
Mon. Apr. 17 – Practice, 9 ? 11:15 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 19 – Practice, 9 ? 11:15 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 21 – Practice, 9 ? 11:15 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 22 – Blue/White Spring Game, 1 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium