The Cats Illustrated Newsstand covers a range of topics from in-state recruiting and the backfield situation to the new offer to Keldon Johnson and Kentucky's chances with Cam Reddish.
PRESEASON HONORS
Six University of Kentucky football players earned a spot on the 2017 Preseason Coaches All-Southeastern Conference teams, it was announced Wednesday by the league office.
Junior linebacker Jordan Jones and junior defensive end/linebacker Denzil Ware were named second-team defense, while junior tight end C.J. Conrad and sophomore running back Benny Snell Jr., were third-team offense, junior safety Mike Edwards was third-team defense and senior kicker Austin MacGinnis was third-team special teams.
RANKING ANALYSIS
Cats Illustrated publisher takes a player by player look at Rivals.com's new Class of 2018 rankings and where Kentucky's commitments fit into them.
LINK: My take on UK's commitments in the new 2018 Rivals.com rankings
KENTUCKY'S MVP?
The Cats Illustrated staff goes back to the Round Table to discuss some football topics with the season approaching.
T.J. Walker, Jeff Drummond and Justin Rowland all give different answers.
YOUNG VISITOR
Yesterday Kentucky's basketball staff played host to five-star forward Keldon Johnson, offering the player before he left Lexington.
On Wednesday, Kentucky played host to another basketball visitor.
LINK: Fast-rising point guard prospect visiting Kentucky today
OFFER ANALYSIS
On Tuesday Kentucky offered 2018 five-star small forward Keldon Johnson. The Virginia native unofficially visited Lexington and walked away with a scholarship offer, making him the ninth player in the class of 2018 to have an offer from the Cats.
Here's why UK offered the 6-foot-6, 205-pound versatile recruit.
LINK: Breaking down the significance of Kentucky's offer to Keldon Johnson
IS IN-STATE RECRUITING IMPORTANT?
On Tuesday Kentucky offered 2018 five-star small forward Keldon Johnson. The Virginia native unofficially visited Lexington and walked away with a scholarship offer, making him the ninth player in the class of 2018 to have an offer from the Cats.
Here's why UK offered the 6-foot-6, 205-pound versatile recruit.
2019 TARGET
Patrick Lucas is a 2019 defensive lineman who is ready for the experience. He knows the recruiting process has officially started for him and he is looking forward to what happens over the next year and a half.
Mississippi State offered him first in the spring and he has picked up two more offers since. He camped at Alabama, Georgia and UAB over the summer, so the process has started and he is looking forward to what is next.
LINK: Lucas has offers and he's ready to enjoy the recruiting process
CORNERBACKS HUNGRY
It’s a matter of statistical subtlety, but Kentucky’s cornerbacks and coaches considered last season a disappointment for that group.
Much like the season before that, the Cats finished fifth in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense, allowing eight more yards through the air than it did the season before.
But there are other numbers that stick with junior corners Derrick Baity and Chris Westry.
LINK: Kentucky cornerbacks hungry after ho-hum, sometimes humbling 2016 season
SUCCESS IN EVERY SETTING
When Leah Edmond arrived at University of Kentucky, she had some pretty lofty goals for her first season with UK volleyball.
She accomplished all of them.
Starter? Check. All-Southeastern Conference Freshman Team? Check. All-SEC Team? Check. SEC Freshman of the Year? Check. All-American? Check.
LINK: Whether for Dunbar, UK or Team USA, Leah Edmond soars on and off volleyball court
BACKFIELD DYNAMICS
Kentucky offensive coordinator Eddie Gran announced to some surprise Tuesday that Sihiem King had earned the second-team running back spot ahead of A.J. Rose.
King, a junior, and Rose, a redshirt freshman, entered preseason camp as unknowns. Most of King’s work a year ago came on special teams as he recorded only 11 carries. Of King’s 81 rushing yards last season, 75 came in the last few minutes against Tennessee. Rose sat out last year as fellow freshman Benny Snell and junior Boom Williams split carries. Senior Jojo Kemp handled the rest.
REAL SHOT AT REDDISH?
Cameron Reddish recently cut his list to five schools and the top-5 overall recruit in the Class of 2018 told Rivals.com that his commitment is likely coming “sooner than people are expecting.” So what does that mean for Kentucky basketball?
LINK: Cats have ‘a great shot’ at landing 5-star Cameron Reddish
WHY THE LAG?
Joe Mussatto of SEC Country provided a Tuesday update regarding how Kentucky football’s season ticket sales are currently going.
Ten days before the opener at Southern Miss on Sept. 2 and less than two weeks before the home opener Sept. 9 against Eastern Kentucky, UK has sold 33,533 season tickets for this season at Kroger Field.
LINK: Five reasons Kentucky football ticket sales haven’t matched hopes
