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10 best Kentucky players exiting spring
With new facilities, a virtual overhaul of the coaching staff and a turning point season on the horizon, there is reason for optimism in Lexington. But with an unproven quarterback and a host of skill players battling injuries or inconsistencies, questions also linger.
If Kentucky makes a bowl game this season, it will be because the majority of players on this list performed better than expected, or at least up to their potential.
So here are Kentucky’s 10 best players coming out of the spring:
10. WR Jeff Badet
One of the most memorable plays of the spring game was Badet taking a screen pass more than 80 yards for a touchdown. He’s one of the fastest players on the team, and after losing the 2014 season to injury, he was third last season with 430 receiving yards. One of the few big-play threats Kentucky has, Badet had five catches last season go for at least 35 yards.
9. OT Tate Leavitt
Despite an offer from several schools, including Alabama, the junior college transfer chose Kentucky and is expected to be installed at left tackle to replace the dependable veteran Jordan Swindle. Leavitt admitted to his struggles in the spring, but he’s also part of a talented offensive line recruiting class this season that needs to establish itself as SEC caliber in protecting the quarterback. Leavitt’s 6-foot-6, 305-pound frame fits the bill, but the learning curve from JUCO to the SEC is still an adjustment he needs to make.
8. WR Garrett Johnson
Johnson might as well be the poster boy for the Wildcats’ receivers. One day he may look like an elite receiver in the SEC. Another day he has a third-down drop. His drop over the middle early in the spring game brought back bad memories for fans of similar plays last season. Still, he was Kentucky’s leading receiver by yards last season with 46 catches, 694 yards, but just two touchdowns. He showed promise against Missouri (6-119) and Auburn (9-160). Those performances came after six catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns two years ago at Florida. Midway through last season, he was sixth in the SEC in receiving. But Johnson had just 11 combined catches in the remaining four SEC games.
7. WR Dorian Baker
Baker led the team with 55 catches for 608 yards, but just three TDs and was another target who had memorable drops against Florida and South Carolina. He practiced nine times this spring, but had a minor knee procedure and is expected to be back by June.
6. RB Jojo Kemp
More than a serviceable backup, Kemp played in 12 games in 2015 and had as many TDs as Stanley Williams on 98 carries and 555 yards. Kemp was among the 23 players coach Mark Stoops signed in his first recruiting class in 2013, and was the program’s leading rusher that season. Kemp will have plenty of opportunities to expand his role with the new offensive coaches, especially given Williams’ injury history.
5. TE C.J. Conrad
One of the early glimpses into the new offense at Kentucky is that Conrad is expected to have a larger role than the position as a whole had last season (15 catches for 149 yards). Multiple new formations are expected to expand the position’s role in the offense. It showed in the spring game when he was targeted often, and caught a touchdown between defenders.
4. DE Denzil Ware
Not many players across the country had as good or better spring game than Ware, who collected 15 tackles, five for a loss and four sacks. He had 39 tackles last season, including 5.5 for a loss. A part-time player last season, Ware will be called upon to do that against first-team offensive linemen, and lead an inexperienced front seven. One question for Ware and the defense is stopping mobile quarterbacks, who have had their way against UK in recent seasons.
3. QB Drew Barker
Barker only played a half in the spring game, but one of the least surprising quarterback announcements came to fruition after the game: Barker is the starter entering the season. He was 12-for-18 in the spring game with two touchdowns. He’s matured a lot in the last year, and gives Kentucky a known starter the earliest it ever has in the Mark Stoops era. One of the best in-state quarterback prospects in recent years, Barker has a chance to live up to the recruiting hype.
2. CB Chris Westry
One player who could start on most other SEC teams, Westry started every game last season, had eight pass breakups and two interceptions. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. In the Blue-White game, he broke up two passes and didn’t allow a catch. Stoops has said every time the ball is thrown in Westry’s direction, he thinks it will result in a drop or interception.
Throw at Chris Westry? Stoops: "Immediately, I'm like, 'That’s not going to be complete.' " https://t.co/ep4Bogp1MF
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/KashDaniel15/status/722181691838722050
1. RB Stanley “Boom” Williams
Kentucky’s leading rusher has battled recurring elbow injuries, and missed time this spring because of offseason surgery. He missed two games in 2015 and played very little against Tennessee. His career highs for single-game carries are 18, 16 and 16. That’s about the only thing keeping him from solidifying himself as a top-shelf SEC running back. Limited carries kept him under 1,000 rushing yards in 2015 as he had 855 and six touchdowns in 10 games, but still set a school record with 7.1 yards per carry.