Phillips, Wildcats Continue Preparation for Spring Game
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The
University of Kentucky football team moved one day closer to the annual
Blue/White Spring Game on Saturday by holding a two and a half hour
practice Wednesday morning at the Nutter Training Center. UK
head coach Joker Phillips said after practice that Wednesday was the
final true practice for the team this spring season. The head coach
said the team will wear shorts and shoulder pads during practice Friday
to fine tune some things before the Blue/White Game. “This
is our last day of working and getting physical and doing all the
things that we need to do to get ourselves ready to play football,”
Phillips said. “Friday we will be in shorts to work on technique and
fundamentals.” Phillips said the team had a very strong
practice Wednesday, getting in some competitive work on both sides of
the ball. Along those same lines, the head coach was again happy with
the scrimmage film from last Saturday. “I was really
pleased with what I saw in the scrimmage,” Phillips said. “There were
plays made on both sides of the ball and it was really competitive. We
need to finish up these last two days strong. One is a fundamental and
technique practice (Friday) and the last one is that we want to see how
we compete in the scrimmage.” Looking ahead to the
Blue/White event on Saturday, which will have a regular game format
just like last season, Phillips said he mainly wants to see players
compete. Phillips said he and the coaching staff are starting to see
playmakers develop and are looking for more to step forward. “We
really think right now we know who our playmakers are and guys who can
make things happen,” Phillips said. “(Wide receiver) Demarco Robinson
is one of those guys and (quarterback) Maxwell Smith is doing well for
us and getting the ball out of his hands, which is important. People
don’t consider (offensive guard) Larry Warford a playmaker but he is as
big a playmaker as there is on this team. (Wide receiver) Daryl Collins
has made a lot of plays. Ronnie Shields is holding down the starting
tight end position and he has moved ahead of the rest of the guys. We
have asked him to do a lot of things and were concerned early in the
spring how he would handle that but he has stepped up to the plate and
shown us he can do all the things we are asking him to do. “On
defense, (linebacker) Avery Williamson is playing really well and
really pleased with the way (safety) Martavius Neloms is starting to
lead this football team on defense. Two anchors inside, (defensive
tackles Mister) Cobble and (Donte) Rumph are playing well.” Phillips
and the Wildcats will hold the final practice of the spring season
Friday before the Blue/White Game on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
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