We asked them: How are the freshmen adjusting to college?
There's a lot that goes into transitioning from high school to college. That's for anyone.
Sometimes a person has never been away from home for long. In the case of many football prospects, including some of the freshmen at Kentucky, time management becomes an issue, as do the demands of a more rigorous weight program and other expected areas of growth.
CatsIllustrated.com asked a number of Kentucky freshmen to shed light on how their adjustment to college has been going.
Wide receiver Josh Ali, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna: “It’s actually been kind of different getting used to the workouts, waking up early in the morning and coming into the facility. It’s different but I enjoy it. I actually wanted to come here early.”
Wide receiver JaVonte Richardson, Maple Heights (Ohio): “I love it man, it’s different. It’s different." - JaVonte Richardson
Offensive tackle Naasir Watkins, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel: “The transition has actually been pretty smooth. They work really hard to make sure getting into the summer courses, getting into workouts and into practice, I don’t want to say it’s been the easiest thing in the world but it hasn’t been difficult at all.”
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Defensive lineman Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald, Lakeland (Fla.) Victory Christian Academy: “Fast. Very fast. But, you know, fun at the same time. Not a lot of people get this opportunity to play football and now that I’m here I’m willing to take the next step.”
Linebacker Alex King, Mason (Ohio): “It’s going great, lifting’s going great. School’s going great. I’ve had the chance to hang out with the upperclassmen, some great leaders.”
Defensive end Chris Whittaker, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna: “Just different, waking up at 6 a.m., definitely, that's different. That’s really a big adjustment to get used to. But the big adjustment is learning how to compete with these guys out there. Especially (how) we’ve been going hard at the weight room and conditioning wise. That’s a big transition to adjust to also. So far I haven’t had no problems.”
DE/Jack LB Joshua Paschal: “The transition has been good just learning from the older guys and things like that. They’ve been helping us out a lot. Workouts, I feel like my high school program was good for that and they transitioned us as far as helping us to get bigger.”
Wide receiver Isaiah Epps, Jenks (Okla.): “So far it’s been good just because the older guys have been there to help lead us and guide us through the way. I’m sure just the normal college transition would be rough but the older guys have aided us in making it a little bit easier.”