Why Kentucky Deserves Your Respect

by Brendan Paschal

It seems like nobody respects Kentucky football. I mean if I hear one more basketball joke, I might throat punch that person. But I get it. The Wildcats have been a mediocre team for a long time. Kentucky was used in the same breath as Vanderbilt for a long time. Yet, 2018 is a different season.

College football has only seen three games and Kentucky already did the impossible. They broke a 31 game losing streak to Florida. I can’t even begin to try and understand that, and I’m an Army fan. The last time Florida lost to Kentucky was 1986. 1986. While Kentucky has consistently landed in the 30s nationally for recruiting classes these past 4 years Florida has ranked in the Top 15. But that didn’t matter. Kentucky deserved to win that game.

Here’s 5 reasons why Kentucky now deserves your respect.

1. Benny Snell Jr.

This man is the definition of a workhorse. Three games into the season he already has 62 carries for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns. Snell is elusive, powerful, and smart. I argue he is the best running back in the SEC this year, go ahead and tell me otherwise. In his Season Preview Chris wrote that Snell, “has excellent vision and patience, coupled with top-end agility, bulldozer-type power, and a knack for falling forward. The man is a stud (he reminds me a lot of Leveon Bell)”. I couldn’t agree more. Even if I’m unable to convince you to start respecting Kentucky football you have to give credit where it’s due. Benny Snell Jr. is the real deal.

Rumbling, stumbling, bumbling. Snell is an elite back. Image from Kentucky Athletics.

2. Offensive Line

Benny Snell Jr. is the first to compliment his offensive line after every game. Not only is that a class act move by Snell, but it’s true too. After years of building and recruiting Mark Stoops finally has a good, nay, a great offensive line. The haters might scoff, but let’s look at the Florida game. Not only did they create running lanes a truck could drive through, but they didn’t let up a single sack against a team that prides itself on being tough on the run and quick to the quarterback. in fact, they have only allowed one sack in the first three games. That’s incredible. It starts and ends with the guys in the trenches and UK’s o-line dominates.

This O-Line is legit. Image from Kentucky Athletics.

3. Defense

This defense looks like a set of brand new players from last year. They have transformed from looking like swiss cheese in 2017 to a group of guys who execute their assignments and fly to the ball. Sure, they’ve given up 917 yards in three games. But they also have only allowed 4 touchdowns. By holding teams to field goals Kentucky’s defense has the ability so far to “bend not break”. If they continue to keep their opponents out of the endzone, and even get some turnovers, they will win ball games.

Josh Allen has a big role on this Kentucky defense. Image from A Sea of Blue.

4. Terry Wilson

The JUCO transfer is a fantastic athlete but not the best quarterback. Not yet, anyways. Only a sophomore who did not see a Division I snap until the beginning of the season is still rough around the edges. These past three games Wilson has turned the ball over four times. While Wilson still forces to try and make plays at times, there are glimpses of greatness. Both turnovers were in the first half against Florida, but if he continues to make plays scrambling and through the ball deep Stoops should take the bad with the good. And Wilson continues to improve.

Terry Wilson has potential to make some noise in the SEC. Image from Courier-Journal.

Sure, their out of conference games have been Central Michigan and Murray State, but look at the growth Wilson has shown. He went from splitting snaps the first week completing 11 of 18 passes with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions to a leading role in week 3 completing 19 out of 25 throws for 163 yards 0 interceptions and rushing for another 80 yards on 13 attempts. Wilson is growing exponentially, so don’t be shocked when he starts making some noise in the SEC.

5. Experience Matters

The beautiful thing about having a majority of 3 Star athletes is that they stay all four years. Instead of having to play guys who aren’t fully developed or ready to play under the spotlight Kentucky is full of veterans. Look at Appalachian State in their season opener against Penn State. Yes, they lost in overtime to a Top 10 opponent, but this was supposed to be an easy win for the Nittany Lions. Instead PSU fans were having flashbacks to 2007 the entire game. I watched the game, and not once did App State look rattled or nervous in Happy Valley. That’s because there were a lot of seasoned veterans wearing black and white.

Same with Kentucky. Most of their defense returned from 2017 and impact players on offense came back too. These are guys who have played in some of the toughest environments throughout the nation. With a few notches under their belt Kentucky could compete.

Lynn Bowden is a deep threat for Kentucky. Image from A Sea of Blue.

Now, UK fans I must apologize because I truly believe in the “compliment rule”. Once you give someone a compliment they go and screw it up. Since I gave Kentucky 5 compliments they probably will go and lose the next 5 games against Mississippi State, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and Missouri.