First Down Kentucky: The Cookout Mic Returns
On the eve of the first Kentucky football practice of the 2024 season, the Wildcats are showing us a little sillier side to their personality. Folks around BBN want to get to know these players better and there’s no better way than spending a few minutes with The Cookout Mic.
Marques Cox stole the show in the debut of this new feature. His conversation with teammates during a team dinner was such a hit, they had to run it back with Deone Walker.
No. 0 asks his teammates some important questions, like, “If you had to fight 10 of any animal, who do you think you could take?” Some players had irrationally confident responses. Others on the D-line simply stood up from the table and walked away. The preseason All-SEC talent had a fun back-and-forth with Mark Stoops and Dane Key. The wide receiver claims to be 210 pounds, to which Walker replied, “If that’s 210, I’m 400.”
The cookout mic with @deonewalker0 pic.twitter.com/iX5eRkcWgW
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) July 30, 2024
Personal Growth from a Pair of Kentucky Offensive Linemen
When you ask a Kentucky football player what they do in their free time in the offseason, a common phrase is “Working on my craft.” For some, it’s extra hours in the weight room or catching balls from the jugs machine. For others, it’s changing diet habits to aid in recovery. The physical stuff makes sense, but the mental development off the field is equally as important.
When he wasn’t doing his football thing, Gerald Mincey spent his summer interning with Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization that hits close to home for the former foster kid. Last week OL Marc Nave was baptized. Regardless of what religion you prefer, or none at all, finding spiritual fulfillment is a significant step in a young adult’s life. The offensive line is reminding Kentucky football fans that offseason growth is about much more than what you do in the weight room.
Coming Soon: Kentucky Football Schedule Posters
Are you officially ready for Kentucky football season until you have a schedule poster? I don’t think so. This year’s edition is hitting Kroger stores in Kentucky and Southern Indiana beginning this Saturday. You can also find them at Kentucky Football Fan Day.
Josh Hines-Allen in the NFL Top 100
Fresh off the best year of his career and a significant contract extension, Josh Hines-Allen is being recognized by his peers as one of the best in the NFL. Each offseason players are polled to rank the best opponents they see on the field every Sunday. This year Hines-Allen ranks No. 35 in the Top 100, a year after he was omitted from the list. Last year the former Kentucky Wildcat had more sacks (17.5) than his previous three years combined.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Phil Longo Fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
- 2
AP Poll Shakeup
New Top 25 shows big fallout from Saturday
- 3
JuJu Lewis
Elite QB decommits from USC
- 4New
5-star QB flip
Texas A&M commit Husan Longstreet flips to USC
- 5
Coaches Poll
Big changes to updated Top 25
Billy Napier said what?!?!
Over the course of KSR’s time with On3, I’ve befriended plenty of folks from around the network and during my time getting to know Nick de la Torre, I’ve learned the Florida Gators beat rarely features a dull moment. Even when things are going well, like they were for Dan Mullen in 2020, there’s a consistent tenuous relationship between the coach and the fans. It always feels like they’re a week away from catastrophe.
Today de la Torre was with members of the media when head coach Billy Napier dropped a line that made my head spin. “I’m a firm believer that better people are better football players. We’ll prove that this fall.”
Remember the Florida Gator that murdered a guy? He wasn’t a good person, but Aaron Hernandez was a damn good tight end. It’s a preposterous statement, and yet it might not have been the weirdest thing to come from the press conference.
Special Teams issues plagued Florida throughout the 2023 season. One of the steps they’re using to remedy the situation is the addition of Special Teams mats to the sideline. This new technology was first created back in 2001 and resembles something you might see at a YMCA youth league. Despite all the shenanigans, Napier feels good about his future at Florida, and de la Torre agrees.
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