PRACTICE REPORT: Aug. 8
Kentucky’s 10th practice was completed at the Joe Craft Football Training Center on Tuesday. Offensive coordinator Eddie Gran met with the media after practice. Here were the main takeaways.
-- It’s been a major story thus far in camp, but Lynn Bowden was officially cleared to practice on Friday night. He missed several practices, so Gran said he’s “swimming” right now with all he’s having to learn.
“He is just trying to learn the offense,” Gran said. “He’s athletic, he can catch the ball. Just what we thought. He’s trying to get six practices in one. That’s really hard. We’re going to have to bring him along.”
-- Another important story has been the weight loss of offensive lineman Nick Haynes due to his battle with diabetes. UK is managing Haynes’ reps closely, which has allowed some of the freshmen to step in and see more plays than they anticipated.
“It’s been great because now we’re able to get Naasir (Watkins), Sebastien (Dolcine), some of those young guys and those reps are going to be huge for them, whether or not they’re a part of the package this year, just those reps are huge. They’re getting 20 practices, 29 practices they’re getting the reps.”
Gran said Haynes is doing “great” and doing a good job of coaching up the younger offensive linemen. Another offensive lineman who is doing well in camp is George Asafo-Adjei. The junior lineman has played extensively his first two seasons with the Wildcats, but Gran said Asafo-Adjei is having his best camp yet.
“Less mental errors; really you don’t see him a lot showing up because of the mental errors. He’s really been locked in and doing a great job.”
-- Freshmen receivers Clevan Thomas, Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps have all been praised by players and coaches for the ability they’ve shown so far. One freshman receiver not mentioned nearly as often has been JaVonte Richardson. Richardson was the highest rated player among all the receivers in high school. The coaches like his talent, but like most freshmen, Richardson is still trying to learn the playbook.
“He's another one, a freshman, where the problem is the offense — learning that and getting into the offense,” Gran said. “He's got talent. There's no doubt about that.”
Wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas said Richardson is working hardest at learning the playbook. Thomas said when Richardson knows what he’s doing, he plays fast and physical.
“It’ll click for him,” Thomas said. “We’re just happy with what we see when he knows what to do. He’s an incredible talent and we’re definitely happy to have him here. He’s going to be a big playmaker for us in the time to come.”