National Signing Days have come and gone. The transfer portal remains open for business but should be slowing down for a while. Kentucky has started its workouts and officially entered the winter portion of the year-round training cycle. But, there have been some recent goings on that were of interest. Let’s recap as we are all iced in on a chilly Wednesday:
Kentucky Landed a Good One in Trevin Wallace
I raised a few eyebrows when I said that Trevin Wallace’s high school film was the most impressive that I’d ever evaluated. Trust me, I didn’t make that proclamation without deep thought and consideration. So, why the high praise? Easy answer. Wallace played and starred at multiple positions on the football field. Game film matters to me. Wallace’s tape displayed a diverse athlete that did Lynn Bowden-like things at 6’2, 220 lbs. There are numerous similarities between Bowden and Wallace. I’m not saying that Wallace is Bowden; I am saying that both had film that jumped off the screen.
It appears that UK will utilize him at an inside linebacker position. Once he learns a specific role, Wallace has the potential to be special in Lexington.
Will Levis, Tre’Von Morgan and Luke Fulton Transfer In
Former Penn State quarterback Will Levis committed to Kentucky. The major question going into the offseason was could Beau Allen or Joey Gatewood secure the starting job by the end of spring practice. Now, Levis will factor into the equation. He’s not projected to arrive to Lexington until after the spring semester. Allen and Gatewood will benefit from a spring practice in Coen’s system. The QB competition could now stretch deep into fall camp with Levis on the roster.
Kentucky desperately needed an “X” or outside receiver. The Wildcats finished last in the SEC after scoring touchdowns on 51% of its Red Zone trips. Enter Tre’Von Morgan. The Michigan State transfer was the top-ranked receiver in the state of Ohio coming out of high school. At 6’6, 220 lbs., Morgan possesses the preferred measurements to win 50/50 balls in the end zone.
Fellow Michigan State Spartan Luke Fulton also transferred to Kentucky. Fulton fills a need for depth in the Wildcat linebacker rotation which should see heated competition during spring practice. Fulton was a Top-20 linebacker in the Class of 2019 recruiting cycle and is a Youngstown Cardinal Mooney product which fits in nicely within the UK Football program.
Akeem Hayes Transfers Out
Hayes finished the 2020 season with four catches for 54 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 14 yards per reception. Hayes factored early with a two-catch performance against Auburn in the season’s opening game. The slot receiver also recorded his lone touchdown reception against the Tigers. Hayes later had 30 receiving yards against Ole Miss. His role in the offense lessened as the season went along. He voiced frustration on Twitter and eventually decided to enter the transfer portal.
Kentucky currently has a high number of receivers on its roster. This position could see more movement in the portal. UK’s leading receiver Josh Ali will be joined by Nebraska transfer Wan’Dale Robinson. Both are prototypical slot receivers and dynamic.
Jemal Singleton’s Short Stay in Lexington
On Jan. 7, the University of Kentucky hired Jemal Singleton to coach the Wildcats’ running backs and special teams. On Feb. 8, news broke that Singleton was accepting an assistant head coaching role with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Singleton’s short stay in Lexington will not have adverse consequences for the Wildcats. Mark Stoops should have an easy task of filling his running backs coach position with Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the fold.
Coen Reunites with Scott Woodward
Per Derek Terry from the Cats Pause, Scott Woodward has joined Kentucky’s staff a quality control specialist. He spent the last two seasons as a quality control assistant at Pittsburgh. Woodward’s connection to UK is through Liam Coen. Woodward was Coen’s backup quarterback for four years at UMass. He was also an assistant for the Minutemen from 2015-18.
Familiarity brings on comfort. New offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s calling on a former teammate can only be viewed as a positive for the Wildcat offense. A great deal of time will be focused on system install. There’s quite a bit of work to do in the offseason which means long days and at times long nights for the offensive coaching staff. Having a familiar and trusted face in the room will be invaluable.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
Kentucky has a busy offseason ahead. New offensive coordinator Liam Coen and the offensive staff will be busy installing a new system and evaluating current plus future personnel. There could be more additions and subtractions from the transfer portal. The portal has changed the game. Projecting the 2021 season for the Cats is virtually impossible due to a high number of unknowns.
The most questions lie within the offense. Which QB will impress the most during the spring semester? Can Levis obtain an ample level of comfort on a new team in order to win the starting role during fall camp? What will the receiver rotation look like? Who is the right tackle? Some, not all, of these questions will be answered during spring practice.
Defensively, Brad White has to identify and develop new starters at cornerback, defensive tackle and two linebacker positions. The defense has questions to answer as well. Can Wallace learn the defense quickly enough to play meaningful minutes this fall? How quickly can JJ Weaver recover from knee surgery? What position will Justice Dingle play? Who will rush the passer? Who takes over for Jamin Davis?
Like most every team in college football, UK has questions to be answered in the offseason.
Stay safe out there.
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February 11, 2021 at 03:00AM
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