Kentucky
Kentucky football spring showcase today: UK practice updates, highlights from Kroger Field
Kentucky football: Mark Stoops addresses the team’s need for consistency
Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops addresses the Wildcats’ need for consistency and is excited to see continuity with his players.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football will give fans a look at the team entering the 2025 season this morning at Kroger Field.
Coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats are not holding a traditional intrasquad scrimmage, however, instead rebranding the spring-capping practice as “Kentucky Football’s Spring Showcase.” Even so, UK plans to have some game-like elements today, giving interested observers a glimpse at the overhauled roster, which includes 31 newcomers (20 transfers, 11 high school signees) — headlined by quarterback Zach Calzada — and returnees Jamarion Wilcox, Ja’Mori Maclin and Alex Afari Jr.
Who will stand out in front of fans in attendance today?
The Courier Journal will bring you live updates, highlights and analysis throughout the session. Check it out.
Here’s a list of the UK football players who were dressed out but not taking part today:
The biggest news in the sport today is taking place just south of Kentucky: Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed players the program is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Read more from about this stunning development from Adam Sparks at the Knoxville News Sentinel.
Kentucky’s “spring showcase” will begin in approximately five minutes. Players and coaches are on the field now going through warmups.
As noted above, while there might be game-like parts of today’s practice, there will not be a traditional, four-quarter spring game between blue and white teams.
It will more closely resemble open practices Kentucky has held in the past.
The final practice of the spring for Kentucky football will not be televised or streamed. The only way to catch this morning’s festivities is attending in person.
While there’s no live TV coverage or stream, UK’s release noted snippets of Saturday’s session “will follow on social media and on the SEC Network in the coming weeks.”
- Date: Saturday, April 12
- Start time: 10 a.m.
The UK football “spring showcase” starts at 10 a.m. at Kroger Field in Lexington.
There is no cost of admission for today’s practice.
Per UK’s release, “Fans can choose to sit where they like within lower-level seating in the sideline sections.” End zone areas, the upper decks and the east and west concourses are closed as Kroger Field prepares to host a Tyler Childers concert April 19.
Parking for today’s event is free and available in the red, green, blue and orange lots.
- Aug. 30: vs. Toledo
- Sept. 6: vs. Ole Miss
- Sept. 13: vs. Eastern Michigan
- Sept. 27: at South Carolina
- Oct. 4: at Georgia
- Oct. 18: vs. Texas
- Oct. 25: vs. Tennessee
- Nov. 1: at Auburn
- Nov. 8: vs. Florida
- Nov. 15: vs. Tennessee Tech
- Nov. 22: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 29: at Louisville
Want to learn the Wildcats’ roster?
Click here for player bios and more.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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