Mark Stoops (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky starts preseason practice Thursday and will have Media Day on Friday and Fan Day on Saturday. After that, the real grind starts for the September 4 opener against Louisiana-Monroe. One obvious question the Cats need to answer is who will help anchor the defensive line this season with Quinton Bohana gone to the NFL.
One name to watch is sophomore defensive lineman Josaih Hayes of Mississippi. The 6-3, 310-pound Hayes played in five games last year but had what defensive line coach Anwar Stewart called a “really good offseason” to get ready for this year.
“He is looking good. I watch him work out every day and he is just a powerful, explosive young man,” Stewart, a former UK defensive end/linebacker and 13-year CFL veteran, said. “By the end of the year people are going to know and love him.
“He has a great personality. He is a momma’s boy and if I have any issues I call her and she will straighten him out. Guys just take to him. He was highly recruited out of high school and has been doing a really good job. I am really excited to see what he is going to do.”
Another sophomore, 302-pound defensive end Isaiah Gibson, is another new name to remember. He had five tackles and a quarterback hurry in nine games last year.
“He has the size and ability. He is fast. He has every tangible measurement you want in a defensive lineman,” Stewart said. “Now he just has to put it all together. He is one guy that could be the X-factor for us this year. I am excited to see how he starts out and competes. But I really think he could be a big surprise.”
One Response
Names to sure watch for.