Brad White Likes Tackling, Anwar Stewart Looking For DL Depth

Anwar Stewart (UK Athletics Photo)

It’s still two weeks before Kentucky plays its first football game but one thing UK defensive coordinator Brad White said after Thursday’s practice was really good news.

“I was really pleased with some of the tackling that we had,” White said. “That’s always the one (concern). You wonder, how is it going to translate?”

It’s one thing to do tackling drills. It’s another thing to do actual live tackling and White has liked what he’s seen from his defense.

“First time since we’ve tackled in a while and I thought we tackled solid. I would like to see us do that again this Saturday (in the scrimmage).”

White is pushing his defensive line daily to get the most out of them.

“I think it’s a daily battle with those guys. I think we still need to get a little bit off the rollercoaster,” White said Thursday. “We have some days where we’re really good, and some days I don’t feel the energy, and you have to get after it a little bit.

“You’re going to have those ebbs and flows in camp, but from that group, I’m really trying to demand and (defensive line) coach (Anwar) Stewart is demanding those guys to just meet that level every day because we’re going to need it every week.”

White made it clear on UK’s media day that he wanted his front line to be “elite” and is continuing to tell them that daily.

Stewart wants 315-pound senior Josaih Hayes and 285-pound sophomore Kahlil Saunders to make a move this year.

“Kahlil is a big, long athletic kids. Watch the Georgia game last year when I went big and what he did,” Stewart said. “Josaih has shown at times what he can do. We just need him to be more consistent with that productivity.”

Stewart also said former Ohio State transfer Darrion Henry Young “improved a lot” over the spring and has put on weight after a “great summer.” He also likes freshmen Tavion Godson (6-5, 275 pounds) and Kendrick Gilbert (6-5, 292 pounds).

“They are two really athletic freshmen. We have recruited the right kids who are hungry and want to compete like they do,” Stewart said. “It’s about getting guys ready to go so if we have to throw somebody in there, we can.”