Aug. 10, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky football team completed the final day of acclimatization workouts during a hot, humid Monday afternoon at the Nutter Training Center.

The Wildcats practiced in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts in a split-squad format.  The team will put on all the pads on Tuesday and practice as a full team.

“We got to evaluate a lot of guys,” Brooks said of the split-squad practice format.  “It’s tougher on them physically.  The players get twice as many reps (repetitions) as they would in a normal practice.  I think that’s why we have some of the groin/hamstring (injuries) because of the difference in the speed of practice, and the cutting, and all of that. Overall, we came out of it pretty good as far as I can tell at this point.”

Brooks announced that junior-college defensive end DeQuin Evans, who has been dealing with a hamstring strain, went through limited work in practice and appeared to tolerate it well.  Sophomore offensive guard Jake Lanefski left practice with a knee injury, the extent of which is being evaluated.  Alfonso Smith did not practice today, although Brooks said that the senior tailback’s injured foot appeared much improved.  Smith will have an MRI test to evaluate the injury that sidelined him on Saturday.