QB Andre' Woodson

2006 Statistics

Coach: Rich Brooks
17-30, 4 years
2006 Record: 8-5
at Louisville LOST 28-59
TEXAS STATE WON 41-7
MISSISSIPPI WON 31-14
at Florida LOST 7-26
CENTRAL MICHIGAN WON 45-36
SOUTH CAROLINA LOST 17-24
at Louisiana State LOST 0-49
at Mississippi State WON 34-31
GEORGIA WON 24-20
VANDERBILT WON 38-26
UL-MONROE WON 42-40
at Tennessee LOST 12-17
MUSIC CITY BOWL
Clemson WON 28-20

 

2006 Final Rankings
AP-32, Coaches-34, BCS-UR

2007 Outlook

Rich Brooks knew his leadership could again make this a formidable team that has a legitimate chance for the win weekly. After three wins in 2005, not many thought his third year’s effort would yield the most Wildcat wins (eight) and the first bowl victory since 1984. With enough vital parts still in place and those parts being another year wiser, we think they should round out our top 40. Senior All-SEC QB Woodsen is the most important component for guaranteeing success, but if there is no development in the running department, his efforts – along with those of his amazing targets – won’t elevate UK above their last result. The same notion can essentially be said of the defense, which has to take its nine returning starters and find enough seasoning from last year’s tough learning experience to hold foes for a full 60 minutes before Kentucky can think of winning their East division. Since new defensive coordinator Steve Brown is last year’s secondary coach, that has allowed for a seamless transition in the régimes, and his tendency throughout spring has been to have his unit more freely attack and disrupt with clearly expressed responsibility being applied. Improvements are imminent on D…therefore, though UK may not earn any more wins, they can still improve their showing as they stay competitive against better teams (a problem last campaign). Heck, they will probably again beat a few who they usually lose to (Georgia, Clemson were their upsets in ’06). Their slate is a killer, though - with in-state non-con Louisville a week before a trip to Fayetteville, at least defending national champ Florida, LSU and Tennessee are at home. If Brooks & Co. can go 3-3 against their six toughest SEC foes, they can likely finish with nine wins, given they can get another bowl win. This team has top 25 talent and a winning look for ‘07, but playing in the nation’s toughest league, they have a long way to go until they can permanently climb out of the conferences’ bottom half.


Projected 2007 record: 7-5
TE Jacob Tamme
KENTUCKY
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 4.5 DL - 2.5
RB - 3.5 LB - 3.5
WR - 4 DB - 2.5
OL - 2.5 ..
RETURNING LEADERS

Passing: Andre' Woodson, 264-419-7, 3515 yds., 31 TD

Rushing: Rafael Little, 140 att., 673 yds., 3 TD

Receiving: Keenan Burton, 77 rec., 1036 yds., 12 TD

Scoring: Keenan Burton, 13 TD, 78 pts.

Punting: Tim Masthay, 50 punts, 39.2 avg.

Kicking: Lones Seiber, 11-19 FG, 33-34 PAT, 66 pts.

Tackles: Wesley Woodyard, 122 tot., 80 solo

Sacks: Myron Pryor, 5 sacks

Interceptions: Marcus McClinton, 4 for 13 yds.

Kickoff returns: Keenan Burton, 31 ret., 24.7 avg., 1 TD

Punt returns: Rafael Little, 14 ret., 22.6 avg., 1 TD

 

KENTUCKY
OFFENSE - 9
----RETURNING STARTERS----
DEFENSE - 9
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Terrell Bankhead-FB, Matt McCutchan-C, Trai Williams-C/OG, Hayden Lane-OG, Fatu Turituri-OG, Michael Aitcheson-OT
DEFENSE: Durrell White-DE, Lamar Mills-DT, Karl Booker-CB
2007 OFFENSE

As long as André Woodson is still behind center, the Wildcats have a fighting chance offensively in most games. Last season was proof that this top 10 prospect has both an arm with power and accuracy, as well as leadership skills that elevate his teammates to also play at their best. There is little development behind Woodson, so his health is paramount for UK to keep above .500. But without the development of any real running presence, this senior again will deal with extra DBs in coverage when foes only need six and/or five out of their front seven to halt the ground proceedings. That is where coordinator Joker Phillips has his work cut out, for finishing near 101st in rushing again won’t help the win total. Senior Rafael Little deserves to again be the main weapon out of the backfield. His soft hands don’t hurt, either, and new FB starter John Conner can hopefully garner a few more carries to keep defenses guessing as to whom might emerge with the rock. Incoming freshman Demetrius Goode, the No.8 all-purpose back, will challenge Tony Dixon and Alphonso Smith for reps…anything to jumpstart the backfield’s production when they run half the time. JUCO-transfer Jess Beets at guard looks to displace Jason Leger inside for that needed extra push. All-around success Eric Scott now finds himself at center, a place where his athleticism will surely help as he takes on the conference’s best DTs. Junior Garry Williams, who is also still developing, needs to focus most on allowing fewer sacks after Kentucky finished last in the SEC for that. Williams and guard Christian Johnson are suspended indefinitely for academic reasons as of this writing, but both can return as soon as eligibility allows. Overall, the new-look of the line will dictate most whether the running game can find a groove or not. First Team All-SEC TE Jacob Tamme will again beat mismatched LBs to open up the coverage. Still, Tamme is not nearly the blocker needed for this league, and the trio of sophomores (especially T.C. Drake) will help more this way. Overall, the passing game finds all of its vital components returning. Keenan Burton is just too quick for corners to ever take him completely out of a game, as is classmate and legacy Dicky Lyons, Jr., whose instinct to find himself (in) open (spaces) is why DBs cannot just focus on any one receiver in this arsenal. Experience and depth in the corps should mean UK uses the pass to open up the run more effectively than the more traditional use of the run to set up their aerial assault. But if coach Brooks can’t find some way to even out the offensive production, it will mean the Wildcats can’t elevate themselves past last year’s efforts.

 

WR/KR Keenan Burton

 

KENTUCKY 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Andre' Woodson-Sr (6-5, 230) Mike Hartline-Fr (6-6, 201)
FB John Conner-So (5-11, 228) Maurice Grinter-So (6-3, 250)
TB Rafael Little-Sr (5-10, 195) Tony Dixon-Jr (5-10, 203)
Alfonso Smith-So (6-1, 190)
WR Keenan Burton-Sr (6-2, 195) Steve Johnson-Sr (6-3, 198)
WR Dicky Lyons-Jr (5-11, 190) DeMoreo Ford-Jr (5-10, 186)
David Jones-Jr (5-10, 185)
TE Jacob Tamme-Sr (6-5, 240) T.C. Drake-So (6-6, 230)
OT Garry Williams-Jr (6-3, 290) James Alexander-Jr (6-5, 283)
OG Christian Johnson-Jr (6-4, 325) Michael Williams-So (6-6, 290)
C Eric Scott-Sr (6-5, 291) Jorge Gonzalez-So (6-3, 300)
OG Jess Beets-Jr (6-2, 277) Jason Leger-Sr (6-1, 287)
OT Josh Winchell-Jr (6-3, 305) Justin Jeffries-So (6-6, 300)
K Lones Seiber-So (5-9, 185) J.J. Housley-Jr (5-10, 186)

 

2007 DEFENSE

After this team finished last in the SEC for every major defensive category, it isn’t difficult to see what has to occur the most for Kentucky to be a true challenger for their division half. But a new coordinator (hired from within) will likely mean improvements soon follow. What was a young front seven can now learn from their mistakes and improve accordingly. Inside, junior Myron Pryor is the clogger needed and he finds four-star prospect Corey Peters his new counterpart. Ends Oninku, Jarmon and Lewis already rotate well, but newbie D.J. Stafford, as well as seniors Travis Day and J.D. Craigman, will buoy the unit by pushing the incumbents to improve their numbers or be displaced by new coordinator Steve Brown. Sacks have to start coming from somewhere for UK’s front to earn its keep. Svelte senior Wesley Woodyard leads the LBs from his weakside slot, and it is no wonder why SEC coaches thought the Wildcat leader for tackles and TFLs was First Team all-conference. Juniors Braxton Kelley and Johnny Williams will have to pick their efforts up to hold off monster ex-DE Micah Johnson and his size-speed combo, but Johnson also has an academic suspension he needs to overcome before he is eligible for the season. Kentucky was pulling a LB to make their nickel package for when they play a spread offense, but we think Brown can more effectively yank one of the linemen if extra coverage speed is needed. Ergo, keeping DBs Shomari Moore and Paul Warford in the mix early and often will compliment starting corners Trevard Lindley and E.J. Adams ability to focus on smothering their marks. This can also aid in the entire secondary’s ability to make sure the play stays in front of them, especially since Brown is the ex-DB coach and he brings in Minnesota’s DC (Dave Lockwood) to ratchet up what is needed in coverage(s). Upperclassmen at both safety slots also ground the new schemes. We look for a huge year out of FS Marcus McClinton after his breakout sophomore campaign had him tied for the most forced fumbles in the country (five). Only two teams had either more fumble recoveries and/or a better turnover margin than UK, so being opportunistic will again be a key for the whole of the stopping effort to equal more than the sum of its parts. Brown is trying to gear this defense to attack opposing offenses and the ball, as well as to be more disruptive due to their own impetus rather than having to wait for opposing offenses to reveal their intent and then reacting from there. Hey, something has to give on this defense if Kentucky is serious about taking any ‘next steps’.

 

LB Wesley Woodyard

 

KENTUCKY 2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Jeremy Jarmon-So (6-6, 268) J.D. Craigman-Sr (6-4, 258)
DT Corey Peters-So (6-3, 290) Austin Moss-So (6-0, 250)
DT Myron Pryor-Jr (6-1, 300) Ricky Lumpkin-Fr (6-4, 289)
DE Nii Adjei Oninku-Jr (6-1, 248) Dominic Lewis-Sr (6-3, 261)
SLB Johnny Williams-Jr (6-3, 240) A.J. Nance-So (5-11, 250)
MLB Braxton Kelley-Jr (6-2, 226) Micah Johnson-So (6-2, 270)
WLB Wesley Woodyard-Sr (6-1, 212) Sam Maxwell-So (6-3, 225)
CB E.J. Adams-So (6-0, 190) Shomari Moore-Jr (5-9, 185)
CB Trevard Lindley-So (6-0, 175) Paul Warford-So (5-11, 200)
SS Roger Williams-Sr (6-0, 204) Ashton Cobb-So (6-0, 205)
FS Marcus McClinton-Jr (6-1, 210) Calvin Harrison-So (6-1, 200)
P Tim Masthay-Jr (6-2, 185) ..

 

 

2007 SPECIAL TEAMS

Lones Seiber is a decent kicker, but he needs to work on his accuracy for Kentucky to win close battles. Punter Tim Masthay also struggles for distance; both he and Seiber had too many tries blocked (two for Seiber, three for Masthay) for the special team fronts not to think they need help there. It is ironic how these shortcomings are balanced out by the amazing return efforts of Keenan Burton (kicks, First Team All-SEC) and Rafael Little (punts).