Dekel Crowdus, Chris Lewis are flashing for Kentucky

Kentucky is returning Will Levis at quarterback, but there are still major questions about the passing game surrounding the offense heading into 2022.

Play-caller Liam Coen was a one-and-done and is now back in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams. Rich Scangarello is now holding the call sheet, but Wan’Dale Robinson is not in the lineup as his 104 receptions on 146 targets have moved onto the NFL.

There is a lot to get excited about when it comes to the running game for Kentucky, but the passing game needs some new players to step up. Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson is expected to be the guy in the slot, but the Wildcats need some outside receivers.

After taking redshirt years in 2021, former four-star recruits Dekel Crowdus and Chris Lewis could be ready for a big role in Kentucky’s offense. Both second year players are making moves in spring practice.

“Dekel is doing good,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said on Saturday. “He shows really good flashes. He has that speed that change of direction that we’re looking for. Big-play capability, and once again, I think for a young guy that was injured last year, just the consistency to constantly show up and do good things.

The redshirt freshman out of Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass suffered a knee strain during fall camp last season and never saw the field as a rookie. However, Dekel Crowdus has top-end speed that could allow the 5-foot-10 receiver to be a field stretcher on shot plays in the Kentucky passing game. At Z receiver, the Wildcats need a player to be a weapon on vertical concepts to open up both the ground game and intermediate passing game in Scangarello’s offense. Crowdus is getting some long looks this spring.

“We’ll feature him some this spring and see how he takes advantage of that,” said Stoops.

Over at X receiver, the Wildcats are still waiting on Alabama transfer Javon Baker to arrive this summer, but for now, someone must take reps. Chris Lewis is a young player getting some snaps, and the Metro Birmingham native can make some contested catches. Creating those was something Kentucky struggled with last season.

“We need to get out of the mindset of those being 50-50 balls and them being 90-10 balls with our receivers,” Levis said. “Just to really trust them that we’re throwing the ball up for them to make a play because we trust that they’re going to make a play. That’s a part of our offense that we didn’t have too much of last year that we can get to.

“Specifically, I think Chris Lewis has come a long a lot. He made a couple really good 50-50 balls.”

Lewis was a four-star prospect who chose Kentucky over Ole Miss and Texas A&M after catching a combined 39 touchdowns during his last two seasons with Pleasant Grove (Ala.) High. The former basketball player can high point the football and has the length and catch radius to be an effective player into the boundary where defenses will challenge Kentucky with press coverage.

The offense has had some promising returns during spring practice, and the young skill talent is a significant reason why. The Wildcats are just trying to get better. Both Dekel Crowdus and Chris Lewis could help the team this season.

“Spring is fundamental — it’s being a good football player. That’s never going to change,” said Stoops. “You just have to be good in your area and be very fundamental.”