Offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan likes the way some young players have been producing. (Vicky Graff Photo)
The Kentucky football team had its first scrimmage on Saturday inside Kroger Field. On Monday, offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan discussed how his team did in Saturday’s action, but he also touched on a number of newcomers who made an impact.
“A couple of guys jumped out to us,” Hamdan said. “Hardley Gilmore had an extremely good scrimmage, a guy that we’ve been high on since we got here. Jamarion Wilcox did a really nice job at running back and some of those other young running backs really got some opportunities to do some good things.
“I was pleased with both (Jalen) Farmer and (Gerald) Mincey on the right side of the line and the line in general and how they protected. It’s constantly moving a guy here to the left side, to the right side, trying to make the best lineups you can.”
Gilmore, a 6-2 wide receiver, is a player who drew a lot of attention with his play during spring practice. Hamdan believes that momentum has stayed with Gilmore into fall camp.
“I just think so highly of him, from the standpoint of, he’s a complete player and probably, he doesn’t know any better,” Hamdan said. “I think sometimes a veteran wide receiver will try to save their legs for the season but Hardley knows one speed, whether it’s perimeter blocking, regardless of what we ask him to do, he takes pride in it. The sky’s the limit for him.”
Wilcox came to Kentucky as a highly-rated running back recruit. He redshirted last season but is now ready to see time in the backfield for the Cats. Hamdan likes Wilcox’s ability to make big plays.
“There’s always been a level of toughness with him and there’s always been, of all the backs, he’s got that explosive play potential,” Hamdan said. “Now, it just comes down to the scheme, knowing what to do on every play, not just some of those plays and just playing a little bit more consistently.”
Another freshman that the coaches are high on is tight end Willie Rodriguez. The Covington Catholic product has shown toughness and playmaking ability during fall practice, according to Hamdan.
“He’s doing a good job,” Hamdan said. “For those freshmen, it’s just drinking water through a fire hose. There’s a lot going on, they’re probably just trying to figure out where their dorms are. Willie is a guy who is extremely coachable, there’s a toughness factor that you either have or you don’t, and he has it. We’re super excited for Willie’s contributions.”
On the offensive side of the ball, a number of young players are making an impact this fall. Hamdan and the coaching staff hope that this type of impact can carry over to the field once the season begins.
6 Responses
I can’t believe chip is going to miss the first couple games. I doubt we really need him against southern miss, but that South Carolina game just got a lot more difficult. We will still win but I think it’s going to be closer now.
I think Wilcox will be the offensive surprise player of the year….dude can flat out fly!
Too many fast backs (remember Boom, for 1) in the Stoops era were given the ball to “run up the gut” for little or no yardage, even some losses, but kept sending them again and again. Seldom was a fast back sent to the outside to use his speed with a more open field in front of him.
HOPEFULLY, Stoops will FINALLY admit he knows NOTHING about offense and leave it to the OC to decide who starts, who plays x minutes, etc at every offensive position. Then we will see the best offense in the Stoops era!
I like the sound of the fast back and using him when Chip is also in the game would keep the D from focusing on just one guy. Those 2 backs can make the receivers have a lot more opportunity.
If Chip is not run up the middle routinely, then he will be a boss to take down and the offense will have many options.
I think Rodriguez is going to be very very good in 2025 and beyond. He will get some snaps but our starters don’t hardly get that many targets. Wilcox is a home run threat and Patterson is a combination of power and some speed. Gilmore and Rodriguez are going to be very good in 2025 as long as we can keep majority of our recruits and keep filling in the gaps with a handful of transfers eventually something great is going to happen. So far Stoops hand co. has done a incredible job at that and I think this is the year it finally pays off.
It was nice to get some news about the offense, but I wish I had heard more about the O line play. It would have been nice to have heard some about Vandergriff too. Practicing against our defense can’t help but make the offense better unless everyone is going at half speed.
I can hardly wait for football season to begin. We must make up for the last one. Very disappointing BUT I love them win or lose. Good luck Cats.