{"id":21201,"date":"2019-04-13T14:00:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-13T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=21201"},"modified":"2019-04-13T10:02:41","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T14:02:41","slug":"takeaways-from-kentuckys-2019-spring-football-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2019\/04\/13\/takeaways-from-kentuckys-2019-spring-football-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Takeaways From Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 Spring Football Game"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Takeaways From Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 Spring Football Game<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/coaches\/mark-stoops-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mark Stoops&#8217;<\/a>\u00a0seventh Wildcat team wrapped up spring practice with the annual Blue-White Game. In front of a crowd of 16,665 at <strong>Kroger Field<\/strong> the Blue team defeated the White 64-10. There was a lot of good, and some bad, so let&#8217;s begin our takeaways from Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 spring football game.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/terry-wilson-3.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terry Wilson<\/a>\u00a0Looked Very Sharp<\/h4>\n<p>Throughout the spring offensive coordinator <strong>Eddie Gran<\/strong> and quarterbacks coach <strong>Darrin<\/strong> <strong>Hinshaw<\/strong> raved about his improvement. Tonight it showed as Wilson completed 10 of 12 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He hit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/lynn-bowden-jr-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lynn Bowden<\/a> with 42 yard score on the games first series.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Come for the TD pass.<br \/>Stay for the celebration.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UKFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@UKFootball<\/a> keeping it \ud83d\udcaf <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/qHIeYgxDeY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/qHIeYgxDeY<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; SEC Network (@SECNetwork) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SECNetwork\/status\/1116857114998255616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Following the game Stoops commented on Wilson&#8217;s big play capability. &#8220;I saw some good explosive plays; I was pleased to see that. We&#8217;ve been working hard all off-season to convert opportunities.&#8221; A much improved Wilson under center could mean big things in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Wilson backup quarterback\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/gunnar-hoak-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gunnar Hoak<\/a> had a strong game as well. Playing for the white and then later the blue squads Hoak threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n<h4>Big Plays On Offense<\/h4>\n<p>For years True Blue Fans have wanted Gran to open up the playbook and throw down field. In the Blue-White game they got just that. Along with Bowden&#8217;s score\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/isaiah-epps-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isaiah Epps<\/a> had a 60 yard pass for another touchdown. Furthermore redshirt freshman <strong>Bryce Oliver<\/strong> led everyone with eight receptions for 105 yards. The offense ran up a incredible 774 yards during the scrimmage.<\/p>\n<h4>A Three Pronged Running Attack<\/h4>\n<p>While no one is going to be able to replace <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/benjamin-snell-jr-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Benny Snell<\/a>, the Cats have many weapons in the backfield.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/asim-rose-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A.J, Rose<\/a>\u00a0ran for 86 yards and three touchdowns and was named the game&#8217;s MVP.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">1\u20e31\u20e3 carries<br \/>8\u20e36\u20e3 yards<br \/>3\u20e3 touchdowns <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ajrose_10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ajrose_10<\/a> is our player of the game <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BringIt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BringIt<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/p2c2TQ1zeH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/p2c2TQ1zeH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UKFootball\/status\/1116861688446431232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 13, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In addition to Rose another running back\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/kavosiey-smoke-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kavosiey Smoke<\/a>\u00a0also had a huge game. He only ran the ball five times, however he made them count with 132 yards on the ground. His first touch was an electrifying 87 yard touchdown.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Scott_Charlton\/status\/1116834812759818240<\/p>\n<p>Kentucky&#8217;s third running back\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/christopher-rodriguez-jr-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Rodriguez<\/a> added 71 yards and another score. For the game the Cats rushed for 302 yards between the two squads.<\/p>\n<h4>The Defense Left A Lot To Be Desired<\/h4>\n<p>As we continue with takeaways from Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 spring football game let&#8217;s look at the one negative, the defense. Obviously it&#8217;s just a scrimmage but giving up 74 points and 774 yards is in no way good. Following the game many fundamental mistakes left Stoops pretty upset.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Today was probably the most sloppy day we&#8217;ve had. There were some big plays and I like to see that.&#8221; Stoops went on to say, &#8220;overall what you are looking for is good hard-nosed fundamental football and I saw a lot of sloppy play out there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Not only does Kentucky have to replace potential top three NFL Draft pick\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/josh-allen-6.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Allen<\/a> but virtually the entire secondary.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/kash-daniel-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kash Daniel<\/a> did not play tonight which definitely hurt. However there were many instances in a scrimmage atmosphere where you can&#8217;t sack the quarterback that led to some of the big plays.<\/p>\n<p>Linebackers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cfb\/players\/jordan-wright-3.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jordan Wright<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/2018\/12\/19\/kentucky-wildcats-2019-recruiting-profile-jared-casey\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jared Casey<\/a> are two players who stood out on defense. Wright had an interception and would have had several sacks. The true freshman Casey led the white squad with six tackles and a quarterback hurry.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a long way between now and the September 1st opener against <strong>Toledo.<\/strong>\u00a0However the Cats look primed for another really good campaign in 2019. Thanks for checking out our takeaways from Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 spring football game here at <strong>Last Word On College Football<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget we have the tournament ongoing to pick the school&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/2019\/04\/11\/kentucky-footballs-greatest-win-the-jerry-claiborne-bracket\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">greatest football victory.\u00a0<\/a>Stay with us throughout the spring and summer as we get you ready for another big season of Wildcat football.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Takeaways From Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 Spring Football Game Mark Stoops&#8217;\u00a0seventh Wildcat team wrapped up spring practice with the annual Blue-White Game. In front of a crowd of 16,665 at Kroger Field the Blue team defeated the White 64-10. There was a lot of good, and some bad, so let&#8217;s begin our takeaways from Kentucky&#8217;s 2019 spring [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":877,"featured_media":18139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[3182,184,1705,3024,3181,1483,285,126,2737],"class_list":["post-21201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-sec","tag-a-j-rose","tag-cfb","tag-gunnar-hoak","tag-kavosiey-smoke","tag-kentucky-wildcats-spring-game","tag-lynn-bowden","tag-mark-stoops","tag-ncaa","tag-terry-wilson"],"modified_by":"Tony Siracusa, CFB Managing Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/877"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21201\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}