One week into camp, Kentucky coach Will Stein has been impressed with his team's progress.
"I'll really know how good we are when we tee off on Sept. 5 and I like our progress," he said. "I like our ability to learn in the morning, walk it, take a break, come back, meet again, go out and practice, and then go execute. I think it's still a little early."
He likes that the Wildcats haven't forgotten what they learned during spring workouts.
"I think we've shown the ability to retain information, to take the install from the summer and really grow on that," he said.
Prior to Saturday's practice, Stein visited fans during a tailgate selection process and walked away impressed with Big Blue Nation.
"It was great — unbelievable to be honest," he said. "(I) held a baby, a little seven-week-old named Merrick, I believe was her name. Beautiful little girl and it was awesome. BBN is unreal, and to show up like they did and just to be that supportive of us is really cool."
PONATOSKI IMPRESSIVE
Freshman signal caller Matt Ponatoski is battling for the backup quarterback spot behind Kenny Minchey. Ponatoski doubles as a baseball player and is expected to play for the Wildcats this spring. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the MLB Draft this spring.
"The guy just knows how to play quarterback — that's what I like about Matt," Stein said. "It's like stuff that you don't have to teach. He's an impressive player for sure. So he's still learning and growing and understanding how to practice at this level.
"That's what he missed out on the spring, but some guys just kind of got it, and he's not a finished product by any means, but you can see traits of somebody that just has good awareness in the pocket, can throw it on time, and just finds completion."
Kentucky offensive coordinator Joe Sloan has also been impressed with the rookie signal-caller.
"He's having to learn the vocabulary and also just learn how to play college quarterback," Sloan said. "He's learning two tracks here. But he was doing a nice job. You can see the natural talent. You can see him stand in the pocket, right? He has good vision, and he can definitely complete the football."
FLOOD GATES
Florida transfer Aaron Gates will be counted on to contribute in Kentucky's secondary this season.
After three seasons with the Gators, Gates, a four-star recruit from Georgia, has been hampered by injuries, but is healthy and ready to compete with a new team.
"I've seen him do it in this league at a really high level," Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman said. "I was with him when he was a young kid, and I saw kind of the potential. I think he's a really good player, man."
The biggest issue, Bateman said, is keeping Gates fully healthy.
"I think he can do a lot," he said. "Aaron Gates could go play corner tomorrow, right? So you got a kid with corner skills who's got a big body who can blitz, can play, man. I think he's a really well-respected kid in this league."
Kentucky freshman quarterback Matt Ponatoski throws a pass during an open practice last week at teh Nutter Field House. (Keith Taylor/Kentucky Today)
