Lot to like after watching UK football practice (W/ Photos)

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Vicky Graff Photo

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops let media members have a look at his team during an open practice Tuesday that started indoors due to the cold weather before moving outside for the final hour.

It was an up close and personal look at returning players and coaches as well as early enrollees, transfers and new coaches.

Here are a few things that jumped out to me.

— Former Vanderbilt running back Ray Davis is no Chris Rodriguez when it comes to size but he’s shifty and explosive. He showed great balance and also the ability to shake off a minor injury and keep going.
What impressed me even more, though, was the way Davis constantly was helping UK’s other running backs. If he was not involved in the 11-on-11 action, he was talking to the other backs about what to do and not do.

— North Carolina State transfer Devin Leary is as impressive throwing the football as what I had heard. His accuracy was terrific but his velocity and arm strength were both better than I had been led to believe. Not saying he has the same rocket arm as Will Levis but his velocity is fine.
Receivers had no trouble catching his pinpoint throws and he could throw short, deep or across the middle. His one mistake came when Maxwell Hairston picked off a play-action pass that offensive coordinator Liam Coen said happened because Leary “turned his back to the defense.”

Leary also showed no signs of any lingering physical issues after missing the second half of last season with injuries.

— Freshman sensation Deone Walker looked even bigger and stronger. No SEC defensive lineman passes the look test better than him. However, what impressed me even more was that North Carolina transfer Keeshawn Silver looked just about as big and imposing next to Walker. That’s a luxury UK just has not had in the defensive front and add in Octavious Oxendine, Tre’Vonn Rybka and Josaih Hayes all look and play like legit SEC defensive linemen. Defensive line coach Anwar Stewart might have a lot of fun this season.

— Cincinnati transfer cornerback JQ Hardaway has the length and speed the secondary needs and could be a big-time player for defensive coordinator Brad White. He did not back down from one-on-one coverage and while he got beat a few times, he also gave some of UK’s talented receivers fits.

— Kentucky has a lot of talented receivers but associate coach Vince Marrow told us on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports to keep an eye on Dekel Crowdus. The former Frederick Douglass star is not as big as some other receivers but his speed is unbelievable. He made several nice catches and then just exploded by the defense. His confidence level seemed so much higher than last year and he could be a home run hitter for  Coen’s offense.

— Former UK stars Lynn Bowden,  Benny Snell, Luke Fortner and Landon Young were all at the football facility working out. So was quarterback Will Levis as he prepared for Friday’s Pro Day. One UK staff member explained that Stoops’ open-door policy to former players results in a lot of former Cats coming back to train at the first-class facility UK has. Several NFL scouts were also there looking at future NFL talent.

— New special teams/running backs coach Jay Boulware is going to bring a huge dose of enthusiasm to the Kentucky football program. It also seemed like the team spent more time on special teams work in practice compared to previous years.

UK FB Practice

Vicky Graff Photos

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