Kentucky was one of college football’s biggest surprises of the 2018 season. The Wildcats snapped The Streak on the way to a successful 10-win campaign.

The big question is whether the Wildcats can do it again in 2019. It all starts with a Week 1 matchup against Toledo. Ahead of Game 1, UK coach Mark Stoops appeared on the SEC’s weekly media teleconference and commented on a few Cats topics as well as his brother’s return to coaching football:

  • On the growth he’s seen from returning starting QB Terry Wilson: I think it’s a combo of fundamentally, playing better with his footwork, things of that nature. Schematically, as you would think, knowing his reads and progressions… fundamentally he has worked really hard, studied his tape and worked with Coach Hinshaw to improve.
  • On RB Kavosiey Smoke: He has received a lot of buzz around here, for good reason. Our players have a lot of respect for him… We are excited to see him in his second year, and he did some good things last year. He’s bigger, more explosive… he will be in there early and often against Toledo.
  • On the possibility of winning 10 games two years in a row: I don’t want to get too far in front of our skies on that… I’ve never talked about that. We talk about day to day, I know that sounds boring but it’s true… even in camp, it’s been day to day.
  • On biggest question mark surrounding UK: A lot has been written about our secondary and I think that’s a legitimate question, we lost some good players and not only good players but they played a lot of football for us… We have to do a good job of preparing those guys… that’s probably the biggest area of concern.
  • On if he would have recruited himself as a player: Probably not, to be honest, probably not… players are bigger and stronger and faster. It’s a good thing I came out in the 80s.
  • On brother Bob Stoops returning to coaching football in the XFL: I wouldn’t say I’m surprised because he thought about it for some time… when he told me I was excited for him.