Mark Stoops lists Kentucky players out in spring ball with injury

Devin Leary is on the practice field in blue and white and throwing the football like normal, according to Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops.

Leary, one of the top transfers in the 2023 cycle, tore his pectoral muscle off his throwing arm last season with NC State. There were questions about whether or not Leary could throw with the first team during spring ball, but it seems the big-time transfer’s recovery is moving on quicker than originally anticipated.

“Yeah, he was out there pretty much full go here today,” Stoops said of Leary Monday. “Not sure what it is right off the top of my head, but I know he’s on a pitch count. The way we rotate quarterbacks and have depth, that didn’t affect me or the way I saw practice.”

Stoops also listed tight ends Josh Kattus and Jordan Dingle, DL Kahlil Saunders, RB Ramon Jefferson and OL Nik Hall all out “until further notice,” and said that while some other members of the roster have been limited this spring, these were the five that had procedures over the offseason.

Kattus and Dingle were both top-five receivers for Kentucky last year, combining for 27 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns (all by Dingle). Saunders, Jefferson and Hall were mostly practice bodies and reserves.

Even with the hype surrounding the return of Liam Coen as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator and his new shiny toy under center in Devin Leary, BBN will have to wait until September to see their new-look Wildcats in real action thanks to the fact that UK will not host a spring game this offseason. Instead, Kentucky is holding an open practice on Saturday, April 1 at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.

Kentucky will kick off its 2023 football season with three-straight home games beginning on Sept. 2 with Ball State, followed by Eastern Kentucky and finally Akron before beginning SEC play against Vanderbilt on Sept. 23.