2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Secondary

This year’s secondary is Kentucky’s deepest and most talented position on the team. Anyone who has followed Kentucky football for any length of time knows just how big of a statement that really is.

The Cats have five corners and six safeties that the coaching staff are comfortable with, including the best corner in the country, Trevard Lindley.

I’ve seen Joe Haden from Florida ranked ahead of Trevard on some positional rankings for best corner in the country. Haden is a really good player, but he is not Trevard Lindley. Watch a Florida game and pay attention to how much press man coverage they play. It’s not a lot. Haden takes advantage of the best and most athletic front seven in the country. Trevard plays press man the entire game against the best athletes in the country and dominates.

Corners

Trevard Lindley (SR, 6’0″, 179)
The senior from Hiram, GA is a Pre-Season All-American on everyone’s list and surprised everyone, including the coaching staff, by returning for his senior year.

He stayed because he thought he needed to bulk up to play in the League and has added 15 pounds of whomp! strength from the end of last season.

Lindley has started all 39 games during his UK career and has already set the UK career record in pass breakups with 34, leading the team every year in that category.

The kid is an absolute beast.

Paul Warford (JR, 5’10″, 200)
After redshirting last season due to academics and missed spring practice because of a broken foot suffered in a pick-up basketball game, Warford is back. Yesterday, Coach Brooks named him the starter opposite of Lindley, which is kind of surprising given the rave reviews that Randall Burden has gotten.

Even though he was named starter, still expect him to play the slot in nickel packages, with Burden playing the outside.

He has appeared in 24 games with 14 starts in his career, totaling two picks and 10 pass breakups. Warford is also a solid tackler in run support.

Randall Burden (SO, 6’0″, 170)
Burden, of “Crank dat Spiderman” man fame, had his coming out party in the Liberty Bowl last season. After Lindley left with an injury, Burden stepped in with two pass breakups. He followed that performance with a strong spring as well.

The sophomore from LaGrange, GA played in all 12 games last season. He still needs to add strength but has the athletic ability and quickness to give the Cats another lock down corner in the future.

As mentioned above, he also makes really sweet YouTube videos.

Cartier Rice (FR-RS, 5’10″, 185)
Rice, a reshirt freshman out of Duncan, SC, pushed to play last season in fall camp, but the coaching staff resisted. He instead spent the season in the weight room and learning the system.

Out of high school he was named 1st Team All-State in South Carolina and will play in nickel and dime situation. You will also see him on special teams.

Martavius Neloms (FR, 6’1″, 180)
John Calipari isn’t the only thing to come to the Bluegrass from Memphis. Neloms, the true freshman from Memphis, TN, has been the biggest surprise of Fall camp.

Despite only starting to play football in his junior year of high school, he had 14 interceptions in those two seasons.

With the depth in front of him, a redshirt would be nice, but he has forced the coaching staff to play him.

Sophomore Anthony Mosley and junior walk-on Daryl Faulkner could also see some snaps.

Safety
Note: The two spots are interchangable in the UK defense and the players are cross-trained for both positions.

Free Safety

Winston Guy (SO, 6’1″, 208)
The sophomore from the L-E-X is one of the best athletes in the program and Brooks has raved about his potential and just how natural of a safety he is.

He played the nickel as a freshman, but moved to safety in the spring and will be the starter there the rest of his career.

Also expect Guy to see action as a kick returner with Derrick Locke.

Ashton Cobb (SR, 6’0″, 215)
Cobb is the former starter at SS, appearing in 37 games with nine starts and 90 career tackles. Last season he scored the first touchdown of the season for Kentucky with fumble return TD against the Dirty Birds.

He gives the Cats an experienced backup at both FS and SS.

Taiedo Smith (SO, 6’0″, 185)
Smith came to Lexington from Dunnellon, FL as a corner but moved to safety as a redshirt freshman last season. He appeared in seven games, including a start against Georgia last season.

Strong Safety

Calvin Harrison (SR, 6’1″, 211)
The senior from Columbia, SC, spent the last three seasons as a backup to Marcus McClinton. He has appeared in 35 games with six starts and 80 career tackles.

In the Liberty Bowl he had five tackles and two pass breakups.

He is another veteran with a lot of experience, that should help Guy on the other side.

Matt Lentz (SO, 6’3″, 218)
Lentz came to Kentucky as a QB, but moved to safety during spring of his redshirt year. He was a part-time starter at SS last season, totaling 24 tackles and one pick (against UL), but was slowed by an ankle sprain for most of the season.

He bulked up in the offseason to 220-lbs and is known as pound-for-pound one of the strongest players on the team.

Greg Wilson (SO, 6’1″, 209)
Wilson is a very athletic safety who is hurt by the depth in the secondary. He played in 12 games last season and had a great spring and spring game, totaling seven tackles and a pass breakup.

He will provide depth and play on special teams.

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Linebackers

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Defensive Line

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Offensive Line

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Tight Ends

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Wide Receivers

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Running Backs

2009 Kentucky Football Positional Preview: Quarterbacks