Yusuf Corker UK Football Preseason Practice 2020 Photo by Jacob Noger - UK Football
ESPN Football Power Index has projected that Kentucky will finish third in the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division behind Georgia and Florida. However, the bad news is that the computerized projection has Kentucky winning 4.5 games during it’s 10-game schedule.
Obviously most Kentucky football fans have way bigger expectations for this team. So do the players.
What did safety Yusuf Corker think of ESPN’s prediction?
“We just take it one game at a time,” Corker said. “Right now we are focused on ourselves. Come closer to the season and our focus will be on Auburn (UK’s first opponent on Sept. 26).
“We do not worry about the media and not how many games we are predicted to win or lose. We know what we are capable of and are ready to prove them wrong.”
So while the players may not pay attention to the predictions, they know plenty about them. The last two years UK has won 18 games, including bowl wins over Penn State and Virginia Tech when the Cats were the underdog both times. Most of the 10 wins in 2018 came when UK was not favored to win.
Kentucky returns a veteran team and Corker says that has shown in one significant way during preseason practice.
“I feel the big difference this year is we have more emphasis on film and every rep you get you have to take advantage of it,” Corker said. “We are really paying attention and locking in during film.”
Corker says the secondary has so much more experience than it did going into 2019 when it turned into one of the best secondaries in the SEC.
“We are locked in and ready to go and just be better,” Corker said. “I am already really excited for week one against Auburn.”
