That buzz you’ve heard over the last few days since the start of Kentucky football camp is likely the arrival of UK’s freshman class. The consensus since media day is that this year’s crop of freshmen could be the program’s most impressive group in a long time. They look the part physically, and just about all of them said the right things in their lone opportunity with the media on Friday. The players are calling it “swag,” but whatever it is, there is something noticeably different about this class.Their undeniable talent and need at several positions prompted head coach Joker Phillips to admit at his media day news conference that freshmen will play a prominent role in this year’s success. Entering camp, Phillips said every freshman will begin the season third on the depth chart to have the opportunity to move up and play.”I think we will play more freshmen than we have in the past, especially at the skill positions,” Phillips said.It’s early, but let’s take a look at who some of those freshmen are that could step in and play right away.RB Marcus Caffey (5-11, 189 pounds) – The departure of starting tailback Derrick Locke and the relative inexperience at the running back position opens up an opportunity for playing time. Sophomore Raymond Sanders begins camp as the starter, but he’s far from a polished product at this point with 68 career carries. Behind him are a sophomore (Jonathan George), a former walk-on (CoShik Williams) and two redshirt freshmen (Brandon Gainer and Edmund Allen), meaning Caffey, who ranked as one of the nation’s top 40 running backs out of high school by Rivals.com, could move up the depth chart quickly. Caffey rushed for 1,611 yards and 17 touchdowns in his senior season.RB Josh Clemons (5-10, 201 pounds) – Physically, no one looks the part more than Clemons. If you didn’t know he was a freshman, chances are you’d mistake him for a senior. With biceps the size of boulders, Clemons is as chiseled as any player on UK’s football roster. He looks like he has been in a collegiate strength and condition program for years and he won’t be overwhelmed by the adjustment to Southeastern Conference football. He rushed for 2,003 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards a carry, as a senior at Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Ga.WR Daryl Collins (5-11, 203 pounds) – Labeling someone the next Randall Cobb would be getting a little ahead of ourselves, but that’s exactly the kind of whispers we’re hearing about the versatile Collins. Wide receivers coach Tee Martin said he has the certain skill set to be special, and Collins hasn’t shied away from the gargantuan void left by Cobb. “I can be great,” Collins told WLEX’s Alan Cutler. “I can be just like Randall. I just got to play. Wildcat, pretty much all the things he could do, I could do.” Collins signed with Kentucky over Alabama for the chance to play right away, and based on what everyone has said so far, he’s the freshman with the best change to make the biggest impact.WR Rashad Cunningham (6-4, 200 pounds) – Cunningham doesn’t come in with as much hype as some of his freshman counterparts, but he has the physical tools to play immediately at a position that has a lot of holes. At 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Cunningham is a big, physical wide out who could turn into a good possession receiver and a deep threat. He caught 39 passes as a senior for 555 yards and five touchdowns and has a reputation as an outstanding blocker. TE Alvin Dupree (6-4, 229 pounds) – Playing a position that includes as many as four players with significant experience may seem like a first-year death sentence for most players, but not Dupree. “He’s a guy that we think can come in here and play this year,” Phillips said Friday. Dupree was listed as an “athlete” on signing day, but he primarily played tight end in high school.DB Glenn Faulkner (6-2, 194 pounds) – The gem of the 2011 class, according to the star system, Faulkner begins camp with a ton of hype. He was the No. 1 prospect in Illinois and the No. 8 safety in the country, as evaluated by Rivals.com. Faulkner got to campus late, but Phillips said Friday that a talent like Faulkner can overcome inexperience. He’s as good as any freshman Phillips has ever seen at UK, but the head coach cautioned reporters that it’s difficult to go off potential. Still, it’s hard to argue with 123 tackles and seven interceptions in his final two years in high school.LB Tim Patterson (6-4, 225 pounds) – Patterson has become a bit of a forgotten man because he deferred enrollment last year while he rehabilitated an injury, but he was the top prospect in the 2010 class, according to Rivals.com. A first-team all-state selection by the Associated Press and Courier-Journal, Patterson is a rangy linebacker with outstanding height and sub-4.7 speed in the 40-yard dash. There are questions as to whether or not Patterson is back to 100 percent yet, but if he is, Phillips believes he can develop into a guy like Ridge Wilson.

WR Demarco Robinson (5-10, 159 pounds) – Lightning quick is probably the best way to describe Robinson. What he lacks in physical size he makes up for in pure speed. Robinson caught 73 passes for a state-record 1,655 yards and 27 touchdowns in his senior season at Martin Luther King High School in Lithonia, Ga. It remains to be seen whether Robinson can physically adjust to the strength of the SEC, but asked Friday who he thought could make an instant impact at wide receiver, Martin said Robinson and Collins.QB Maxwell Smith (6-4, 220 pounds) – The starting job is Morgan Newton’s, but as the backup quarterback, Smith is one snap away from being forced into duty. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Smith is another one of those guys that looks the part. Blessed with a strong arm, Smith threw for approximately 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns with only two interceptions in his senior season at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, Calif. More importantly, Phillips loves Smith’s leadership skills. “He’s the perfect quarterback,” Phillips said. Freshman quarterback Bookie Cobbins didn’t make the list just because he’ll likely be the No. 3 guy on the depth chart, but keep an eye on him as well.FB Darrell “D.J.” Warren (6-0, 230 pounds) – Warren did just about everything in high school. He played defensive end, running back and even saw spot duty as a linebacker en route to all-state honors in the state of Tennessee as a junior and senior. With Kentucky, Warren will get his first shot at fullback, a position bare with experience. For that very reason, there is a good shot that the physical skills of Warren could land him some immediate playing time. If he matures into the position, he could give UK an extra running threat as he rushed for approximately 1,300 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior.