OF THE
RECEIVERS
La’Rod King returns for his senior season already ranking as one of the top pass catchers in school history. King’s numbers have increased each season, showing the progression that every player hopes to display. He caught 40 passes for 598 yards and seven touchdowns last year. King’s career totals feature 86 receptions for 1,218 yards and 13 TDs. He ranks 17th in career catches, 19th in yardage and eighth in TDs. Another productive campaign could land him in the UK top 10 in all three categories.
WARFORD
A
PLAYMAKER,
TOO
Trevino Woods, along with student assistant coach Glenn Holt, took a class in the Czech Republic. The trip was led by Professor Patricia Dyk through UK’s Study Abroad program. · Over the last six seasons, Kentucky has come from behind in the fourth quarter to win 14 games, including once last season. Trailing Ole Miss 13-10, UK scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the 30-13 win. · UK has ranked in the nation’s top 25 in attendance every year but two since Commonwealth Stadium was expanded in 1999. · The Kentucky cheerleaders have won an unprecedented 19 national championships, including 15 of the last 18, at the annual Universal Cheerleaders Association championships.
One of the goals of spring practice was to identify more playmakers on offense. Coach Joker Phillips gave a reminder that big-play performers can be more than the traditional passers, runners or receivers. “Offensive linemen can be playmakers, too, and Larry Warford is one of our best playmakers,” Phillips said. Warford, a senior offensive guard, has earned second-team AllSoutheastern Conference honors each of the past two seasons. He has notable speed and quickness for a player his size. Combining his athleticism with his sizeable frame, Warford has led the team in knockdown blocks each of the past two seasons.
THE 2012 SEASON
KING
INJURY UPDATE Five players missed the contact portions of spring practice while recovering from injuries incurred during the 2011 season – quarterback Morgan Newton, tailback Josh Clemons, offensive lineman Tyler Davenport, defensive end Collins Ukwu and linebacker Jabari Johnson. All five are expected to be fully ready when practice resumes in August.
SCHEDULE NOTES Kentucky opens the season by playing 10 consecutive weeks before the team’s open date. After the additions of Missouri and Texas A&M, the revamped conference schedule calls for the Wildcats to play SEC opponents for seven-consecutive weeks -- the only league school that will have to take on such a gauntlet. Kentucky begins the 2012 season on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Louisville. This will be the seventh time since 2002 that the game has been played on a Sunday. UK’s home opener will be Sept. 8 against Kent State. The Wildcats last played the Golden Flashes in 2007 ... UK hosts in-state foe WKU on Sept. 15 in the third of a four-game series. The conference slate opens at Florida on Sept. 22 ... Arkansas (Oct. 13) replaces LSU as UK’s rotating opponent. UK last played the Razorbacks in 2008 ... Georgia will be the annual Homecoming game on Oct. 20 ... On Oct. 27, UK will play at Missouri for the first time as a conference opponent. The teams have met twice in school history, the season openers in 1965 and 1968. Following 10-straight games, UK’s open date is Nov. 10 ... Senior Day is Nov. 17 as the Wildcats play host to Samford, a first-time opponent ... The regular season concludes Nov. 24 at Tennessee.
CATSCELLANEOUS · Several Wildcats had unique educational opportunities during overseas trips in May. For the second-consecutive year, Coach Joker Phillips went on a service/educational trip to Ethiopia, accompanied this year by Mikie Benton, Matt Smith and Larry Warford. The journey was coordinated by Jason Schlafer, UK associate athletics director. In addition, Wildcats Aaron Boyd, E.J. Fields, Tristian Johnson and
Senior offensive guard Larry Warford has earned second-team All-SEC each of the last two seasons.
2012 KENTUCKY FOOTBALL
13