Position Battle Outcomes

Numerous position battles have been raging since the beginning of spring camp, but with the first game against Louisville just five days away, the depth chart has been set.

UK head coach Joker Phillips announced the outcomes of multiple battles at Monday’s news conference. One of the more surprising sights on the depth chart was that junior defensive tackle Luke McDermott, a walk-on and Trinity High School alumnus, will start alongside senior Ricky Lumpkin.

“(McDermott’s) a guy that always gives you 110 percent,” Phillips said.  “We told him to eat.  He needed to get bigger and stronger.  We said, ‘Go to the dining hall, eat.  As soon as you get full, eat some more.’  He’s over at the dining hall for an hour and a half, two hours sometimes.  We’ll leave breakfast and go back at lunch, he’s still there… The guy just continues to do everything he needs to do to get himself ready to play at this level.”

While I’m sure the Commons staff got tired of seeing McDermott lounge around for what was apparently hours on end (and how did McDermott stay sane after being exposed to nonstop MTVU programming?), the decision came unexpectedly. Most people expected the starter to be either Mark Crawford or Shane McCord.

Sophomore Matt Smith beat junior Jake Lanefski for the starting center job, Ronnie Sneed edged Qua Huzzie at middle linebacker, junior Ryan Tydlacka will handle the punting and field goal/PAT duties, and redshirt freshman Jordan Aumiller emerged as the starting tight end.

Redshirt freshman safety Dakotah Tyler (ankle) and junior Nick Melillo (ankle), who would’ve been the starting tight end, will miss the Louisville game.

Staff Writer Nick Craddock contributed to this report.