John Clay's Sidelines

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Gil Brandt, the famous former vice president of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys for 30 years, has listed his top 100 eligible players for the NFL Draft in 2012.

Two Kentucky players made the list.

Senior linebacker Danny Trevathan is at No. 62.

Junior offensive lineman Larry Warford is at No. 96.

Trevathan is not a surprise, but this confirms the notion that Warford is a true up-and-comer. He played as a true freshman, then started last year as a sophomore. This season, look for Warford to make a strong bid for first-team All-SEC honors.

Continue reading ‘Trevathan and Warford make Brandt’s Top 100′

(H-L photo)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jennifer Smith: Kentucky women’s road woes continue with loss at Arkansas.
• Jerry Tipton: Kentucky represents a reality check for Georgia basketball.
• Jeff Schultz: Mark Fox succeeding in changing the basketball culture at Georgia.
• Brett Dawson: Trey Thompkins is leading Georgia’s rise in hoops.
• Jeff Goodman: NCAA to rule on Enes Kanter’s appeal.
• Mike DeCourcy: The appeal on Kanter was scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday.
• Chip Cosby: Danny Trevathan is no longer able to avoid the spotlight.
• Mark Story: If Randall Cobb opts for NFL draft, then more competition awaits.
• Michael Grant: UK defense banking on Trevathan for key defensive stops.
• Matt May: Kentucky’s keys to beating Pittsburgh in BBVA Compass Bowl.
• Larry Vaught: Humble Morgan Newton seems ready for bowl game.
• Eric Lindsey: Suspended Mike Hartline shows his support at UK’s bowl game.
• Paul Ziese: Pittsburgh’s interim coach expected to become DC at Baylor.
• Bill Brink: Injuries create openings for several Pittsburgh players.
• Aaron Smith: A Kentucky-Georgia basketball preview.
• Keith Taylor: Georgia won’t be an easy task for Calipari’s Cats.
• Jeff Drummond: Joker Phillips pleased with Kentucky’s practices.
• Straitpinkie: Kentucky’s five keys in SEC basketball play.
• Nation of Blue: How is Darius Miller like Katy Perry?
• Wildcat Blue Nation: Will the Man-God Randall Cobb return to Kentucky?

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Lexington Herald-Leader photo gallery from Saturday’s game.

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Missed chances lead Kentucky to fall to Tennessee for 26th straight year, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• My column saying the Cats flubbed a season for the taking.
• Tennessee’s hold on Kentucky remains unbreakable, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
• The Vols make it 26 and counting, writes Matt May of the Cats Pause.
• Goal-line fumble gave Tennessee new life, writes Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal.
• Tennessee again plays Orange crush with the Cats, writes Nick Craddock of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Tom Leach says it was a case of lost opportunity for the Cats.
• Randall Cobb faces big decision on future, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• A familiar feeling for the Cats, writes Jeff Drummond of Big Blue 247.
• Might Danny Trevathan be thinking about the NFL? wonders Tailgate Review.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Knocked down in Knoxville once again’

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• The strange tale of John Calipari, Warren Buffett and a KFC, writes Gregory Cocoran of the WSJ.
• Derrick Locke’s injury has affected Kentucky’s passing game, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Last three games pivotal to judging Joker Phillips’ season, writes Mark Story of the H-L.
• John Calipari takes a hard stance on soft play, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• A Kentucky Kernel editor tried out for the UK basketball team.
• John Calipari flourishes despite title expectations every year, writes Paul Daugherty for SI.com.
• DeMarcus Cousins has lost his starting spot, reports Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.
• Washington Wizards’ owner says he’ll do the “Dougie” if arena sells out. (Hat tip to allkyhoops.com.)
• Kentucky and Kansas phenoms remain in limbo, writes Jason King of Yahoo Sports.
• Kentucky’s success will hinge on Enes Kanter, writes Will Graves of the AP.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Cal and Buffet; Kernel editor; DeMarcus demoted’

Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan talks about the difference in the defense in the second half.

Click here to see this video on YouTube.

(Sacramento Bee photo/Jose Luis Villegas)

Big Blue Links:

• An angry Randall Cobb calls out his teammates, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• The story behind the middle school teacher who came up with the phrase “Free Enes,” is my Wednesday column.
• Enes Kanter’s father says Turkish club using son as example, reports Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News.
• Danny Trevathan’s attitude put him on the hands team, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• DeMarcus Cousins puts in an impressive exhibition debut with the Kings, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
• Chandler Howard of the Kentucky Kernel says upcoming series is critical for Cats.
• Craig McIntosh’s success is truly an underdog story, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Bleed Blue Kentucky offers a Kentucky-Auburn football preview.
• Joker Phillips wants his players to speak up, reports Mary Jo Perino of WLEX-TV.
• AllKyHoops has some NBA debut notes concerning Kentuckians.

Danny Trevathan

Since Saturday’s loss at Ole Miss, there have been a lot of questions about why Danny Trevathan, wearing a cast on his broken left hand, was on the “hands team” when UK tried an on-sides kick late in the fourth quarter?

Turned out that Trevathan had the best chance of grabbing the kick, but couldn’t quite corral it.

Joker Phillips was asked about that today:

“We want to put our 11 most aggressive athletes on the field. Our on-side kickoff team is designed for Matt Roark and Winston Guy to receive the kicks. But you better have four other guys up front, in front of them that are aggressive and gonna knock holes in the coverage. But Danny was able to slip and those two guys weren’t. He was able to slip through one of the gaps and those two guys weren’t, he happened to be the guy to get his hands on the ball, and he made a great effort for it. I wouldn’t do any different. You put somebody else on there, and they’re not able to slip a gap, what’s the difference? What’s the difference? Danny is one of our best competitors, and we put him on there.”

After UK’s 48-14 loss at Florida, UK linebacker and leading tackler Danny Trevathan talks about his rules violation that caused him to be suspended for the game’s first quarter.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

Birmingham investigation says Bledsoe grade change “not credible” but decides to let eligibility stand, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.

Bledsoe grade change ruled questionable, but upheld, reports Pete Thamel of the New York Times.

Many of Bledsoe’s grades were missing, investigation finds, reports Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.

Garry Parrish of CBS Sports says there is no reason to celebrate the Bledsoe investigation findings.

Eric Bledsoe’s transcript will stand, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.

Kentucky can breathe a little easier after the Bledsoe report, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.

Eric Crawford of the C-J writes that something feels wrong about so much time focused on one grade.

Ten ways Kentucky could pull off the upset at Florida, according to Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.

Can the Cats defy the numbers? asks Cosby.

Danny Trevathan will sit out first quarter tonight, says Bleed Blue Kentucky.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Bledsoe reaction; Cats go for upset at Florida’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Birmingham Schools call board meeting this afternoon to discuss Bledsoe case, reports Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News.

John Calipari believes that Enes Kanter is an amateur, but can’t guarantee that NCAA will agree, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.

Sadly, Florida’s arrests are overshadowing Meyer’s victories, blogs Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida says high number of football arrests should not define the program, reports Steve Wieberg of USA Today.

Mark Schlereth will be doing his first college game as analyst for ESPN, reports Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post.

Recent road success should help in The Swamp, writes Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.

Same questions, different outcomes for Tim Tebow and Andre Woodson, writes Mark Story of the H-L.

Urban Meyer’s confidence in his offense is rising, writes Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun.

Calipari warms up for another candid year, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.

Broken hand a minor setback for Danny Trevathan, reports Brett Dawson of the C-J.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Eric Bledsoe case takes next (final?) step today’