LEXINGTON, Ky. — After Wednesday’s day off from practice and the beginning of classes, the Kentucky football team returned to the Nutter Training Center practice field Thursday morning.

The Wildcats worked out for two and one-half hours in helmets, shoulder pads, and shorts while beginning to install the game plan for the season-opening game at Louisville.

Kentucky will practice Friday morning before having the final preseason scrimmage Saturday night.

Following practice, Coach Rich Brooks noted that sophomore punter Tim Masthay has had “two or three really good days and is in the lead right now” in the competition with Kris Kessler for the starting role.

Woodyard on Butkus Award Watch List: Wesley Woodyard is one of 65 players named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate linebacker. The award is presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando (Fla.) and named for NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.

Woodyard led Kentucky last season in tackles (100), tackles for loss (seven), and fumble recoveries (four). He was fourth in the Southeastern Conference in tackles per game and was named second-team Sophomore All-America and honorable-mention All-SEC.

Lincoln Financial SEC Preview Coming Up: The hour-long Southeastern Conference Football Preview Show, produced and syndicated by Lincoln Financial Sports (formerly Jefferson-Pilot), will be televised around the South in the coming weeks.

The show will air on the following stations that serve Kentucky markets. For a complete list of stations, go to website lfsports.com.

Bowling Green, KY – WBKO – Sun. Aug. 27, noon CDT
Charleston, WV – WSAZ – Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Evansville, IN – WTVW – Sun. Aug. 27, 5 p.m. CDT
Lexington, KY – WKYT – Sun. Aug. 27, 6 p.m. EDT
Louisville, KY – WAVE – Sat. Aug. 26, 1 p.m. EDT
Paducah, KY – WQWQ – Sat. Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m. CDT