New Kentucky nose guard could help in the kicking game in a pinch
By Nick Cole
Published:
Oh, the things you find out during spring practice.
Kentucky beat writer Jennifer Smith was surely just getting to know new Kentucky nose guard Naquez Pringle, who is a midyear enrollee that transferred in as a JUCO player from Itawamba Community College in Mississippi.
But she may have been surprised to find that the 6-3, 330-pound interior lineman has an unlikely skill that the Wildcats might be able to utilize in a pinch.
According to her interview with Pringle, he’s actually quite the kickoff specialist, if given the chance.
Pringle told Smith that he served as his team’s place kicker throughout his youth, and that he even served as his high school team’s kickoff specialist.
Pringle said he did not kick extra points or field goals, but was able to place kickoffs “out of the end zone every time.”
So would Pringle be able to kick it out of the end zone now, a few years later, should MacGinnis be unavailable?
“I believe I can if I get a few warmups,” Pringle smiled.
While we’re sure that Austin MacGinnis’ job is safe, it would be entertaining to see the 330-pounder get out there and boot a kickoff at some point this fall. Maybe in a blowout nonconference game?
It’s now on Wildcats coach Mark Stoops to give us this opportunity.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
