WATCH: Brad White, Kentucky Defense Talk Leadership at Spring Practice

“Attitude reflects leadership.” That’s an all-time sports movie quote. Kentucky football had an attitude and a leadership problem in 2024. They’re flipping the script in spring practice.

After putting on pads for the first time this offseason, Brad White and the Kentucky defense spoke with the media. While there is still a lot to learn about these players’ capabilities, one thing that is a non-negotiable is their attitude.

Leadership, culture, attitude, whatever you want to call it, is the primary point of emphasis this offseason. Mark Stoops is creating a team that is accountable for one another

“Coach (Stoops) has really put an emphasis on the first couple months. It’s gotta be about team,” said the Kentucky defensive coordinator.

“One person can’t lean against a whole team’s adversity. You gotta lock arm and push back. You’re only going to do that with brothers that you feel are truly your bothers. If it’s about me and only me, and I’m going to keep my hands to myself because I don’t want to touch anybody else, things are going to crack. Little cracks get exposed the longer the weight’s put against them. The idea is if we can eliminate the crack, no matter how much force you put into that pillar, it won’t break.”

Biggest Question for the Defense

Intangibles are a primary talking point early in spring practice because everything is so new. They brought in 31 players for the spring. The Kentucky coaches liked what they saw on tape and what they heard from the players in person. Now they’re trying to find out what they have on the field.

The offense underwent a complete transformation at multiple position groups. You can really only say that about one group of the Kentucky defense, on the edges in the trenches. White was candid about those uncertainties.

“That’s one of the big question marks. The edges of the defense upfront are going to be completely new. On both sides, from a field-end perspective to the Jacks into the boundary, they’re all new,” said White.

“It was only day one in pads. So much of that position is all about pads and it’s all about finishing. So much for me, the evaluation will be once we hit scrimmages to see if they can actually have a finishing touch to their game. We need that.

“I’m optimistic about the bodies we brought in, and still having a guy like Jerod (Smith) and Steven Soles on the edges. But it’s funny, the two veteran edges we have are true sophomores that have limited game action. Everything else is up for grabs.”

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