WILDCATS

Kentucky offense could use its missing pieces

Kyle Tucker

LEXINGTON, Ky. – As offensive coordinator Neal Brown prepared his game plan for the University of Kentucky football team's trip to Tennessee on Saturday, highlights from last year's game against the Volunteers reminded him of something.

"Jeff Badet played at a high level," Brown said. "I was sitting there watching it (Monday) night and I texted him and said, 'Man, don't think I've forgotten about you. I'm excited about your play.' "

Badet, then a true freshman, caught a season-high six passes against Tennessee last November on his way to finishing as Kentucky's third-leading receiver with 22 catches for 285 yards in just 10 games. But then he broke his leg in spring practice and injured an eye in preseason camp, both of which bothered him longer than expected.

Alexander Montgomery, also a true freshman in 2013, caught 16 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns in eight games before tearing an ACL celebrating a score. He suffered a setback in his recovery this summer and neither he nor Badet has played in 2014.

That's left the Cats' coaching staff to wonder what might've been for an offense that is markedly improved from last season but still wildly inconsistent.

"There's no question if we had Alex and Jeff it would have been helpful," Brown said. "No doubt it would've provided us some depth and we would've been able to play some more guys."

He looks at the leap senior receiver Demarco Robinson has made in his second year playing in the "Air Raid" offense and thinks "you would have seen a similar jump" for the speedy Badet and 6-2, 210-pound Montgomery, a jump-ball specialist. Without them, Kentucky is relying heavily on true freshmen again this fall.

They have predictably hit some bumps in the road. The Cats are averaging 61 more yards and almost nine more points per game than last season, but they've sputtered twice in the current four-game losing streak. Rookie wideouts Garrett Johnson, Dorian Baker and Blake Bone combined for 24 catches, 399 yards and four touchdowns in their first three game, but just 28 catches for 242 yards and one score the last seven weeks.

"When you're dealing with young guys that get out there, they're thrown in the fire and they make mistakes on the run. They can't watching someone else while they're redshirting," receivers coach Tommy Mainord said. "Any time you get experience like (Badet and Mongtomery's), we'd love to have them out there. But it hasn't worked out health-wise."

Montgomery finally got healthy, though, a few weeks ago and head coach Mark Stoops admitted this week he considered playing him for the final four or five games. But that would've burned a redshirt season – and thus a year of eligibility – for less than half a season.

As the freshmen floundered, and with sophomore Ryan Timmons suddenly struggling with drops, it was tempting nonetheless.

"It was, and he would have," Brown said. "He would've answered the bell, no question. At the end of the day, we just didn't think it was fair to him. I think it was a smart move to wait until the spring."

Quarterback Patrick Towles, who has thrown for 2,374 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first season as a starter, only has two reliable targets: Robinson and fellow senior Javess Blue. He'll need Badet and Montgomery more than ever next fall.

"They're really good players," Towles said, "and it'll be good to have them back."

Two other players who could've helped Kentucky's offense this season aren't coming back. They're thriving elsewhere. Former quarterback Jalen Whitlow, who transferred in the spring after being asked to move to wide receiver, has led Eastern Illinois to four straight wins and a 5-1 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The 6-2, 220-pound junior – one of the best athletes on UK's team last season – has rushed for 714 yards, passed for 1,938 and accounted for 26 total touchdowns in 10 games, winning OVC Newcomer of the Week six times. Might he have helped had he stayed and switched positions?

Tailback Dy'Shawn Mobley, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound powerhouse who rushed for 235 yards in the Cats' final two games last season (including 143 against Tennessee), thought the backfield was too crowded and headed to Eastern Kentucky. He's rushed for 1,148 yards (6.1 per carry) and 14 touchdowns and is one of 25 players on the watch list for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS version of the Heisman.

As it turned it, the Wildcats have plenty of fast backs but no proven power runner. Position coach Chad Scott believes he has a young one in freshman Mikel Horton, but admits Mobley "would've been valuable" this fall.

Alas, Kentucky's offense remains a few pieces short of potent, but the coaches believe help is on the way. Brown need only turn on the tape of the Tennessee game last year to have hope.

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.