Practice Report: UK keeping practice physical
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Highlights from Wednesday’s Kentucky football practice:
News of the day: As Kentucky’s coaches look to end a four-game losing streak and avoid a repeat of the six-game losing streak that ended the 2014 season, head coach Mark Stoops has kept the physicality of practices high well into the second half. Last season he backed off in practices during the second-half tailspin, but this year he is focused on keeping the portions of practice where the first-team offense and defense match up against each other.
“You go against each other and then you go against fastballs and more physical blockers, more physical defensive linemen, more physical run plays,” defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said. “To keep them on edge and keep those techniques sharp.”
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Injury update: During Wednesday’s SEC coaches’ teleconference, Stoops said he expects junior outside linebacker Jason Hatcher, who has been limited the last two weeks with ankle injury, to be back at full speed Saturday at Vanderbilt. Eliot reiterated that sentiment after practice Wednesday evening. “I think he's close,” Eliot said. “He's had a good week of practice and we're anticipating him to play on Saturday.”
Henderson continues late resurgence: There were not many positives to be taken from Kentucky’s performance in a 27-3 loss at Georgia, but the improved play of senior weakside linebacker Khalid Henderson continues to be one of the few bright spots in the four-game losing streak.
On Monday, Stoops listed Henderson among the players who provided the effort he was looking for in the otherwise disappointing performance. In his last two games Henderson has totaled 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and one interception. Against Georgia, Henderson recorded nine tackles.
The senior lost his starting spot to Ryan Flannigan earlier this season but has fought his way back into contention for the No. 1 spot on the depth chart.
“Khalid is a very competitive player,” Eliot said. “He's a very competitive person in general, and that's what we love about him. Ryan has his skill set that is different than Khalid's, but Khalid just goes out there and competes every day and gets better and just makes plays and knows where he's supposed to be.”
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Competitiveness is nothing new for Henderson.
“I had very little growing up, so I just try to take advantage of everything I have here,” Henderson said. “It was a blessing getting here, so I just try to take that opportunity.”
Henderson is among the most experienced players on the roster with 179 tackles in his career entering Saturday’s game, but he has bounced in and out of the starting lineup for much of the last two seasons.
Losing a starting job multiple times might have been enough for many players to accept a diminished role, but Henderson has been focused on proving he deserves to be a featured player on defense.
“It hurt me a lot,” Henderson said. “Coming from being a starter and then being taken out of that position, it was either you could go left or be right. I chose to be right and take advantage of the opportunity and just take every day with a chip on my shoulder and come out and be correct in all phases.”
Email Jon Hale atjahale@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter@JonHale_CJ.