2009 Kentucky Wildcats Football Preview
2009 Kentucky Wildcats season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official Kentucky Wildcats football preview as well as the 2009 Kentucky Wildcats Football Schedule. We also offer a free odds comparison service of lines and totals on the NCAA football odds page.
Coach: Rich Brooks (7th year at Kentucky)
Team Name: Wildcats
2008 Overall Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 12
After finishing sixth in the SEC East last year, the Kentucky Wildcats (7- 6 overall, 2- 6 SEC) went to and won their third straight bowl, beating East Carolina 25- 19 in the Liberty Bowl. For three seasons running, the Cats have posted a winning record. This season, they have a shot of making it four in a row.
The offense certainly needs a jolt. In 2007, they averaged 36.5 PPG, but in 2008, the squad put just 22.6 PPG on the board. QB Mike Hartline (311 ATT, 172 COMP, 1,666 YDs, 8 INTs, 9 TDs) must make better decision and become a playmaker. If he doesn’t show improvement, then look for freshman Morgan Newton to get a chance. Sophomore Randall Cobb (21 REC, 197 YDs, 2 TDs) is a gifted athlete with speed and fine moves. Cobb had seven rushing touchdowns in addition to two as a receiver. Junior college transfer Chris Matthews could be a major contributor in the pass catching ranks. TB Alfonso Smith (74 ATT, 313 YDs, 2 TDs) averaged 4.2 yards per carry last season. At this time, the O-line is undefined and a concern.
Three NFL prospects—defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, linebacker Micah Johnson and corner Trevard Lindley—decided to come back for their senior seasons. Jarmon (38 TKLs, 4.5 SKs, 5.5 TFL) is the leader upfront. Senior DT Corey Peters (36 TKLs, 4 SKs, 6 TFL) is another force on the frontline. MLB Johnson (93 TKLs, 2.5 SKs, 10.5 TFL) is a keystone player on a unit that offers talent but lacks depth. Corner Lindley (39 TKLs, 4 INTs) is the experience in that group. There is a truckload of talent in the secondary. For the Wildcat defense to be effective, the young talented players must step up immediately.
The return game is sound with Derrick Locke (11 RET, 314 YDs, 28.5 YPR, 1 TD) and Winston Guy (10 RET, 291 YDs, 29.1 YPR) bringing back kicks and Randall Cobb (11 RET, 92 YDs, 8.4 YPR) getting the nod on punts. Pooch kicker Ryan Tydlacka (22 Punts, 816 YDs, 37.1 YPP, 16 In20) gets the nod as full-time punter and perhaps kickoff specialist. Field goal kicker Lones Selber (34- 36 Extra Pts, 11- 19 FG) must improve as does the team’s efforts to stop kick blockers.
Head coach Rich Brooks (32- 41 in six seasons at Kentucky) has done a good job in building the program. Some junior college transfers and returning players should help to make this team a winner. There are concerns at QB and wideout and depth issues at linebacker. Overall, the Wildcats have a fairly soft schedule that includes Miami, OH (September 5), Louisville (September 12) and UL Monroe (October 24). Those games should all be wins. Kentucky will not burn up the SEC East. In fact, they have a good chance of finishing last in their division. But they will most likely post a winning mark overall and earn an invite to a bowl in the lower tier.
Kentucky Wildcats Football Schedule
| Date | Team | Opponent | Site | Line | Total | Points | Opp Points |
| 9/5/2009 | Kentucky | Miami (OH) | away | ||||
| 9/19/2009 | Kentucky | Louisville | home | ||||
| 9/26/2009 | Kentucky | Florida | home | ||||
| 10/3/2009 | Kentucky | Alabama | home | ||||
| 10/10/2009 | Kentucky | South Carolina | away | ||||
| 10/17/2009 | Kentucky | Auburn | away | ||||
| 10/24/2009 | Kentucky | LA Monroe | home | ||||
| 10/31/2009 | Kentucky | Mississippi St. | home | ||||
| 11/7/2009 | Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky | home | ||||
| 11/14/2009 | Kentucky | Vanderbilt | away | ||||
| 11/21/2009 | Kentucky | Georgia | away | ||||
| 11/28/2009 | Kentucky | Tennessee | home |
For more info on the 2009 Kentucky Wildcats football program, view the Wildcats official website or scroll down below to read up on the rest of the SEC competition.
