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Takeaways from UK Pro Day

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It’s March and the Big Blue Nation’s eyes are all on the basketball team, and deservedly so. However, the football team is coming off one of the best seasons in UK football history with the help of twelve potential NFL draft picks.

Last Friday, a total of sixteen former Cats participated in UK’s 2019 Pro Day. The Pro Day was primarily for those that were either not invited or could not participate in the NFL Draft Combine. Josh Allen, Benny Snell, and the other six combine participants were there to support teammates.

While that was the plan, NFL Teams were still drooling over Josh Allen. Allen said that even though he did no performance drills, scouts repeatedly pulled him aside to have informal conversations and to get a better feel of Josh Allen the person and the football player. I mean how could you not draft that beast #1? Just look at his hands and strength

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Before the season started, NFL sources talked about how this Kentucky team had just as much NFL talent as any team in the country and that’s still the case as all 32 NFL teams were well represented, including some big names such as Oakland Raiders GM Mike Mayock and Los Angeles Rams GM Les Snead.

With Allen and Snell sitting out, the rest of the Cats shined.

CJ Conrad

For CJ Conrad, UK’s Pro Day was about more than just putting up numbers. It was about just being able to get back on the field after concerns that his football career might be over.

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Conrad received a combine invite but before he was able to participate in any drills, Conrad was ruled out after a medical examination found what was thought to be a heart issue. Last Monday, Conrad flew to Boston for a second opinion and got the great news that he would be able to continue to pursue his NFL dreams.

After not being able to work out for nearly three weeks, Conrad chose to not go through the entire “underwear olympic” regimen and instead just performed catching drills. Conrad was okay with that saying, “It really tested me a lot, but just to be out here with my teammates and all that, it’s meant everything.”

Conrad will continue to prepare for the NFL Draft in April and will hold another Pro Day on April 8th, where he will be joined by Mike Edwards who sat out due to a hand injury.

Chris Westry

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Westry was the only eligible UK defensive back not invited to the Combine and with his performance on Friday, they might have regretted that decision.

Westry measured at 6-foot-4, posted a 38-inch vertical, and ran unofficial 4.31-second and 4.37-second 40-yard dashes. For comparison, Westry’s forty time would’ve been second among all defensive backs at the Combine and was as fast or faster than every wide receiver.

The performance wasn’t a surprise to Mark Stoops saying, “Chris Westry ran a great time, of course he was the only DB not invited to the Combine, and he lights it up here today”

Here is a clip from the Cats going nuts when Westry recorded his 38-inch vertical.

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George Asafo-Adjei

Offensive tackle, George Asafo-Adjei undoubtedly had the best day of all the Cats participating on Friday and made himself some serious $$$.

Asafo-Adjei had 34 bench press reps, which would have tied him for second place among all offensive linemen at the NFL Combine. Asafo-Adjei’s 30″ vertical leap would have placed him in the top ten at the combine. Most remarkably he was able to do something only four offensive linemen did at the combine, breaking the five-second mark in the 40-yard dash with a 4.93-second mark.

Here is a table of all the results from Friday’s Pro Day.

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Louisville Football Player Charged With First-Degree Strangulation, Days After Committing Game Losing Personal Foul

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Louisville Cardinals defensive back Tayon Holloway (20) reacts to his defensive play.
Eric Canha | Imagn

On Monday, Louisville football defensive back Tayon Holloway was detained and charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault.

This comes just days after the former four-star prospect committed a costly personal foul to put a 2-7 Stanford team in field goal range and upset Louosillve 38-35 with a walk-off field goal.

As expected, Holloway has been indefinitely suspended from the team.

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“The University of Louisville is aware of the arrest of football student-athlete Tayon Holloway,” the university said in a statement. “As we gather more information, Tayon has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.”

Things Cardinals seem to be in a downward trend as the Commonwealth Cup nears, November 30th.

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Kentucky snaps four game losing streak defeats Murray State 48-6

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops talking to Murray State football coach Jody Wright.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

Kentucky gets a much-needed victory over Murray St 48-6 to snap its four-game losing Streak. Brock Vandagriff led the way for the Cats, going 12-19 for 183 passing yards and two touchdown passes to Hardley Gilmore IV and Ja’Mori Maclin. 48 Points is the most points Kentucky has scored in a game since 2021 when the Cats scored 51 points against Louisville.

The defense held Murray St. without a touchdown. For the second time this season, Kentucky’s defense has held an opponent without a touchdown.

Freshman Standout today:

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For the second time this season, Kentucky breaks the 40-point mark as three freshmen make impacts for Kentucky. Jamarion Wilcox had 13 carries and 124 yards with a touchdown in the 3rd quarter.

Receiver Hardley Gilmore IV had two receptions for 72 yards and caught the 52-yard touchdown pass from Brock Vandagriff on the game-opening drive.

Four-star quarterback Cutter Boley started the second half for the Cats, going 10-14 and passing for 130 yards with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, both touchdown passes to sophomore receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens.

Defense Bounces Back:

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After giving up over 475 yards of total offense each of the last three games, Kentucky’s defense holds Murray State to 256 total yards of offense while also having three takeaways from the Murray State offense

Defensive Lineman Tre’vonn Rybka led the way for the defense with five tackles and the only sack of the game for Kentucky’s defense. Jordan Lovett had two takeaways in the first half for Kentucky and one in the red zone in the second quarter. Jackson Schultz had the final takeaway, picking off Jim Ogle’s pass late in the fourth quarter.

Box Score

With the win today over Murray St., Kentucky moves to 4-6 (1-6 SEC) with two games remaining. They look to keep their bowl eligibility alive as they travel to Austin, Texas, and face the No. 3 ranked Texas Longhorns at 3:30 pm on ABC. 

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Mark Stoops Responds to Retirement Rumors, “Zero Percent Chance I Do That”

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Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops responds to retirement rumors amidst disappointing season. "Zero percent chance I do that."
Jordan Prather | Imagn

To say there is unrest in the Kentucky Football fanbase would be an understatement. With a 3-6 record overall, and 1-6 in the SEC (15th out of 16) things look bleak, and there is still a quarter of the season to go. Considering the regression from the previous two seasons as well, it’s difficult to be optimistic about the future.

Over the last few weeks, rumors have circled that head coach Mark Stoops has considered retiring at the end of the season. Optics wise it makes sense, his older brother Bob Stoops surprisingly retired from Oklahoma at just 56, and Mark, now 57, has expressed a desire to spend more time with his children.

At his weekly press conference, Stoops was asked directly if there is any chance that he would walk away from Kentucky and retire at the season. To which he responded, bluntly:

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“Zero percent chance I do that. Next question.”

Mark Stoops is still owed more than $44 million on his contract. That’s A LOT of money to leave on the table and is the reason that the decision will be Stoops’ to make, as Kentucky cannot afford the buyout.

If Stoops holds true to his word and returns next season, NIL fundraising efforts may be the most difficult it has been for him. However, he hopes it sparks motivation to donate.

“I’ve seen it at other SEC schools,” Stoops said. “I want to stay away from that. I really get tired of — I don’t want to be like I am whining, I am crying. It is reality. You have to have dollars.”

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