Mark Stoops says Kentucky is in decent shape health-wise

With a quarter of the season gone, the knicks and bruises of a college football campaign are starting to show for some teams. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case at Kentucky based on the evaluation of Mark Stoops.

Stoops updated where the Wildcats stand health-wise towards the end of his media availability on Thursday. As they enter the fourth week of the year, he knows that they’re not as healthy as possible but says that UK is in a fair spot with all things considered.

“We’re in decent shape for four games in,” said Stoops. “We’re in decent shape. Not at 100% but we’re in decent shape.”

The two significant question marks for Kentucky at the moment as far as injuries go are OL Kenneth Horsey and TE Josh Kattus.

Horsey has been absent since the opener against Ball State with a leg injury. The fifth-year offensive lineman hasn’t yet returned to the depth chart from a matter that was expected to keep him on the sidelines for a few weeks.

As for Kattus, he left Kentucky’s win over Akron last weekend after catching two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown against the Zips. To this point, his availability is still up in the air although he’s alongside Brendan Bates on the team’s depth chart this week.

Besides that, Kentucky’s lineup has remained virtually the same with good luck so far in the health department.

We might see some movement depending on any last-minute updates for either Horsey or Kattus. Beyond that, though, Stoops feels very good about Kentucky’s status on that front as they head to Vanderbilt to open SEC play tomorrow.

Ray Davis addresses return to play vs. Vanderbilt

When Kentucky takes on Vanderbilt this weekend, it’ll be a homecoming of sorts for Wildcat RB Ray Davis.

He spent the last two years suiting up for the Commodores before transferring this offense. He has since left no ambiguity about where his allegiances lie this week.

“I’m not on Vanderbilt no more. I play for Kentucky and that’s kind of all that matters,” Davis said.

Davis hasn’t approached this game like it’s a big deal or anything more than it is. That’s the mindset he has had to be able to stay even-keeled this week.

“It’s not Ray Davis vs. Vanderbilt. It’s Kentucky football vs. Vanderbilt,” he said. “That’s the kind of mindset I’ve been able to have and just attacking it like a normal game. Not trying to get too high, not trying to get too low. Just kind of staying even front.”