With already a slew of experienced skill players at its disposal, Kentucky has seen receiver Ryan Timmons establish himself as a noteworthy player this spring.

Following Saturday’s scrimmage, the second for the Wildcats, coach Mark Stoops and quarterback Drew Barker each credited Timmons with making something out of routine plays.

“He’s been very good this spring,” Stoops said, as WKYT reported. “Somebody asked me a week or two ago who’s been the most pleasant surprise and I’d say he’s been one of them.”

Added Barker, “Throw him a bubble screen and he’ll take it 40 yards. He makes guys miss. Quick slants. He really was making something out of nothing.”

In a spring that begins a turning point season for the Wildcats, Stoops publicly has praised many of his players, and saluted the play of some under-the-radar contributors like Timmons.

One of the questions before spring was how would Barker transition to the presumed starting quarterback position as Kentucky also presented a competition. Stoops said after a recent practice that Barker has shown maturity and become a steady player in practice.

“I’m seeing a guy who’s studying film more, that’s more serious about his business and that’s showing up on the field,” Stoops told the Courier-Journal. “He’s much more consistent.”

Barker led the offense in the first scrimmage on a pair of 70-yard scoring drives, the Herald-Leader reported.

Also at Kentucky’s first open practice, tight end C.J. Conrad showed glimpses of what’s expected to be an expanded role in new offensive coordinator Eddie Gran’s offense. He reportedly made a tiptoe catch in the corner of the end zone, one of two touchdown catches that afternoon. Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, meanwhile, was pleased that the second-team unit didn’t allow a touchdown, which suggests some depth could be available.

“Nobody’s earned a job, so maybe some of those guys will get into the starting lineup,” he told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “They did a good job in this scrimmage. Played well, didn’t give any points up, won a lot of third-down battles, played the run well.”

Stoops has also complimented outside linebacker Kobie Walker, who redshirted two seasons ago, then was injured in fall camp. Offensive lineman Cole Mosier, a former walk-on, has taken snaps with the first-team offense in a competition for starting left tackle.

“He’s been consistent,” Stoops told the Courier-Journal. “You generally know what you’re getting out of him. He does not make a lot of mistakes, he’s very good with his assignments and he gives you good effort all the time.”