This weekend, the Texas Longhorns will host the Kentucky Wildcats in their final home game of the regular season. Today, our Devon Messinger and Dylan DeRaud discuss their scouting report of the Wildcats in the YouTube video above.
Messinger’s Scouting Report of the Kentucky Offense:
So far this season, the Kentucky Wildcats offense has been underwhelming by SEC standards. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops’ squad ranks 109th in the country in scoring offense, averaging just 21.9 points per game. Furthermore, the Wildcats are 114th in passing offense (183.4 yards/game) and 71st in rushing offense (157.1 yards/game).
The inconsistency of the offense starts at the quarterback position, with Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff. In his team’s first ten games, the junior gunslinger has a 9-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio, highlighting his streaky abilities. Additionally, a lion’s share of Vandagriff’s targets go to 6’3″ junior wide receiver Dane Key, who accounts for 686 of Vandagriff’s 1,542 passing yards. Other than Key, junior wideout Barion Brown will be another Wildcat to watch out for.
In the backfield, Jamarion Wilcox and Demie Sumo have combined for 979 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. In order to beat Texas, these running backs will be the key. Earlier in the year, time of possession was discovered to be a way to keep things close with the Longhorns. As a result, if Kentucky wants to make things interesting, their tailbacks will have to chew clock.
DeRaud’s Scouting Report of the Kentucky Defense:
Led by defensive coordinator, Brad White, Kentucky’s defense has ranked towards the top half of the country statistically. Due to their physical approach, the Wildcats are only allowing 20.8 points per game, 190.7 pass yards per game and 328.9 yards of total offense allowed. However, they have been inconsistent this year in large part to injuries and a tough schedule. The defense held Ole Miss to 17 points in a win, but has also allowed 40 to Florida and 31 to South Carolina.
Players to watch for Kentucky will be leading tackler, linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson who should be able to play on Saturday and linebacker JJ Weaver who leads the team with five sacks on the season. Other players to keep an eye on are defensive back JQ Hardaway, who has two interceptions on the year, and defensive lineman Deone Walker, who plugs up the middle with his 6’6″ 345 pound frame.