2012 Opponent Preview: Kentucky (5-7)
June 27, 2012 | Football
June 27, 2012
TEAM INFORMATION
2011 Record: 5-7 overall, 2-6 (tied fourth place) in the SEC Eastern Division
Basic Offense: Pro style
Basic Defense: Multiple formations
PLAYERS RETURNING
Lettermen Returning: 49
(26 offense, 21 defense, two special teams)
Starters Returning: 11
(six offense, five defense)
Offensive Starters Returning (6):
C Matt Smith, OG Larry Warford, WR La'Rod King, QB Morgan Newton, FB D.J. Warren, TB CoShik Williams
Defensive Starters Returning (5):
DE Collins Ukwu, DT Mister Cobble, DT Donte Rumph, S Mikie Benton, S Martavius Neloms
Specialist Starters Returning (1):
FG/PAT/KO Craig McIntosh
Louisville and Kentucky resume their rivalry on Sunday, Sept. 2m in front of a national television audience on ESPN. The Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak to the Wildcats last season with a 24-17 win at Commonwealth Stadium.
Kentucky went 5-7 last season, but the Wildcats finished well with a strong performance at Georgia and a season-ending win over Tennessee.
Head coach Joker Phillips believes the first order of business will be to continue building a passing attack that was inconsistent a year ago.
In stark contrast to a year ago, when UK had to replace the starting quarterback, tailback and top two receivers from the 2010 team, the Wildcat playmakers return virtually intact from last fall.
Injuries struck the quarterback position last season as Morgan Newton and Maxwell Smith shared the position. Newton, now entering his senior campaign, completed 47 percent of his throws for 793 yards and eight touchdowns. He's also a dangerous runner with 272 yards and two TDs on the ground.
The Wildcats lost one of its top wide receivers in Matt Roark, but does return its leading pass catcher in La'Rod King, who led the team in every receiving category last season with 40 catches for 598 yards and seven touchdowns. Seniors Gene McCaskill, E.J. Fields and Aaron Boyd bring more experience. McCaskill has been the most accomplished with 41 catches in his career.
Like the quarterbacks, the tailback position was beset by injuries last season. Five different players handled the role, including senior CoShik Williams, juniors Jonathan George and Raymond Sanders, and sophomore Josh Clemons.
The Wildcats must replace three starters offensive line. The forward wall will be led by senior Larry Warford, who has earned second-team All-SEC honors each of the past two seasons, and Matt Smith, a two-year starter at center.
The Wildcats must replace six starters on the defensive side of the football, most notably All-America linebacker Danny Trevathan and All-SEC safety/linebacker Winston Guy, who were the top two tacklers in the SEC last season.
Cornerbacks Randall Burden and Anthony Mosley, along with reliable middle linebacker Ronnie Sneed, also have graduated.
