John Clay's Sidelines

After failing a physical with the Minnesota Vikings, ex-UK running back Derrick Locke is apparently going to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On his Facebook page, Locke posted, “Eagles it is.”

Locke’s neck injury from last season apparently scared teams from drafting the speedster. After agreeing to terms with Minnesota, Locke reported failed a physical. It’s not known yet if he has taken a physical with Philadelphia.

(H-L photo)

Rumors and reports that former Kentucky running back Derrick Locke was headed to the St. Louis Rams may turn out to be false. Or maybe not. Either way, the undrafted Oklahoma native says he will make the announcement himself on his Facebook page this morning.

Locke was expected to go in the middle or late rounds in last spring’s draft. But a neck/shoulder injury that kept the speedster out of some games last season apparently was enough to scare off NFL teams, which left the Wildcat undrafted. Locke rushed for 887 yards last season on 166 carries. He also caught 34 passes for 318 yards.

With undrafted free agents unable to sign with teams because of the NFL lockout, Locke was expected to be one of the more sought-after names when a CBA was reached. That apparently has been the case. Locke said on his Facebook page, “I guess this is what heavy college recruiting feels like!!”

Continue reading ‘Derrick Locke will announce signing on Facebook page’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Desmond Allison murder came as result of a fight at apartment complex, reports WBNS-TV in Columbus.
• Allison had lived in Columbus and Akron, reports the Columbus Dispatch.
• J.P. Blevins reflects on the death of his former teammate, reports WKYT.
• Derrick Locke could end up signing with St. Louis Rams, reports RamsHerd blog.
• Alex Poythress excited by Kentucky’s scholarship offer, reports George Robinson of the Leaf-Chronicle. (h/t Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog)
• Poythress will be on ESPNU tonight, reports Walter’s Wildcat World.
• Shabazz Muhammad’s mom would like for Long Beach State to get in the mix, reports Yahoo Sports.
• Now that NFL lockout is over, life about to get busy for undrafted Wildcats, reports Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader.

Continue reading ‘BBL: More details on Allison murder; Locke to Rams?’

Two of Derrick Locke’s tweets after the Kentucky running back was not picked in the NFL draft.

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Today’s games will tell how important Sunday’s Kentucky-Tennessee tilt will be, as far as seeding goes, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal votes for Brandon Knight as SEC’s Player of the Year.
• Upon further review, Tennessee scraps idea to stay in hotel night before UK game, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Tennessee could still get the No. 2 seed in the East, reports Patrick Brown of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Cats need help to snag the No. 2 seed, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Derrick Locke content, but not happy with showing at NFL Combine, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Three topics of conversation dominated Friday’s UK basketball media opp, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Kentucky gaining confidence heading into matchup with Tennessee, reports Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Scotty Hopson asks UT students for support, writes Nation of Blue.
• Video of John Calipari from Friday talking about the Tennessee game:

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• In Christmas surprise, UK basketball target Ricardo Ledo commits to Providence, reports Brendan Hall of espn.com.
• Calipari showing interest in 2013 recruit Chris Walker, reports Nation of Blue.
• What happened to SEC basketball’s great expectations? asks Glenn Logan of A Sea of Blue.
• Josh Clemons gives UK football a Christmas commitment, reports Chris Fisher of BigBlue247.
• Louisville-Kentucky not likely to follow the script, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.
• It’s time to start talking Cats and Cards, writes Ira Combs for Kentucky Sports Network.
• Brandon Knight’s parents gave him options, writes Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Ex-Vanderbilt player gives orphans a home, reports Tipton.
• Derrick Locke has a soft side, but he’s no softy, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Wizards fall, even with John Wall back in lineup, reports Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Some Christmas recruiting surprises’

(H-L photo/Joseph Rey Au)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Morgan Newton relishes chance to be starting quarterback, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Jon Davis still committed to UK but will take U of L visit, reports Cosby.
• A 96-year-old Kentucky fan still bleeds blue, writes Mark Story of the Herald-Leader.
• Missing big man leaves hole in Calipari lineup, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Bleed Blue Kentucky does a football recruiting rewind and review.
• New assistant Steve Pardue believes in UK running game, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Doron Lamb anything but a bench player, writes Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Kernel also charts the percentage of the team’s shots each UK player takes.
• Kentucky on the verge of being dangerous, writes Alan Cutler of WLEX.
• Andy Katz of espn.com on the Enes Kanter non-updates.

Continue reading ‘BBL: With no Enes news, football links lead the way’

After today’s practice, while riding a bike in the cardio room, UK’s Derrick Locke talked to his friends in the media. Locke said he was close to 90 percent for Saturday’s game. Said the bye week helped. Said he feels comfortable taking a hit with the ball in his right hand. He said he’s still trying for 1,000 yards on the season.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Ricky Lumpkin’s halftime speech sparks Kentucky past Vanderbilt 38-20, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• If it was Randall Cobb’s farewell, it was a magnificent one, says my Sunday column.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes that Derrick Locke turned on the late show.
• Derrick Locke needed this type of game, writes Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• Kentucky storms past Vanderbilt in the second half, reports Will Graves of the AP.
• Kentucky rallies past Vanderbilt for bowl eligibility, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that win was a fitting end for Mike Hartline’s home career.
• Vanderbilt thinks it still has plenty play for after loss to Kentucky, writes Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Kentucky takes care of (second-half) business’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Anthony Davis signs with UK, family says it still plans to sue Sun-Times, reports Jeff Vorva of the Chicago Tribune.
• Davis says it was a  wild ride that got him to Kentucky, reports Scott Powers of espn.com.
• Michael Gilchrist makes it official, reports Kevin Minnick of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post.
• Courier-Post photo gallery from Michael Gilchrist signing.
• Marquis Teague says UK freshmen-to-be trying to build a brotherhood, reports Kyle Neddenreip of the Indianapolis Star.
• John Calipari “jacked” as his 2011 UK signee class makes it official, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky snagged four of the top 19 recruits, reports Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.
• The stars aligned for John Calipari once again, writes Steve Jones for the Cats Pause.
• John Wall posts a triple-double for Wizards in win over Houston, reports Gene Wang of the Washington Post.
• As Kentucky prepares for Senior Day, Mike Hartline is deserving and then some, says my column.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari gets his men on the dotted line’