The Mark Stoops Show presented by UK HealthCare, October 27th 2025

The Voice of the Wildcats, Tom Leach talks with head coach Mark Stoops

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
The Cats Check Show.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
The all time winning is football coach at the University
of Kentucky.

Speaker 3 (00:18):
The Kentucky Boatcast go do you know.

Speaker 4 (00:21):
What We're doing?

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Touch down.

Speaker 5 (00:26):
From the UK Sports Network.

Speaker 6 (00:28):
This is the Mark Stoop Show presented by UK Healthcare.
To talk to coach Stoops called the Clark's Pump and
Shot Pig Blue online eight five nine two eight zero Cats,
that's eight five nine two eight zero two two eight
seven or state wide at one eight hundred six oh
six game that's one eight hundred six oh six four

(00:49):
two six three, or you can tweet your questions to
at UK Sports Network. The Mark Stoop Show, presented by
UK Healthcare begins. Here's the voice so the Cats, Tom Leach.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Good day everybody, and welcome into our show. Coming up,
we will talk Kentucky football with Mark Stoop, says. The
Wildcats head out on the road this week to face
the Auburn Tigers game. We'll kick at seven forty five
Eastern coverage on the SEC Network. We'll start our coverage
on the UK Radio Network at five point thirty from

(01:30):
down on the planes. Auburn came in here and really
had a lot of success running the ball last season.
And came from behind if memory serves to get the
win over the Wildcats. So we'll talk with Coach Stoops
about that matchup, a little bit of a look back
at Tennessee and we'll take your questions a little later
on in the show. So if you have them, send
them in at UK Sports Network on social media or

(01:53):
call on the Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. It's the
Mark Stoop Show presented by UK Healthcare on the UK
Sports Network.

Speaker 6 (02:03):
You are listening to The Mark Stoop Show presented by
UK Healthcare on the UK Sports Network. Fail The Mark
Stoop Show is brought to you by Kroger, Little Caesars,

(02:24):
UK Healthcare and by Coca Cola.

Speaker 4 (02:30):
And let's go cut it loose and have them on.

Speaker 3 (02:40):
You Got.

Speaker 6 (02:41):
The Mark Stoop Show presented by UK Healthcare is brought
to you locally in Lexington by the sponsors Chick fil A,
Liquor Bar, Skyline, Chilli and by Toyota. All season long,
catch the wild Cats in Lexington on your home for

(03:01):
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Speaker 3 (05:21):
Welcome back into the show. As the Cats prepared to
return to the road in sec play taking on Auburn Saturday,
Auburn jumped out to an early lead at Arkansas, then
fell behind twenty one to ten. Made a change at
quarterback and rally to get the win on Saturday. We'll
talk about that matchup a little bit later on, but
as we welcome in coach Mark Stoops, so we always

(05:42):
start with the Monday practice on this rainy Monday. So
how was it for your guys today?

Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, it was good, a little different changes scener ain't
going in the indoor. We haven't been in there very
much at all. It's been absolutely fantastic here this entire fall.
So little bit of wet weather today, but that's okay.
Our fields were covered and trying to get a little
growth for the end of the season here, so uh
change the scenery. Inside. The guys are good. You know,

(06:11):
they're obviously disappointed like we all are, and uh, you know,
but they came out with another good mindset of good
attitude and you know, you got to grab on to
the positives.

Speaker 3 (06:22):
I mean, we all.

Speaker 1 (06:22):
Want the end result to be a victory, but it's
about each other, their attitude, the way they work their
their team, and uh, you know they're embracing that. You know,
they you know, the guys like each other, they're enjoying playing.
They know we're getting better. We we have to put

(06:44):
it all together. You know, that's the bottom line. But
you know, with the wrong attitude, with the right wrong mindset,
there's zero chance, right, no chance to win. So the
guys have been very good. I appreciate their effort and
got off to a good start.

Speaker 3 (06:59):
Yeah, this brutal stretch that was clear there on the
schedule from the beginning of the year with the trinit
to be three ranked opponents and nearly got the one
in between here against Texas. And so while on one
hand that's you know, you can understand the caliber competition
you're facing, if the other hand is a player you
want to get the win. They haven't had that feeling

(07:21):
for a while. And you said today at your weekly
news conference, you're confident that there's not going to be
any letting go of the rope. What is it about
this group that gives you that confidence?

Speaker 1 (07:29):
No, I think you know, I think we you know
all you know learned, you know from previous mistakes from
you know, the guys that were here from last year
and are not letting that happen. And you know, it's
not easy. It's a grind, you know, but you know,
as I told them today, nobody's going to give you anything.

(07:50):
You have to work for it. It's worth it. It's
worth investing and continuing to invest in the team and
in the work. And you know, it's it's it's week
the week I said that, you know, really from the
summer that I challenged them. And as I get up
in front of them on a Monday and I told them,
I said, from each and every Monday, from you know,

(08:13):
big wins or tough losses or whatever it may be,
you know, we have to look at it as one
week seasons, you know, and let's be honest. I mean,
the Sunday yesterday was difficult. You know, it's hard. It's
hard on me, it's hard on our staff, the fans,
certainly our players, and you know, and as I talked

(08:33):
to them today, you know, I asked them how they're doing,
and they'll act like they're doing good. I'm like, no,
you're not. Let's be honest to me. But because players
are always like maybe a day behind the coaches, because
coaches have to get in on Sunday, get to work,
and it's tough, and you know, nobody feels good after,
you know, losing like that, you know, but but you

(08:54):
have to suck it up and go back to work,
and you know, for for myself, the staff and the
players are coaching it that way. You have to, you know,
embrace the process of week to week to what it
takes and what you have to invest to win. And
you know that's the approach for us. Fans don't have
that luxury, and I understand that. You know, they could

(09:15):
stay upset and it's hurt and mad for a while.
But for players and for coaches, you know, it definitely hurts,
but we have to pick ourselves back up and get
the work and you know, get ready for the next
challenge because as you can see going around our league,
things are pretty tough.

Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yes, and that's not changing anytime soon. I don't guess,
is it? In this league? There is something though about
a quarterback who's getting hot that can lift some spirits
and make you feel like you've got a better shot sometimes,
And I have to think that's happening for your guys.

Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, without a doubt. You know we've seen this, you
and I. Let's hope we continue to talk about this
trend because as he plays better, he's making people around
him better and you know, offily it's been much more efficient.
I love to see the completion percentage again very high.
You know, certainly thrown for a lot of yards and
five touchdowns. There's a lot to build on and you

(10:11):
know it gives the whole team optimism and so you
know that's been very good.

Speaker 3 (10:15):
We're coming up on our first break and we'll take
that and come back and continue our visit with Coach
Stoops as the Cats get set to go back out
on the road. It's the Mark Stoop Show, presented by
UK Healthcare. This is the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 3 (13:43):
Welcome back into the show and we are chatting with
coach Mark Stoops as the Cats get back out of
the road this week against Auburn. You guys, I'm sure
it'll beat up mentally and they can work on themselves
to handle that, but they are also beat up physically
right now.

Speaker 1 (14:00):
Yeah, yeah, without a doubt. You know, I think anytime
you get to this part of the season through you
know the SEC you're going to be banged up. And uh,
you know, unfortunately, you know we're taking ahead at one
position and uh you know in particular corner and then
the sake you know, in the secondary and h you
know that hurts. You know that that's definitely not helping.

Speaker 3 (14:23):
You said today that to Ryan, Uh it went into
the game last week actually with some physical issues.

Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah, he's he's not quite been one hundred percent.

Speaker 3 (14:31):
No, and then DJ I knows he's been trying to
make it back since since week one, the Seer was
out the previous week he was able to come back
and give you some snaps. The Seer was out in
the second half. But is there you know, when you
get in a situation like this, are there other guys
that you could maybe? I mean, if they were the
better choice at corner, they'd already be there. But in

(14:53):
an emergency, whether like a nickel or something.

Speaker 1 (14:55):
Like that, Yeah, I mean, you know it's hard. You know,
the nickel, You know, sometimes you can, but we're not
at that point right now. You know, we really don't.
We don't have the versatility that you'd like to have.
So you know, it kind of is what it is.

Speaker 3 (15:08):
Let's move into talking about Auburn a little bit because
they won't don't figure to test you quite the way
that Tennessee did in the past. Game balls spread you
out so much and then all those guys that are
so fast out of the outside. But Auburn, remember last year,
really heards you in the run game.

Speaker 1 (15:27):
Yeah, definitely, very very big physical team. Cobb they're running back,
is a big, strong guy, breaks tackles, very good vision,
great violence, and you know they're a very physical team.
You know, they have recruited at a high level for
a long time, and you know, they played some very
good teams this year to very close games. I mean,

(15:48):
in particular the Oklahoma game. At Oklahoma, they had a
great chance to win that one. Heck, they had a
chance to go up by seventeen at half against Georgia
with the you know, the play on the goal line,
the controversy with that play, and then you know, went
on the road to Texas A and M and looked
awfully good in a sixteen to ten games. So you know, again,
but they're very big, very physical, and you know a

(16:11):
little bit different. Yeah, yeah, I mean everybody's different than Tennessee, right,
you know, the stress that they put on you, you know,
but similar in that they're big and physical, with a
good old line, a good running back, and have some
talented wide receivers. So we just got to you know,
get back in and you know, play like we're capable of.
And you know, we've done that for the majority of

(16:31):
the year. Defensively, we've had our breakdowns and it's going
to happen against very talented teams. But last week was
definitely very tough, and you know, as I said, I
don't think in the situation worry in in the secondary
right now, wasn't a great matchup for us.

Speaker 3 (16:46):
You guys coming out of the last by week for
the Texas game on that side of the ball, and
they talked a lot about just being aggressive and just
playing with a great spirit, and all of those things
happened in that Texas game. They have a rough night
like the one this past week, do you kind of
look to them to handle themselves in terms of getting

(17:07):
back online or what.

Speaker 1 (17:09):
Do you do as coaches that without a doubt, I
mean they will. You know, we have great leadership on
this team and on the defensive side of the ball,
and guys that have played a lot. You know, guys
are playing very hard. They're playing very good up front. Still,
I mean Tennessee was hard to get pressure on them.
They max it up a lot of times on mixed downs,
first second down, they keep the tight end in the
back end, and they have a really good old line

(17:29):
to begin with, max it up in your one on
one with some elite wide receivers, So you know, that
could be tough. But our guys have been playing very physical.
We've been you know, for the most part, pretty stout
in the run game. Will get a bigger challenge here
this week and you know, have to pick it up
and we have to play better on the perimeter. I mean,
there's just no way around it. You can't protect the
guys all the time. They have to win one on ones.

(17:51):
We have to be able to cover and you know
it's next man up mentality.

Speaker 3 (17:55):
Your defensive front. The guys up there seem to be
making more tackles then the defensive front typically does. Does
that speak to how well they're playing?

Speaker 1 (18:03):
Yeah, they're playing very good. Taveon Gatson's a guy up front,
you know that that kind of stands out. He's been playing,
you know, very productive. He's been playing with great energy,
very physical, so hopefully he'll continue to play at a
high level.

Speaker 3 (18:17):
And Khalil Saunders having the best year of his career.

Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yeah, Khalil's definitely playing good as well. Wasn't as productive,
He's he's banged up a little bit like most guys
playing in that position, but you know he's he's been
steady and he's been a very good leader for us
as well.

Speaker 3 (18:32):
The young man from Corbyn, one of the younger guys
of that group up front, gerroud Smith seems to be
making a few more plays.

Speaker 1 (18:38):
In Definitely he's getting better. You know, he's a great
young man playing playing hard and getting better and better
with with every rep. He's still young, but doing good.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
And inside you seem to be playing more linebackers. I
think most games it's usually you know, god real, get
in there a little for some snaps a lot since
you're playing five guys at times.

Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah, we are. We're trying to get landed in there
and grant and get a rotation going. You know, this
time of year playing inside linebacker, that many snaps can
wear on those guys as well, and so you know,
you like to get the younger guys some reps, you know,
for depth for the program and you know, just for
you know, the health of our backers throughout the year
as well.

Speaker 3 (19:20):
Back to Auburn's run game, anything in particular that stands
out other than talent and what they do, whether it's
schematically or no.

Speaker 1 (19:29):
You know they you know, they're they're big and physical
and very talented at running back. You know, they do
a nice job. They mix it up, they do gap
schemes and zone read. You know, quarterback will pull it
once in a while, but really it's more like a
zone cut. I mean they you know, they like to
just basically pick everything up and try to get some
movement and let the back go where there's some space.

(19:51):
So you know they're good at what they do.

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Speaker 3 (22:29):
Welcome back in to the Mark Stoop Show, and we
we're gonna talk a little bit more about Auburn and
their quarterback situation because you're not sure, I guess who
to prepare for this week?

Speaker 1 (22:40):
Right now? I'm sure? And then they made a change,
you know in this past game. Both guys have been effective,
you know, off and on throughout the year and you know,
so we'll see, I mean, their their offense didn't change much,
you know, to be honest with you, so you know,
what they do is what they do, and you know
we we have to be prepared for it.

Speaker 7 (23:00):
UH.

Speaker 3 (23:01):
On the defensive side, you were talking at your news
conference today about UH, their coordinator you've known for a
while and have a lot of respect for what they do.

Speaker 1 (23:11):
Yeah, DJ Dirkin is a Youngstown guy. He actually played
and he's younger than me. Obviously everybody is right, Tom,
but uh yeah, but DJ played our one of our
rival high schools there in Youngstown, and my brother Ron
actually coached him, my old my oldest brother coach DJ

(23:32):
and in high school and was on staff there. Uh
So I've known you know DJ and about DJ for
a long time. Great, great person and very good football coach. So,
uh he has them really playing aggressive. I'll tell you
they're they're they're very good personnel wise. But he does
a very good job of attacking and not giving you
anything easy, very disruptive multiple fronts. Uh So, he does

(23:57):
a very good job.

Speaker 3 (23:58):
Cutter held up very well against the very highly rated,
highly regarded Texas defense two weeks ago. How will the
challenge for him be different against another outstanding.

Speaker 1 (24:07):
Defense, Well, you know, in the same you know, really
Tennessee's defense was very disruptive. I know on paper if
you just look at stats, you know, you know some
of their yards. But they're they're on the field a
long time and they have a tendency to you know,
when they were winning games, they're winning by a lot
of points, and so they really play a lot of guys,

(24:27):
you know, and so h but Tennessee is very disruptive,
you know, I thought, you know, for the most part,
you know, our our guys did a very good job
of keeping them off balance and you know, being able
to run the ball effectively enough. And then also the
protection I thought was pretty good. I know, if you
just look at the bottom line, probably on sacks, we're
definitely too many, but we did throw the ball quite

(24:50):
a bit and we're behind. And so with that in mind,
with how aggressive Tennessee is, I thought we did a
really good job and I think it'll be a very
similar challenge this week with very good personnel, vert very multiple,
you know, with their fronts, and very disruptive. They want
to create you know, negative yardage plays. You know, whether
it's run or pass.

Speaker 3 (25:09):
Cutter is is really growing in terms of handling himself
again in that situation, whether it's maneuvering inside the pocket
or there was the play through the long touchdown pass
to DJ Miller for DJ's second catch. It was a
play where Cutter had to kind of slide to his
left and still finds his sky downfield.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
It was very good to be on that side of it,
you know, because as a guy that coached a lot
of defense over the years, you know quarterbacks that you
know sometimes are like Houdini and get out of these
you know traps where you feel like you got them
contained and you're in there and all of a sudden
they spin out of it and throw a pass down
the field. It kind of breaks your back as a
defensive player and defensive coach, and so it was really

(25:51):
good to see Cutter doing that. He's been, you know, pleasantly,
you know, surprising, I guess to me in some ways
in that, you know, the escapeability. I saw it in
high school obviously, but you know these are sec grown
men he's going against. And you know, he's really done
a phenomenal job with his presence in the pocket, and
each and every week he's getting more and more confident

(26:12):
in that. And the other thing. I think he's really
at a high level right now. He's been exceptional at
throwing the ball with accuracy on the move, so under duress.
He's gotten way better since the first game of the
year this year that he started, and then in trusting
that he's going to have some protection. He doesn't all
the time, but he's been hanging in there when he

(26:34):
has to hang in the pocket, but he's escaping at times.
And then he's been remarkably accurate when he's on the move,
and so that's really good to see.

Speaker 3 (26:43):
I mentioned back when Cutter was making his first start
that I had gone back and watched the Louisville game
last year where he made his first start at the
very end of last season, and he looked uncomfortable at times.
He looked and he's, you know, a true freshman in
that situation. He threw down at Texas through some deep balls,
but it hadn't all come together. Now he just is

(27:06):
looking so confidable.

Speaker 1 (27:07):
Well, when you're doing that as a true freshman, and
he was on the scout team most of the year, right,
So I'm not disrespecting him like that, but you you know,
you don't have you're not information overload when you're just
thrown into a game and can play some you know,
and then you know, his first start, that whole week,
it was compounded on him, right, he had everything on him.

(27:30):
Now you're thinking about so much it could almost hinder
you at times, but ultimately you have to learn it all,
you have to be able to process it all. And now,
what what makes me very excited right now though, is
the jumps that he's making. You know, he very much
is so much different than he was at any point

(27:50):
last year. So he's you know, because his knowledge is
so much higher right now. And then you know, and
then you see him getting more and more comfortable with
the thing that we were just talking about, with the
you know, with the pocket and escape in and all
those things. So that's been very fun to watch him grow.

Speaker 3 (28:07):
For Bush Hampden as a play caller, I have to
think there have been times where up until these last
few weeks with Cutter emerging, that you're like the catcher
and you are the manager. You're calling the pictures for
the picture and you're not sure what he can get
over the plate. And now you've got to use that
baseball Now ja a pitcher who's in a groove right now,

(28:30):
and then you can open up more things with it.

Speaker 1 (28:33):
Well, the big thing is is Bush guy has to
continue to do what he's doing and coaching him very hard,
but being you know, very much, very very precise in
what you know what his reads are, you know, and
you know one two three and one two three, and
you know, Cutter has been doing that and and you know,
I think the other thing that helps us move the sticks,

(28:56):
get first down, get yards, get touches for everybody. He's
making the routine look routine and we always haven't been
able to do that. And that takes great vision and
great presence by the quarterback and the arm talent and
all those things. And so he's really you know, doing
you know, he's taking what's in front of him and
you know, making quick decisions which has been very helpful.

Speaker 3 (29:19):
Really spreading the ball around too. I think he had
twelve different receivers against Texas and completed to eight different
receivers this week.

Speaker 1 (29:26):
Yeah, yeah, he definitely is. And as you and I
have talked the last couple of weeks, as we get
more touches, more first downs, more plays, you're going to
have more opportunity to get guys touches.

Speaker 3 (29:38):
Coming up on the bottom of the hour, and as
we do, it's our time for our Alumni Hall Question
of the Week, and one thing we're going to get
into in the second part of the show is some
of the young guys that are starting to emerge, So
we'll make this the question for fans on social media
of the young players. Take Cutter Bowli out of the mix,
since we've talked so much about him and he's had
several games under his belt. Now, the remaining guys that

(30:01):
are freshman or red shirt freshmen, who's exciting you most
right now in terms of down the road or later
this season. Send in your answer to at Alumni Hall
UK on X and you can respond and you can
have a chance to win a gift card courtesy of
our friends at Alumni Hall. And also you can send

(30:22):
in questions for the show on X at UK Sports Network.
You can also call on the Clark's Pumping Shop phone
line to aight o Kats inside Lexington one eight hundred
and six oh six four two sixty three. Elsewhere it's
the Mark Snows Show presented by UK Healthcare. Here on
the UK Sports Network.

Speaker 1 (30:38):
Hey BBN, stay connected to the Cats with the Big
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Sign up now at UK Athletics dot com backslash Big
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Speaker 1 (33:21):
Unlock exclusive coverage of UK Athletics with UKSN all Access.
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Speaker 3 (33:48):
Making the turn on this edition of the Mark Stoop Show.
Heading here into the second half, and if you are
heading to Auburn or you know someone that's down there,
there are a lot of UK or of a lot
of Kentuckians that are always down at Auburn. There's a
reciprocal arrangement on a couple of educational programs between the
two schools, so there's always a lot of Kentucky fans

(34:09):
that show up when the Wildcats are playing in Auburn,
and the Alumni Association there is hosting a tailgate party
prior to the game on Saturday and it begins at
three point thirty Central time at the Graduate that's the
Graduate by Hilton that is on Magnolia Avenue, in downtown Auburn.

(34:30):
Guests will enjoy buffet giveaways, special appearances by the UK
band and the cheerleaders. It's thirty five dollars per person
in advance or forty dollars at the door. Free admission
for children ten and under. Go to the UK Alumni
Association's website uklumni dot net and you can get more
details on this event and join with your fellow Wildcat

(34:53):
fans because there will likely be a good number of
them there and you can talk about the game and
watch other games and then head on over to Jorden
Harrier Stadium to cheer on the Cats on Saturday Night
against Auburn. If you have questions, send them in on
x or give us a call on the Clark's Pumping
Shop phone line. We're talking about some of the young

(35:14):
guys that are starting to emerge, and right at the
top of the list has to be DJ. Miller. Made
his first catch in the Texas game and then had
his first two touchdown catches in this game, so he
has to certainly be feeding off the good things that
are happening, definitely, And you know with DJ, you know,
you and I have talked about him many times before.

Speaker 1 (35:32):
He impressed us in the spring and then we talked
about his injuries in camp he had won and then
he tried to you know, he came back and then
he kind of got injured again, and so through the
bye week prior to the Texas game, we really challenged
him to just be you know, more assertive and you know,
you know, have the urgency that we're looking for with
knowing all the nuances to formations and plays and all

(35:55):
those things, and and just pick it up a little
bit more in practice. And he's done that and it's
carried right over to the field and you know he's playing.
He's a guy that certainly really excites me because he's
a guy that really looks the part again, right, Yeah,
he's got that big frame to him, he's got some
muscle on already, and he's just a true freshman, so

(36:16):
you know, and he has a great feel for the game.
He makes tough, competitive catches. You really hadn't even have
to see that much yet in games. I mean, we
saw the one on the sideline that was difficult, but
you know, in practice, we've seen him go up over
people and all that, and hopefully you'll see that in
some games here soon. But he's a guy that's been
you know, just has good hands, he has a good
feel for it, good speed, and you know he's he's

(36:39):
just scratching the surface right now.

Speaker 3 (36:40):
Yeah, catch like the one he made over there near
the pylon on the Tennessee side of the field has
to give Cutter even more confidence to go back to it.

Speaker 1 (36:49):
And again, that throw was so impressive. He escaped to
his left, which is hard to do for a quarterback
through it, you know, in the you know, over to
the pylon. You know, DJ really was was like a
fourth option on that play. And when the play broke down, Uh,
he was able to come back to him and and
and that, you know, goes to show you just play hard,
play fast. You know, no matter if you're getting the

(37:11):
ball or not, you never know when the ball is
going to come to you. If you if you have
that urgency, you play with speed, you play hard, the
ball will find you.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Uh it does. It'll be interesting to see what you
say by the end of the week about how his
week of practice goes. But because I would think, uh, you know,
he's going to be more dialed in than ever now.

Speaker 1 (37:29):
I feel that way. I feel it you know that,
not that he never accepted the coaching, but when you're
young and you're talented, you know what I mean, if
you're going to get to play. Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know,
sometimes you don't know what you don't know, you know,
and and uh but I even today I noticed it,
you know what I mean, just the confidence that he
has and you know, some urgency and you know, so

(37:50):
you know, that's a great thing.

Speaker 3 (37:51):
I always thinking about that Tom Brady story. I've heard
him telling in an interview that when he was at Michigan,
he was getting two or three reps as a third, fourth,
fifth string quarterback whatever he was at the time, and
it's frustrated. Went to a coach, and a coach's advice was, look,
whatever you get, make it the absolute best that you can.
And suddenly two or three turned into four or five. Right,

(38:12):
And once the guy gets the trust of you and
your position coaches, then you're more confident of putting him
into games and giving him a chance.

Speaker 1 (38:20):
Well, you know, I could go back and brag on
Cutter a little bit that way too, because you know,
I think, you know, he had a lot of confidence
in himself and we've had you know, conversations along this
and you know, I told him, when you get your opportunity,
it's not about playing. It's a matter of how do
you play once you get that opportunity. And he is
certainly making the most of that right now. And you know,

(38:42):
so that's another great example of just of just working hard,
putting your head down whenever that opportunity comes, make the
most of it.

Speaker 3 (38:50):
JJ Hester had two touchdown catches in this game. I
think he made a fantastic catch in the opening game
against Toledo and unfortunately the catch got overturned on review
and he had kind of fallen out of the rotation
a little bit, it seemed or Paul didn't find him
when he was in there. All of a sudden, he
comes through for you. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (39:09):
Again, really happy for him because he's continued to work. Again,
an example of when the quarterbacks, you know, playing at
a level when you're protecting him and you're able to operate.
You know, he's getting more opportunities and he's getting better
with the touches and so you know, he's another one
that has the size, he has the speed. So that's
a very good player for us that you know is

(39:31):
getting better and you know Cam. We talked about Cam
the last couple of weeks as well. He'll continue to
get touches and opportunities. He's been you know, building our
trust and you know, getting better, so hopefully we'll be
able to get him some touches as well.

Speaker 3 (39:45):
Yeah, you saw he had one catch Saturday and you
say he made a really nice move and got a
few extra yards after the catch.

Speaker 1 (39:51):
Yeah. Yeah, he's just comfortable out there.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
You know, he looks like it.

Speaker 1 (39:54):
Yeah, he's just he's very confident, very comfortable. Been short
short handed, so you know, more opportunities will come his way.

Speaker 3 (40:01):
Another young guy to talk about. He got more of
a chance because Seth mcgallan wasn't able to go Jason Patterson,
and he showed that he's fully capable of doing what
you were doing with Seth in terms of catching up Bam.

Speaker 1 (40:12):
Yeah, he was. I was very pleased once again for JP.
He's been very reliable. I want to say he had
seven catches maybe this past week and ran the ball
effectively as well, and he had to step in the
way Seth is playing. You know, he's playing at a
very high level. We certainly missed him, so it was
nice for JP. To step up like that on the
defense side. You know, CJ. Works is another one that's

(40:33):
a true freshman that's been very impressive. I think he's
got a really bright future. He's got great size and length,
you know, very confident. He's getting better and better with
every week. He's been getting opportunities, and you know he's
going to be a really good one.

Speaker 3 (40:48):
Join us for our Jack Burford Chevrolet Countdown to kick
Off coverage for Kentucky and Auburn. It will start at
five thirty Easter of this Saturday with Christy Thomas and
Logan Sedberg and Ricky Lumpkin. And then we'll have the
call Jeffcoro to Gabriel and I from the booth at
Jordan Hair Stadium at Auburn. Kickoff set for seven forty
five on the SEC Network and the UK Radio Network.

(41:10):
We will be right back on the Mark Stoop Show
presented by UK Healthcare. This is the UK Sports Network.

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Speaker 3 (43:28):
Welcome back into the show. Give us a call on
the Clark's Pumping Shop phone line. Send in questions on
x at UK Sports Network. As the Cats and the
Auburn Tigers tangle on Saturday night, somebody asked you today
about Jagger Burton. At your news conference. You had some
very nice things to say about him, because coming into
the year was a little bit of a question mark
how would you handle that switch to center, and hadn't

(43:50):
really been an issue at.

Speaker 1 (43:51):
All, has not been an issue, and he has done
a really good job. Really proud of him. It's been
a you know, it's you know, it's a hard move,
but it's it's good for him, it's good for us.
And you know, he's been playing really well. He's a
great young man, great leader. Just to just just love
everything about him. He's really done a great job.

Speaker 3 (44:11):
He was He and Josh that did a lot of
work this summer on the drive to help out the
folks down at Eastern Kentucky.

Speaker 1 (44:18):
Yeah, without a doubt, he's done an awful lot in
the community. And you know, really, you know, like I said,
just really proud of him. You know, great young man,
and you know we've been fortunate to get some very
good players out of Frederick Douglas.

Speaker 3 (44:34):
Yeah. Yeah, I have to think being able to be
have a good season at center because you guys were
tried him there a couple of years ago because of
how athletic he is. Yes, so now that he's successfully
doing that in the SEC has played guard, it enhances
his appeal to the NFL.

Speaker 1 (44:51):
Without a doubt. He's done very well for himself, and
you know he's he you know there. You know, we
have a very open policy with scouts in our building
because I want them to have access. I want our
players to have a great chance, you know, to to
make it. And the more they're around, they like the kids,

(45:11):
they liked the program, you know, it helps them and uh,
you know, everybody's been very positive about jagger.

Speaker 3 (45:17):
Is as a whole. How do you feel about how
the offensive line has come along?

Speaker 1 (45:22):
I'm I'm pleased. I mean it's you know, I understand
that it's hard. There's pressure. I mean watch every game
you know in this league. I mean there's some very
very good, very talented uh you know, players and coaches
and schemes and everything, and you know there there's been
moments that it's been frustrating, but overall, you know, much better.

(45:43):
I thought even you know, Saturday, we were able to
run the ball, you know, effectively. You know, I wish,
you know, the game would have been closer. I mean
obviously the turnovers. You know, again, you know, with a
team that already scores a lot of points, you know,
put us you know in a bad situation. But I thought,
you know, I thought the old line did a really
good job both in the run game and in the
past game. And again I understand there's some pressure and

(46:06):
there's been some sacks and all that, but you know,
we did drop back and pass. I'd say, I don't
know what the exact number was, but had to be around.

Speaker 3 (46:14):
Forty and Cutters completed seventy one percent now over the
last three games, so game in and game out, you're
getting up to that number. That's about That's ideally the
number you want.

Speaker 1 (46:23):
Absolutely, if you're at seventy seventy one percent, you're doing
pretty good with the talent that we're facing. And so
very very pleased with that.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
His three hundred and thirty passing yards the most for
a UK freshman since Jared Lorenzen in two thousand. Five
td passes the most for any UK quarterback since Andre
Woodson threw six against Tennessee and O seven, and also
the five touchdown passes is a UK freshman record. The
previous record was held by Morgan Newton and Jared Lorenzen

(46:52):
with three. Jared's name pops up a lot, Yeah, absolutely,
he was a guy that you had that in just
a cannon for an arm, but just found a way
to make a play when it looked like things were
breaking down. Again, getting back to Cutter, we're seeing that
kind of find a way to make a playability out

(47:13):
of him.

Speaker 1 (47:14):
Yeah, without a doubt, I think Jared was a little stronger,
you know, a little tougher to get down. But you know,
to Cutter's defense, I mean he's been you know the
play Saturday that he got out of that trap. Yeah,
and in the week before, I mean that that was
really you know great. I mean, Cutter is a tough
young man and you know he's getting bigger and stronger also,
and so now he has a very good feel for

(47:36):
that pocket right now. And you know that's that's that's
been fun because again, as a defensive guy to coach
to a lot of defenses, that's very aggravating. Uh, when
when you feel like you got things matched up really
well and pretty decent pressure and you escape and make
something happen.

Speaker 3 (47:52):
And quarterbacks do a different way. Sellers down at South
Carolina hurts you guys with some of that. He's like
two forty and just a big, strong guy. That kind
of you were talking about Jerry Can use that strength
to break away. Cutter didn't look like the kind of
guy that's going to do that, but he finds a way.

Speaker 1 (48:05):
Well, you got to He's got the mocks, he's got
the feel for it. You know sometimes when you know,
even if you're bringing five, if you're bringing some pressures,
there's Leanes in there. And he has a feel for that.
And uh, you know, I think I think a lot
of that is really hard to teach, really hard to coach.
Either you have it or you don't. And he's shown
a great feel so far.

Speaker 3 (48:26):
That was interesting. You were telling me after the game
that he's developed a little bit of a relationship with
Andre Woodson.

Speaker 1 (48:32):
Well, yeah, I mean, and I don't know if Andre
or Cutter, I let them talk about it or whatever,
but I know Andre, you know, reached out to him
and talked to him and and uh, you know, and
I appreciate that, you know, with Andre, and you know,
these guys care about Kentucky, they care about you know,
how we play, and you know, want to see a
guy like Cutter developed that relationship with guys like that,

(48:54):
and you know, it's been good. I tell you another
one who's made a big difference for him as Michael Hartline,
you know, working on your staff. Now, yeah, he's working
on our staff. And I tell you, Michael does a
really good job. And Bush has a lot on his
plate and a lot to work on, and you know,
they're were up there all hours, day and night. But
like a lot of times, when Cutter comes in, he

(49:14):
spends one on one time with Michael, and he's really
done a good job. And you know, he's been a
great addition to our staff. Another UK guy that cares
about this place, and you know he's been I'm very
impressed with him. He's a he's a great coach, and
he's really helped us and he's helped cut Her.

Speaker 3 (49:30):
Similar Bill to Cutter, and Mike had that ability to
kind of maneuver around and make a play. I was
talking with Tony and Ealy before the show. Mike's a
guy that is very underrated before you got here. But
in nine I think it was just starting to happen
for him, and he got hurt and was lost for
the rest of the season, but he picked right back

(49:51):
up on it. And I think he's the last guy
to Cutter. I'll beat this, but will match this. But
I think Mike's the last guy to throw for over
three thousand yards in a season. And his brother's in coaching.

Speaker 1 (50:01):
Yeah, brothers the offensive coordinator and great coach, great recruiter
at Ohio State. You know, coaches wide outs and they
have they have some pretty good ones to see.

Speaker 3 (50:10):
You've had several guys that are in that kind of
role that Mike's in with the quarterbacks that are on
your staff, that have played for you.

Speaker 1 (50:17):
Yeah, without a doubt, and uh, you know, it's been great,
you know, having those guys. They do a very good
job and and uh, you know, it's it's it's nice
to have uk guys around.

Speaker 3 (50:29):
And those are guys that you knew, knew what it
took to find a way to when times were tough
or when times were going well, to keep it going.

Speaker 1 (50:37):
I look a lot of times I'll look over it.
You know. One of the guys is Yusif. And I
was talking this morning with the defensive coaches and I
see Yusif over and he's in the back and he's
sitting there and he's going like that when we're just
talking about things, and uh, I remember, it's really fun
to have Yusif around a Bunchie and just guys like
that they've done, you know, just to dedicate a lot
to Kentucky and it means something to him. So it's

(50:58):
been fun.

Speaker 3 (50:58):
Make sure you stay with us after this show ends
for Clark's Pumpin' Shop BB and Radio with Darren Headrick.
So one hour Insiders look at UK Athletics tonight. Darren's
going to chat with Jack Schoenberger from the UK men's
golf team and with Harry Mullins from the UK Rifle
program and coach Mullins just had a tremendous run with
UK Rifle and then a big week for Kentucky volleyball.

(51:23):
They kept the winning streak going yesterday with a win
at Alabama, so they won thirteen consecutive matches and they
have a home match Friday night against Fandy. You can
get out and see that before you settle in for
the Kentucky Auburn football game on Saturday night. One last
break to get to We'll be right back here on
the UK Sports Network.

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Central Bank, the official Bank of UK Athletics, Kentucky Farmed
your Insurance, Big On Commitment and UK Healthcare, official healthcare
partner of Big Blue Nations STO.

Speaker 5 (52:26):
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Speaker 3 (52:29):
Learning track, walk a time in Kentucky, go some seven
to two.

Speaker 22 (52:34):
Once again, thank you to our official Cornerstone partners who
play a vital role in the success of the University
of Kentucky Athletics program.

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Speaker 23 (54:08):
In the SEC, it just means more. But what is
it exactly? It's the fans, the students, the traditions, the legends.
It's passion to celebrate deeper reach farther, think smarter, make
an impact off the field? Is that intelligible thing that
happens when sixteen schools raised the bars one? Because in SEC,

(54:33):
it just means more.

Speaker 3 (54:49):
For a complete coverage of the Cats, like UK Sports
Network on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, it's at UK
Underscore Sports Network or on x lead at the under
school where it's just at UK Sports Network and we
have just a few minutes left to visit with you
and coach Mark Stoops as the Cats get set to
take on the Auburn Tigers down on the Planes on

(55:12):
Saturday night, seven forty five Eastern time, kick on the
SEC network. We'll have the call on the UK Radio Network.
Our coverage starts with the pregame show that's at five
thirty Eastern and by the way, time's been set for
the Florida game back here at Kroger Field the following
Saturday the Gators will come in for a seven thirty
kickoff on the SEC Network. Dante del Dell went over

(55:35):
the one thousand yard mark for his career and with
his game on Saturday at the team high fifty two
yards rushing and we saw Kendrick Law make the kind
of play that you were expecting to see him be
able to make a long run on a similar play
I think it was down at Georgia, but seventy I
think it was seventy one yard touchdown catch and run

(55:58):
and he got a great block from Hardley he did.

Speaker 1 (56:00):
It was great to see Kendrick do that. He's so passionate,
you know, he's one of those guys that you know,
just he left it all on the field against Texas,
he came up three yards short on the screen and
overtime and this one he got the pass and took
it to the house and it was really nice to
see him get paid off for that because he's just
a great another one. Just I love him. I love

(56:22):
his attitude. Works so hard, you know, very talented, getting better,
getting more touches, you know, and you know, to see
him take that one to the to the house for
a touchdown was awesome.

Speaker 3 (56:34):
I have to think some of it because Bush is
trying to use him in a lot of different ways,
whether it's like a you know, a jet sweep or
the screwing the flanker screens we're talking about, or fourth.

Speaker 1 (56:43):
And the fourth and one, Yeah, got him on the perimeter.

Speaker 3 (56:46):
Yeah, things like that. I have to think maybe work
a little better because of some of the things that
you're doing and improved play with some explosives and going
down the field on offense.

Speaker 1 (56:55):
Yeah, without a doubt. Again, just more touches, more variety,
you know, more plays. You know, you could see that
and you know that was that was good for us
to put that on film and and you know, do
that on fourth and one. You know, this week, and
I know the week before that was a big point.
I probably wouldn't brought that up. What you'd think I'd

(57:15):
learned Tom after thirteen years, you know what I mean?
Let it let it lie, right, But you but you know,
last week we talked a lot about that. But we've
been effective all year. You know, we've been improved all
year in short yardage and then you know it fell
short in the game and certainly when we needed it.
But but this week to come back and do some

(57:36):
different things and and get the first down just helps
putting that on film. And we do need to do
that again. That's that's fair, Chris. When it doesn't work,
you better look at some things and give you give
your team some other options. So that was good and
I thought this week also, you know we're effective on
everything in third and short, in third and medium, you

(57:57):
know we we you know fell short and third and
third seven plus. That's it.

Speaker 3 (58:01):
This is the UK Sports Network.

Speaker 6 (58:04):
This send has been a Mark Stoop Show presented by
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Show was brought to you by Kroger Little Caesars, UK
Healthcare and by Coca Cola Stuffs Grows over the Metal
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(58:28):
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