First Down Kentucky: Flex Friday

Springtime in the Bluegrass. It’s a great time for gains inside the Joe Craft Football Training Facility where each and every Friday is a Flex Friday for the Kentucky football team.

What exactly does that mean? The Wildcats have done the heavy lifting and conditioning early in the week. Now it’s time to show off the glamor muscles with some curls for the girls. Let’s check in to see how that lifting is going.

Chip Trayanum prefers to be shirtless when he sprints. Can you blame him? If I was built like that you’d never see me wearing a shirt.

Chip is not the first, nor will he be the last to show off the guns while working out. Jamon Dumas-Johnson appears to take a different approach. He’s smiling and sprinting. Not sure how that’s possible. Pop must’ve been having a great day while working up a sweat at the Nutter Field House.

Cornerback Max Hairston spent the season dealing with a hand injury. He still has it wrapped up, but it’s not keeping him from throwing the bar around the weight room.

Kentuck Football Team Bowling Outing

It’s not all work and no play for these Wildcats. Earlier this week the team spent some time together at LexLive. Josh Kattus served as the host for the video feature, while Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow brought the entertainment, in the form of gutterballs.

Bowling night! Fun group coming together. pic.twitter.com/zjxt43nIxT

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) January 26, 2024

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One Reason Why Mark Stoops was Ready to Move On from Yenser

Some of the raw statistical numbers were kind to Zach Yenser’s 2023 offensive line. The Kentucky offensive line allowed the third-fewest sacks in the SEC and ranked in the top 25 nationally in yards per carry. If you look closer, those rushing numbers are deceiving.

As I detailed previously, the rushing numbers looked good because Ray Davis was explosive. He consistently made big plays, but it was a boom-or-bust rushing attack. The Cats had one of the worst rushing success rates in college football. Why? Because they consistently blew run-blocking assignments. According to data compiled by Parker Fleming, only 11 schools had more missed assignments on run blocks than Kentucky.

Josh Allen likely to remain in Jacksonville

Josh Allen logged the best season of his career in the final year of his rookie deal. The former Kentucky Wildcat broke the Jacksonville single-season franchise record with 17.5 sacks, the second-most in the NFL this season. It sets him up for a lucrative deal, but it may not be a long-term deal.

“Josh Allen is going to be a Jaguar next year,” Jaguars’ general manager Trent Baalke told the media on Thursday. Baalke wants to sign Allen to a long-term deal. If they can’t get it done, he’s willing to use the franchise tag, a one-year deal worth an estimated $22.5 million in guaranteed money. Playing on the tag is lucrative, albeit risky. Hopefully, Allen can sign a nice long-term deal and secure his financial future.

Cats Playing Championship Weekend

If things go well this weekend, a former Kentucky Wildcat is guaranteed a Super Bowl ring. The problem is they’re both underdogs. Mike Edwards returned to practice on Thursday after suffering a concussion in the Divisional round win over Buffalo. His Chiefs are 3.5-point dogs at Baltimore, while the 49ers are 7-point favorites over Josh Paschal‘s Detroit Lions. We broke down the matchups last night on a riveting edition of 11 Personnel.

Roush, Party of Five

The excitement from the first child comes with special announcements, followed by a baby shower, a diaper party, and a string of other celebrations. For child number three, I let it slip out on live radio. Whoops.

Life is crazy at the Roush house and it’s only going to get crazier this August when our third little one arrives. Someone recently told me, “If you have three, you might as well have eight. There’s no difference.” I disagree wholeheartedly. Nevertheless, this should be fun, but I’d really appreciate it if this baby would cooperate and find a nice arrival time in between SEC Media Days and kickoff of the 2024 season. This year’s event coincides with the All-Star Game and I can’t miss a chance to catch home run balls while pounding Lone Star Beers with my favorite On3 cast of characters.

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