Lance Heard (UK Athletics Photo)
If you are going to Saturday morning’s Blue-White Game to get your first look at coach Will Stein’s new team and staff, you are not going to get a look at the entire roster because Stein confirmed Thursday that at least 15 players would miss the game due to injuries.
Probably the biggest name — or at least the player most UK fans really wanted to see play — on the list is offensive tackle Lance Heard, a Tennessee transfer. He got a lot of money to be UK’s left tackle and is being counted on as the major rebuilding piece in the Bib Blue Wall.
Stein said Thursday that Heard was having a “procedure” done and will likely be out four weeks.
Transfer running backs C.J. Baxter and Jovantae Barnes also will be out along with sophomore Tovani Mizell. Baxter and Barnes are expected to be mainstays in the backfield next season.
Receivers Nic Anderson, Xavier Dany, Cameron Miller, Davis McCray and Hardley Gilmore also are on the list of players who will not play. Anderson is being counted on as a big-play threat but won’t get to showcase his skills Saturday. Miller was impressive late last season and is expected to be one of UK’s main receivers.
Heard is not the only offensive lineman that will not be playing. Alex DiMartino, Kyle Mixon and Ana Selm also have been ruled out for the game along with defensive players Ben Duncum, Sam Green and Jaden Smith.
Heard, Greene, Anderson and probably Baxter will be opening game starters for Stein in September with Barnes, Daisy, Gilmore, Selm and Smith all rotational players.
The good news for Kentucky is that even though the players will not participate in the Blue-White Game, Stein said they all should be good to go when preseason camp opens in August.
2 Responses
This is a smart move if pads are going to be popping. It would be silly for one of the main players to get hurt during the spring game. If Anderson can't stay healthy this year I could possibly see Gilmore and DJ Miller start. Gilmore started last year and had two years experience with many starts over those two years. I would like to see Gilmore gain about 10 good pounds. That would make him a little more powerful with the ball in his hands. I haven't heard a update on Mizell in a couple of years. Did he ever get healthy after having ACL surgery? Also I've heard our backup running back last year Dowdell who transferred from Kentucky is running with the 4th string at Georgia. Why would he go from Kentucky being a second string to Georgia where he won't ever play in the game except maybe a 3rd and inches play. Or 4th and goal. Which he's not good at that in the SEC. He was good at that in the big ten but he struggles against players faster than he is. If I was him I would have gone back to the big ten or out west. I don't understand a player moving farther back on the depth chart unless they just don't care about playing anymore and was just trying to cash in on there last hoorah. Also since basketball is going to a 5 years to play 5 years. Will football follow suit. It's already like that for most because they redshirt there first year. But if they play there first year do they still get 4 more years to play. So they can also play 5 years??
Maybe they should have a photo shoot and a picnic. Seeing less of the probable starters, why have a spring game? It will be nothing but a chance for Stein to continue to run his mouth about how wonderful he is.