Mark Stoops explains changes to Kentucky's winter training

Following a less the stellar 2022 season, Mark Stoops took a hard look at the winter training program for Kentucky. Ultimately, he chose to make some tweaks.

Speaking with reporters as spring ball gets underway, Stoops explained that the changes weren’t some overhaul or wholesale changes. Instead, it was making sure the offseason work was really building the foundation he thinks Kentucky should have.

“Some times you’ve just got to re-evaluate and hit the reset button and look at certain things and don’t forget about who we are. And as I said, and I put that on me, not on the team, but on myself. After you’re around for a few years and maybe teams, I can’t just assume they’re going to understand who we are and what our identity is and how we’re going to do things. And that’s my job. And there were probably things that I could’ve done better. Going all the way back to last winter. So I’m not going to let that happen again,” Stoops said.

Mark Stoops says Devin Leary is ‘earning’ leadership with Kentucky

There’s a certain level of leadership that’s expected out of the quarterback position in football. Even so, Stoops is totally okay with Devin Leary, Kentucky’s new QB1 out of the transfer portal, taking a wait-and-see approach in that aspect.

That’s because, from what Stoops said at his spring practice press conference, Leary is waiting to earn it from his new teammates. He is perfectly capable of it when the time comes but, for now, he is focused on doing it the right way as the new man on campus.

“Devin is just waiting to lead. What I mean by waiting is he’s earning it,” explained Stoops. “He’s doing it respectfully. He can take over a room in five minutes but he knows that it’s about going out and proving it day in and day out and not forcing that.”

“I think it’s very important to just be authentic, be who you are but also lead and find your voice at the right time in the right moment,” Stoops said. “I think…it’ll be very easy for him to step into a full command type of position. He’s just that type of guy.”

Leary already has the status that comes with being a senior, especially one that accomplished what he did at NC State. Still, it’s going to be a process to take over the locker room in the spot previously held by Will Levis.

With all that said, Stoops isn’t concerned whatsoever about Leary’s leadership in Lexington. He knows it’ll take time but that’s okay. Once things start to count, he knows his team will have someone to look to under center in Leary.