First Down Kentucky: Day 1 at the Gator Bowl

KSR is counting down the days till kickoff between Kentucky and Clemson in the Gator Bowl. The Wildcats traveled to Jacksonville on the night of Christmas, then got settled in for their first practice in the Sunshine State on Tuesday. Liam Coen loved the energy he saw from the team.

“The guys were eager to get out here. You felt guys itching to try to get on the field today,” said the Kentucky offensive coordinator.

“Everybody was early getting out there, which is a good sign. I thought the guys had some good energy, a little bit of slow-footed at times, just getting back into it, but that’s why we did some of the extra conditioning. I was happy with the way they came out. Their attitude and enthusiasm carried out through the majority of the first practice.”

A couple of Jacksonville Jaguars spent their day off hanging with their former coaches and teammates. Luke Fortner and Josh Allen each spent time with the team, and Mark Stoops even let Allen address the full team following practice.

“What a pro, what a legacy he left with this program. You can see the guys are all drawn to him because of who he was, who he is, what he did for this program, and also what he’s done for himself there after,” Coen said. “And to see Luke, he looks lean, looks great, couldn’t be more proud… It’s doesn’t get much better than that, one of the highest quality player I’ve ever coaches.”

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Brian Robinson Joins the Team

There will be 18 new players on the roster when the spring semester begins. A couple have already made the move to become a part of the Kentucky football team. Brian Robinson is the second true freshman we know of that’s practicing with the team in Jacksonville, joining wide receiver Hardley Gilmore.

Robinson is one of the highest-ranked players to sign with Kentucky. The nation’s No. 150 overall talent looks the part. “He’s one of the prettiest-looking dudes I’ve ever recruited out of high school,” Vince Marrow said on National Signing Day. “I mean, when he came on a visit here, some parents thought he was a former player from the NFL coming back, and he’s only 17. Shew, he’s a good-looking dude.”

Though the setting may shift, the essence remains unaltered: the Gator Bowl stands as an esteemed privilege, unwavering. The voyage toward it is not a choice but a necessity—a journey that embodies inspiration and perseverance
@taxslayerbowl #GatorBowl. #BBNNation… pic.twitter.com/fyi9wYzx4E

— Brian Robinson AKA B Rob (@BRob_2323) December 27, 2023

Kentucky Tours Naval Station Mayport

It’s not all work and no play for the Kentucky Wildcats. The first Gator Bowl outing brought the team to Naval Station Mayport, the third largest fleet concentration area in the United States. After spending Tuesday afternoon touring through the boats and testing out the machinery, today the Kentucky football team will swing the sticks at Top Golf. Adam Luckett will have updates from the second UK Gator Bowl practice this afternoon.

🏈UK Wildcats onboard! 🏈

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl players got an up-close look at a Navy destroyer today with a tour aboard USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109)!! #universityofkentucky #taxslayer #navy #navyregionsoutheast #mayport #jacksonvilleflorida #gatorbowl #football pic.twitter.com/3oPYvNMEb3

— Naval Station Mayport (@NS_Mayport) December 26, 2023