Former all-SEC defensive lineman Dennis Johnson thought Mark Stoops was a good coaching hire for Kentucky. However, Johnson never thought Stoops could build the depth that he has.
“They have size and athleticism and now have the depth, too, so they can equal up with everybody they play,” Johnson, now the head coach at Woodford County High School, said. “I thought if he (Stoops) got enough time he could turn things around. He is hard-nosed and a tough defensive coach. He’s been even better, though, than I thought.”
One reason is the way Stoops and his staff have developed talent. Johnson noted that UK believes it is 10-deep in the defensive front this year.
“They do a good job finding talent and then developing that talent and that’s tough to do in college where the majority of teams we are playing ranked higher than us in recruiting,” Johnson said.
Johnson coached UK center Drake Jackson at Woodford County High School and also coached UK offensive tackle Landon Young — along with 2020 NFL first-round draft pick Jedrick Wills of Alabama — in middle school.
Johnson talks to his former teammate, UK defensive line coach Anwar Stewart, about how Jackson and Young are doing and likes what he hears and sees.
Johnson, who also played in the NFL, remembers how hard he was on Young and Wills in middle school just like his father was on him because he saw their potential.
“I could see them being where they are now. But think about having two kids on the same middle school team who end up in the NFL,” Johnson said. “We went to some big national tournaments with a team I put together and won. We just wore people out up front even though we just had 17 or 18 players.”
Johnson knew Jackson would do well in college because he was so serious about football in high school
“He always had a lot of questions about why we do this and always wanted to watch video. I knew he would transition well to college because it’s more about technique and scheme,” Johnson said. “Some guys are good in high school because they are big and athletic but he understood why we did what we did.
“He also always played with good leverage even though he was bigger than other players. He would just go do his job the right way. If he ever got hurt, God forbid, you would see a huge difference in UK’s play. He’s that good.”
Will he play in the NFL?
“I don’t know how long his arms are to get the leverage you need in the NFL,” Johnson said. “But I think he will. He’s a grinder. He might not be a starter but he will be able to play multiple positions and teams like that. He is smart and knows fundamentals. He’ll find a way to get a spot.”
