Former UK all-SEC safety Van Hiles on offense, Florida game, Brenden Bates and Zion Childress

Texas State transfer Zion Childress, right, has the versatility to help UK's secondary. (Texas State Photo)

Former Kentucky all-Southeastern Conference defensive back Van Hiles can break down a college football game as well as anyone I know and when he makes a point, I always listen because I respect his knowledge.

He’s also not bashful about sharing his opinions without mincing words — one reason he is such a popular guest on a lot of radio sports talk shows.

With Southeastern Conference Media Days just a week away and Kentucky starting preseason practice in less than a month, I thought I would share a few observations Hiles recently made on a radio show with me.

— “I will be shocked if we don’t average 32 points a game. As a defense, you feel comfortable if you don’t have to worry if we give up 17 points, we lose. With an offense like this, you know you can make a mistake and it likely will not cost us a game,” Hiles said.

He’s obviously a big believer in quarterback Will Levis along with new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. Hiles believes Scangarello can get receivers open by moving them around in formations and then Levis will be able to find the open receiver rather than just locking in on Wan’Dale Robinson like he did often last year.

— Florida is the second game of the season and gives UK a chance for a statement road win immediately. However, while some believe that is a must-win for UK to have a special season, Hiles has a different take.

“My take is if they drop that game there is still plenty of time to recover. I would not be too skittish if we lost that game. It’s always a tough environment to go in and win. A win would be nice but the season is not over if they happen to lose,” Hiles said.

— Hiles is a big fan of junior tight end Brenden Bates along with Keaton Upshaw and Izayah Cummings.

“Upshaw and Cummings are big wide receivers and you can get some mismatches with them,” Hiles said. “It’s a great thing to have three tight ends like they have but I think Bates is the best overall tight end.”

“Bates has wheels (speed). You just can’t leave a safety on Bates or he will have a mismatch that Will Levis can really exploit down the field. I think he’ll make a lot of plays this year.”

— Texas State transfer Zion Childress has a chance to help the Kentucky secondary after playing two years in the Sun Belt Conference. Hiles likes that he was a high school all-state quarterback and says that is why his defensive recruiting resume was not as high as it should have been.

“That kid can play. He has a little (UK safety) Vito (Tisdale) in him. His versatility is huge and he sees the game through an offensive lens because he was a quarterback. You have got to play multiple positions with the way offenses attack you. You have got to have a guy who can play corner, safety and be a ballhawk.”