Kentucky Wildcats Spring 2008 Preview
Wildcats Prepare for Spring
Drills with Great Expectations for 2008 Football Season
April Practices to Test Many Returning Wildcats in Key
Positional Competitions
- Frank Cassady
In Lexington, interest in football has reached a 50-year crescendo. After decades of frustration, UK's football program is back in a big way under veteran Head Coach Rich Brooks and his staff.
Consider the vibrato and thunder of UK's dramatic turnaround. From 2000-2005, the Wildcats posted a combined 20-48 record under three head coaches (Hal Mumme, Guy Morriss, and Brooks), as the UK football program endured the devastating consequences of NCAA probation resulting from Mumme's previous recruiting violations. Now, the NCAA sanctions are in the past, and the Wildcats have responded with a 16-10 record and back-to-back Music City Bowl victories over ACC powerhouses Clemson and Florida State in 2006 and 2007.
This remarkable change of direction has been anchored by UK's fine 2007 senior class. Andre Woodson graduates as UK's third-ranked QB of all time in net career passing yards, and fourth in career touchdown passes. Rafael Little departs Lexington as one of only three running backs in SEC history to rush for 2000 career yards and receive passes for another 1000 yards. TE Jacob Tamme and LB Wesley Woodyard are first team all-SEC performers. Keenan Burton ranks fourth historically among UK receivers in both all-time receiving yardage and TD receptions. WR Steve Johnson's 2007 season was statistically the best of all UK receivers, and it seemed that every one of Johnson's 13 TD receptions came with games on the line. Safety Roger Williams has also received all-SEC recognition during his UK career. Offensive linemen Eric Scott and Jason Leger enjoyed fine performances in 2007, while defensive end Dominick Lewis became one of UK's better pass rushers by season's end.
So there is no doubt that UK's 2007 senior class will be very difficult to replace. And yet, replacing them is Coach Brooks' key to continuing success for this football program.
For all of these reasons, when spring drills are held in April, competition will be keener than ever at almost every position on the football field. UK's coaching staff will carefully watch these competitions and formulate tentative plans for extending the football program's recent success in 2008 and beyond.
Following is a preview of UK's 2008 spring drills.