'Physical' Cats Enjoy First Full-Pad Practice on Wednesday

After taking last week off for spring break, the Kentucky football team was back on the practice field this week, and Wednesday was the first day that the Cats were in full pads. Several offensive players met the media after practice, and one word kept coming up in the discussion – physical.

Tight end Willie Rodriguez mentioned the physicality of day one, and how his tight end group plans to play more physical this season.

“We’ve got to be more physical,” Rodriguez said. “It’s about finishing. We want to be physical in our routes, in the run game and that really sets the tone.”

Rodriguez was excited to get into full pads on Wednesday.

“It feels great,” Rodriguez said. “First day of full pads today, felt really good to get out there and hit some pads up. Feels great.”

When asked how the first day of full pads went, wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin mentioned the same word.

“Everybody’s physical,” Maclin said. “That’s the type of mentality we want to have. It’s fun being in full pads and being out there again.”

Maclin believes that the 2025 Cats will have a new mentality, one that he really likes.

“Just setting the tone, with the blue collar mentality,” Maclin said. “It’s a whole new atmosphere. I can feel the fire from the coaching staff.”

Transfer tackle Shiyazh Pete was a little more philosophical about the first day, but his message was similar.

“It was a solid test, a unique challenge,” Pete said of the first day in pads. “It was a testing ground to see how I would compete against my fellow teammates. It was fun. A lot of fun.”

Fellow offensive lineman Jager Burton, who is in his fifth year with the Cats, likes how this Kentucky team is approaching the spring, as well as the upcoming season.

“I’m super excited for the mindset this team is bringing to this season,” Burton said. “It feels really good to have a team all with the same mindset.”
Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan knows that, coming back from spring break, teams can be rusty. However, Hamdan liked what he saw from the team on Wednesday in the first full-pad practice.

“It can be challenging,” Hamdan said. “You’ve got to make sure that, when you get back, it’s not like we’re re-starting spring again. We’ve really had to focus on the urgency needed on the front end and then also when we’ve gotten back, to keep moving in week two.”

A new, physical mindset was on full display at practice on Wednesday. It’s something that players and coaches alike want to continue to push and carry forward.