Kentucky kicking game was point of emphasis during spring practice

Kentucky did not have a good year in the third phase last fall. The Wildcats missed numerous field goals and extra points, had multiple kicks blocked, and were an overall inefficient unit. Mark Stoops was determined to get this important part of the game fixed in the offseason.

Former Oklahoma and Texas special teams coordinator Jay Boulware has taken over in Lexington. There is now a different approach to the kicking game in practice. Stoops has liked what he’s seen from the third phase to this point.

“We’re emphasizing it with the snap and the kicking,” Mark Stoops said about Kentucky’s kicking game. “The accountability just really pushing that and worked it a touch more each and every day. With special teams in general, I like the attitude that we have and the leadership that we have. We worked hard at it and we’ll continue to improve.

Boulware has brought a different approach to the Joe Craft Football Training Facility and that is beginning to pay dividends.

“He puts a hard and big emphasis on special teams,” Kentucky super senior Chance Poore said last week. “I love that because when you go out there and have a kickoff, yeah, you can kick a touchback. That’s great, start on the 25. But if we pin them inside the 15, our defense gets riled up, they get going. The defense gets a big stop, next thing you know offense is starting at the 50. He’s treating it like special teams is not that third, ‘we gotta worry about that later.’ He’s treating that third like it’s important, the best.

Kentucky is hoping that this new approach will produce better results on the field.

Chance Poore’s final ride

Kentucky placekicker Chance Poore is entering his final season of eligibility. The Anderson (S.C.) Westside has served as the primary kickoff specialist the last three seasons producing a 70-plus percent touchback rate in 2020 and 2021. However, the 6-foot-2 kicker was passed by former walk-on Matt Ruffolo in 2020.

As the starting kicker in 2019, Poore was 5 of 9 on field goals with a career long from 49 yards. The veteran is now trying to grab the open starting spot in Lexington.

“He’s looking forward to his opportunity to get out there and hit it,” Stoops told the media. “You can see days where he was out there and extremely confident and comfortable. He’s got good pop on the ball and always has. You can see that with his kickoffs and just his leg strength. He’s been more consistent, we’re working on timing, we’re working on getting quicker. There’s been days where he’s been very good. There’s other days where that inconsistency pops up.

Poore has a spot as the team’s kickoff specialist, but Kentucky could decide to enter the transfer portal to insert another placekicker into this kicking competition.

Things are fluid for Kentucky’s third phase, but some improvements were made during the spring.