SEASON GRADES: Report card for each UK offensive unit in 2016

QB

B

This is a tough position to grade. When the quarterbacks were good - as in the first half against Southern Miss or the entire game against Louisville - they were really good. When they were bad they were really bad. But here's the reality: Both Drew Barker (in limited attempts) and Stephen Johnson (roughly 10 games) finished with higher quarterback ratings than any other player under center in the Mark Stoops era.

Stephen Johnson outdueled Lamar Jackson on the likely Heisman Trophy winner's home field. He finished the year with a 12-6 TD to INT ratio. His poise and unflappability were qualities that defined, in large part, Kentucky's unlikely resurgence after an 0-2 start. How important was he? Kentucky was down 13-0 to Austin Peay when Johnson was out of the game. Once he entered the game the Cats ripped off 49 consecutive points. His decision-making in the run game as well as the pass game were better than we've seen from Kentucky quarterbacks in quite some time.

Of course, it wasn't always pretty or even good. Johnson finished with a 54.5-percent completion rate and only some of that is due to passing downfield a lot. There were plenty of games when Johnson's numbers weren't impressive and the overall play wasn't that great. But he was an integral part in the program's climb back to respectability and deserves recognition as such. He made UK's run game much better and developed into a quality deep ball thrower, which is just what the Cats needed in the play action game with those two 1,000-yard backs.

RB

A+

The season just turned in by Kentucky's running backs was one of the best in the program's history at any position. That's not an exaggeration.

Boom Williams (160 carries, 1,135 yards, seven TDs) was one of the SEC's most explosive and reliably dynamic performers. Benny Snell (179 carries, 1,057 yards, 13 TD) was one of the nation's surprise players regardless of class and position. From three-star running back to one of the SEC's rushing leaders, Snell was the perfect complement to Williams. Jojo Kemp (67 carries, 321 yards, 6 TD) took a step back in terms of his average production from previous years, but he came on stronger as the season winded down.

WR

C+

It might be tempting to point to the Louisville game to justify a better grade, but the whole body of work has to be considered. First, the unit is due much praise for its role in the win over Louisville. Though they had some dropped passes early, three receivers had touchdown receptions against Louisville.

Garrett Johnson led Kentucky in catches on the season (36 receptions, 568 yards, 5 TD), but did a lot of his work at the very beginning and the very end of the year. Jeff Badet emerged as the team's best big play threat (28 receptions, 639 yards, 22.8 avg, 4 TD). Ryan Timmons' numbers (20 receptions, 238 yards) were not especially impressive, but anyone who watched the team play knows that he was one of the unit's more clutch players in 2016.

The receiving unit suffered from Dorian Baker (12 receptions, 170 yards, TD) being hampered with a nagging injury that limited his action (nine games, seven starts). And Tavin Richardson was targeted a limited number of times after starting the season strong against Southern Miss.

Overall the unit struggled with drops for a large portion of the season, once again. But they blocked well and also made some big plays in key moments, even while they squandered some other opportunities.

TE

B+

C.J. Conrad was the team's fourth-leading receiver (16 receptions, 248 yards, 4 TD). He didn't have the kind of statistical breakthrough season some were hoping for, but he was especially big against New Mexico State (when his three touchdowns made the difference in a 20-point win that was close for large amounts of time) and in a couple of other games. Conrad and Johnson were close to connecting on several more big plays but they looked a step out of sync in the passing game at times.

Still, Conrad has emerged as an upper-echelon SEC tight end because of his big play ability (when the ball is catchable) and because of his blocking, which was solid throughout the season. Greg Hart saw action in 11 games and had six catches but also contributed as a blocker.

OL

A

This was one of the better lines in modern Kentucky history. They were not perfect. At the start of the season they surrendered nine sacks in the first two games, but finished the year by allowing just 17 in the season's final 10 games.

What really made this unit special was what they allowed the running backs to do. They were maulers in the trenches and it started in the middle with Jon Toth, the unit's most reliable performer from the start of the season until the end.

Pro Football Focus graded Nick Haynes out as one of the top guards in the SEC this season. Logan Stenberg and Bunchy Stallings also turned in quality performances on the interior this year. Cole Mosier had a much improved season at left tackle and true freshman Landon Young spelled him effectively when he was injured and then rotated, showing plenty of promise. Kyle Meadows played more physical than he ever had before.

The line did go through spells when they committed penalties, but by and large it was a fantastic year for John Schlarman's unit.