KSR Today: On the Road to the NFL Draft

KSR is on the road again. This time we’re heading west to the land of BBQ and Super Bowls for the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City.

After months and months of dissecting every different angle, the big day is almost finally here and Adam Luckett can hardly wait. The NFL Draft is not a hobby for our Football Guy, it’s a lifestyle, and for the first time he will get to experience all of the action firsthand. Steven Peake will join us to document it all on the KSR YouTube Channel, which you need to subscribe to right away. You don’t want to miss any of these hi-jinx, starting with 11 Personnel’s LIVE NFL Draft Preview tonight at approximately 7 pm EST.

Who will trade up for Will Levis? Is Kansas City BBQ worth the hype? Will some drunken fan eat a whole banana in solidarity with their new QB? All of these questions and more will be answered over the next three days at the NFL Draft. Eat your heart out, Big Blue Nation.

Kentucky Baseball Falls to Louisville

A disastrous seventh inning spoiled a solid pitching performance. Travis Smith struck-out a career-high eight batters and allowed only four hits and one run in five innings, but his offense did him no favors. The Kentucky offense never got going, leaving the door open for Louisville to build on a 1-0 lead.

The Cards opened the top of the seventh with three straight hits, scoring one run. Nick Mingione made two pitching changes, including one with a full count, to try to get Kentucky out of the jam. They got the strikeout, but let UofL score on the following at-bat with a wild pitch. The Cards scored three runs in the seventh, then added two more in the eighth and a solo shot in the ninth to pull away with a 7-0 victory.

Time for me to come clean: I’m not a baseball fan. It’s just not my thing. However, every once in a while the Bat Cats pull me in and every single time I’m rewarded with a turd sandwich. I turned on my television at the start of the seventh inning. I’m starting to believe it’s not a Kentucky baseball program problem, but a Nick Roush problem.

Kentucky Football Recruits Commit Elsewhere

Early targets in the 2024 class have their eyes elsewhere. Jerod Smith is a Somerset native who transferred to prep school with his twin brother, Jacob. The four-star siblings may attend separate colleges. Jerod pulled the trigger early and committed to Michigan on Tuesday. Jacob is keeping his options open. He released a top six on Saturday that included the Cats.

He may not be the only UK target committing elsewhere. North Hardin WR Shaun Boykins will announce his decision today and Louisville is expected to be the choice. Prepare to hear the Cardinal birds chirp quite loudly. The fact is Kentucky is in no rush to add wide receivers to the 2024 recruiting class. After two consecutive large hauls at the position, they are taking their time and being more selective in this recruiting cycle.

Two Kentucky Coaches Resign

When a women’s tennis coach or a men’s golf coach resigns, it typically does not elicit much of a response. When both coaches step down on the same day from their posts after a combined 40 years at UK, it makes me wonder, what’s going on over here? It’s bizarre, but compared to some of their counterparts, now feels like the right time for both programs to move in a new direction.

De’Aaron Fox is Back

The former Kentucky Wildcat plans on playing through the pain tonight in a pivotal game 5 against the Golden State Warriors. De’Aaron Fox has a fractured finger in his shooting hand, but with the series tied, he’s putting it all on the line. The action in Sacramento begins at 10 pm EST on TNT. The Knicks and Cavs tip-off at 7 pm, followed by the Lakers and Grizzlies at 7:30 pm EST. Last night’s NBA Playoff scores:

• Hawks 119, Celtics 117 (BOS leads 3-2)
• Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 109 (DEN clinches 4-1)
• Suns 136, Clippers 130 (PHX clinches 4-1)

Playing the Hunter Dickinson waiting game

The Michigan transfer wrapped up an official visit to Kentucky on Tuesday. Now, we play the waiting game. He’s expected to take one more trip to Villanova before reaching a final decision, maybe even as soon as Monday. Jack Pilgrim has the latest on Kentucky’s pursuit of Hunter Dickinson.

Last Day to Enter a Big NIL Bourbon Raffle

Charities for NIL is raffling off a boatload of bourbon with proceeds going to charities and the Cats’ NIL efforts. The $50 ticket gets a you a chance to win a complete collection of Pappy Van Winkle, Weller or eight bottles of Blanton’s. Those are just some of the prizes you can win. Sign up now before the 8 pm drawing.

LAST CHANCE to buy your ticket for the Charities For Kentucky Bourbon Raffle! Grab your ticket TODAY before the drawing at 8pm tonight. $50 per ticket and 50 total prizes will be given away. 🥃🎟️https://t.co/dVpZ58hO0w pic.twitter.com/eNcsjKNsqw

— CHARITIES FOR KY NIL (@CharitiesForKY) April 26, 2023