Football IQ, tight end depth will be pillars of Kentucky's offense

Following the second and final scrimmage of fall camp for Kentucky football, the tight end position continues to receive a boatload of praise after a lot of buzz was generated over the weekend at Kroger Field. Tight ends coach Vince Marrow has five scholarship players in his room and each seems ready to play winning football this year in the SEC.

KSR spoke to multiple members of the Kentucky offense on Tuesday. The tight end position along with the overall football IQ of the group were two points of emphasis. The Wildcats are hopeful these two things will lead to some early success when Miami (Ohio) rolls into town next week.

Let’s dive right into our latest practice report.

Pro-style scheme requires football intellect

Rich Scangarello will tell anyone that wants to listen that his pro-style offense at Kentucky is not easy to learn. Throughout fall camp, there have been some growing pains for the offense as the Wildcats install a complex scheme.

Kentucky will need smart players to succeed on the field. Scangarello believes that the Wildcats have the intellect to put points on the scoreboard.

“One of the things I’ve been most pleased about is the football IQ of the group of players we’re playing with,” the new play-caller told reporters on Tuesday. “You don’t have to be the smartest guy, but you gotta have some football smarts and if you combine that with some good work ethic you can go a long ways.”

“In the end, that will help you play sooner, that will help you play faster, that helps you build trust with the quarterback.”

For Kentucky, the quarterback and center seem to be driving the bus. Will Levis will have a lot on his plate, and the Wildcats will need their signal caller to be a maestro early and often for this offense to have success. At center, Eli Cox slides over from right guard and everyone in this football organization has great faith that the Nicholasville (Ky.) West Jessamine product will be the next great man in the pivot.

Scangarello believes that the combined football IQ between the batterymates gives the offense a great chance at success.

“When your quarterback and your center are as smart as they are, that can take you a long ways…One percenters where they can handle a lot,” Scangarello told the media about Cox and Levis.

As of now, the Kentucky offense thinks this unit has a chance to be good since there is a plethora of smart and talented players on the unit. However, this is a new offense, and there are still a few unknowns. In many ways, the first game will serve as a huge barometer for the rest of the season.

“Until you play, you don’t know exactly where you’re at,” Scangarello said. “There will be mistakes, there will be some growing pains, but you hope that you’re able to overcome that…that’s just football. I am happy with our maturity with where we’re at with our focus. Especially these last couple of practices and kind of where we’re trending. We’re definitely trending upward.

There are many things to still be determined with the Kentucky offense. We are going to find out a lot when this group takes the field at Kroger Field next week.

Tight end depth will be utilized

Both Brenden Bates and Keaton Upshaw are tight ends entering their fifth year in the Kentucky football program. The class of 2018 signees from Ohio have played a lot of football and started games in the SEC. But the veterans are being pushed daily in practice.

Izayah Cummings flashed last year as a flex tight end. The former wideout is now a junior and will have “specific plays” in this offense, according to Marrow. Jordan Dingle is a redshirt freshman who is being called a “swiss army knife” by his position coach due to his two-way ability as a blocker and receiver. Josh Kattus has shocked many as a true freshman and could have a role this year.

Iron is sharpening iron at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.

“Competition brings out the best, especially when you got the qualities and character that they have,” Kentucky offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said about his tight ends. “They’re grinding, they’re improving. I’ve seen them get better. They’re smart, and this offense is built for guys like that. I’ve really been pleased with their progress. We got a good mix of skill and physicality and smarts. I think that they’re going to be a big part of our success this year. I’m excited for where they’re at.

Expect the tight end position to receive a heavy target share in the passing game and to be a key cog in setting the edge in the run on Kentucky’s zone concepts. The offense will be dependent on this deep group to play at a high level.

Kavosiey Smoke is becoming a reliable asset

Kavosiey Smoke has rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns during his career at Kentucky. The redshirt senior tailback out of Wetumpka (Ala.) High has averaged 5.6 yards per rush in 34 career games.

Despite the proven production, Smoke seemed to fall behind during the spring in a loaded position room. Kentucky would then go into the transfer portal over the summer to land FCS All-American Ramon Jefferson. There is a heated battle for snaps at tailback.

However, it appears that the redshirt senior has risen to the occasion during fall camp.

“Like a lot of people, I think competition brings out the best in you,” Scangarello said when asked about Smoke. “I think that in that room you have C-Rod [Chris Rodriguez Jr.] and then these group of guys who are battling for reps. Only one tailback plays like one quarterback. There’s only one ball to handoff. When you got a workhorse like C-Rod, you’re not going to take him off the field unless you have to. That forces guys to work and play their best and buy-in and do little things that maybe weren’t expected of them. And I think that’s always the goal with any player, and I’ve been proud of him with the fact that he’s embraced that.

Jefferson is emerging as perhaps Kentucky’s top option after Rodriguez. JuTahn McClain figures to have a prominent role in the offense due to the pass-catching ability that the junior brings to the field. Smoke has seemed like the odd man out but is currently scratching and clawing for playing time.

With Rodriguez expected to miss a few games to start the season, Kentucky will likely have a committee-heavy approach to start the year. Smoke will be looking to earn some snaps and make some plays for the offense. The coaches have noticed his individual growth as the season quickly approaches.

“He’s maturing as an individual, and I think that’s what it takes to be successful and count on a guy,” said Scangarello. “You add that with some real dynamic ability I think he can really help us this year.”

Quick hitters

— Rich Scangarello stated that Kentucky threw the ball more by design in the second scrimmage to give Will Levis some extra work with the surrounding skill talent players. Now that camp is over, the rotation will be minimized as the Wildcats shift to game prep.

— There was a lot of talk about Kentucky’s youth at wide receiver and how these players are being “challenged’ with this new scheme. There will be some “growing pains” for that group as the season progresses, and it will take time for things to click. In the meantime, expect the tight ends to be heavily involved as Kentucky evolves as an offense.