Longtime UK coach Anwar Stewart likes Stein's energy, approach

Anwar Stewart is the lone holdover from Mark Stoops' staff at Kentucky, and the defensive line coach has been impressed with new head coach Will Stein.

"It’s dog days right now," he said. "We’re just grinding. (We’re) mentally tough. Coach (Will) Stein, he’s really pushing us as a staff and as a football team. It’s been great.”

The biggest difference between Stoops and Stein?

“He pushes it, he challenges us,” Stewart said. “He always comes in our meetings. He’s very smart. He will talk coverages. He’s a head coach, and he knows ball. He knows what’s going on. He pushes us every day to be the best version of ourselves so that we can push our young men to be their best.”

Stewart said Stein's energy is the biggest difference between the two coaches.

“A lot of energy. He’s on the microphone (during practice),” Stewart said. “The guys are all bought in. We’re just working every day.”

Stewart, a former player for the Wildcats, added that the heat hasn't hindered the team's progress leading up to the season and home opener set for Sept. 5 against Youngstown State.

“It’s been hot, which is awesome,” Stewart said. “Guys are sweating and getting after each other ... We’re kind of almost tired of hitting each other. We’re ready to hit somebody else, maybe. Not quite there yet but the guys are really working.”

Stewart is also adjusting to a different defensive style under defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.

“This is a very aggressive, up-the-field defense,” Stewart said. “The guys love it. It fits every one of them. I think (Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace) and Jaden Williams have really, really fit what they do. They’ve been playing really fast.”

Bateman's scheme, Stewart said, allows Kentucky to employ a mixture of plays on the defensive side of the ball.

“It’s fast, it’s physical," he said. "We can play fast, we can slow it down. We could jump in and out of different defenses, different fronts. It’s very diverse and the guys are really taking on the challenge of learning it."

Bateman tried to hire Stewart away from Kentucky when he was at Florida, but Stewart stayed close to his roots.

“I think he’s a tremendous person, a tremendous developer,” Bateman said. “Obviously, he played here. I think there’s real value when you play somewhere and have had the success he did as a player and as a coach with some of the guys he’s recruited and coached.”

That’s why Stein made it a priority to retain Stewart.

“When I thought about Kentucky football before I got here, I thought they had really good [defensive] lines,” Stein said. “Anwar is a big piece of that puzzle. And you know, you just feel a bond with somebody when you get here.

"He was somebody who did whatever it took to help retain players on the roster and acquire new talent. And obviously, he’s an alum here. … Anwar’s been great. I’m really excited about him.”