SEC Media Days: UF opponent Kentucky

[Mark Wheeler]

THE MODERATOR: We welcome the head football coach from the University of Kentucky, Mark Stoops.

MARK STOOPS: First of all, I know why Coach Drink has a reason to not talk about certain things. So I'll keep that between myself and him and a few colleagues. Got to keep on eye on old Drink there.

Greatly appreciate Commissioner Sankey, what you do, the leadership you provide, along with your staff, each and every year.

I'd also like to the acknowledge the leadership on campus, Dr. Eli Capilouto, athletic director, Mitch Barnhart. We are about to embark on the 13th season together. Very rare to that have kind of continuity. I greatly appreciate the steadfast support they've given me and each and every coach and every athlete on campus. It's been some trying times, to say the least. I just appreciate the work that they've done.

I'd also like to acknowledge and thank you the media for what you do to continue to elevate this beautiful game we play, been involved with for so long. Not only elevating our game, but the stories that you tell with our amazing players.

Like many of the coaches here, I want to take this moment and discuss the three guys that are with me here today, three amazing young men. All of them have been in our program for four years, all of them are going to be seniors. One of them has already got his degree. Another one will get it in December, and the other next May.

Alex Afari, a senior linebacker from Cincinnati, Ohio. Interesting story about Alex is he moved to the United States from Ghana. While he was in middle school, he went and sign up, saw a sign-up sheet for football. He went and started the first practice. He didn't understand what the heck was going on. He was trying to sign up for soccer, but that's how he became introduced to football. The rest is history.

He's had a great career. We actually recruited him as a cornerback. Grew into a safety, then became a hybrid. Last year moved to inside linebacker. Just picked it up in a big way. Is a great leader and person for us.

Next is Josh Kattus. Josh is another senior, tight end from Cincinnati, Ohio. Just a remarkable person. One tidbit on Josh, he doesn't do this to get the recognition, but he's a guy that each and every week for the last three years discreetly goes to the UK Children's Hospital and spends time with young people. Just truly an amazing person and a great leader.

The third one is Jordan Lovett, a senior safety from Kentucky. He is already a graduate in education. Someday will be a remarkable educator.

Just love the three of them and what they do for our program.

For us, we have to take the mindset into this year the same way we attack the off-season. As football coaches, we use this term a lot, but for us it was like a fourth-and-one mentality, that moment in a fourth-and-one situation demands urgency, unity and execution. We obviously needed to have a strong off-season.

Every rep, every lift, every team meeting, no matter what we're doing, we have to embrace that challenge. I greatly appreciate the focus and the relentless commitment that these players have had to each other.

After last season, obviously not a very good year for us, we had to take a good look at that. For myself, we had eight straight bowl appearances. One of only three teams in the SEC to do that. It's not easy. So we had a really good stretch and had been really consistent. We know the great teams that are in this league. There's many of us that had a year off here and there.

When you do that and have a bad year like that, I had to take a good step back, analyze each and every thing in our program, in our staff and our players. There's a lot of work to be done.

We didn't want to just move past it. We wanted to make sure we made the adjustments necessary. Any weakness we had, we wanted to try to make a strength. Just attack it each and every day. There's a lot of good from us as a coaching staff to be able to do that.

But we looked at everything, from our culture, our schemes, the way we teach, the way we connect, the way we lead. All of it needed to be analyzed to make the necessary adjustments.

For us, we will continue to anchor with the core values of our program: that's attitude, toughness, discipline and pride. We need to do that with the consistency that's necessary to make sure that you're going to get the growth that's needed.

During a difficult year, those attributes don't just go away. They're something that we have to lean back into and make sure we're doing a lot of things well, but make sure we do those things at a very high level.

There's a lot of new change on our campus. We have 50 new players that are coming in. That's the most we've ever had in the transfer era obviously. 26 transfers that come in. 13 of those transfers have been starters, and eight of them have been starters at the Power Five conference. We feel like we're bringing in a lot of fresh faces there. I think that's something that's important for us.

After coming off the year that we had, I think all of our players know we've been very consistent, we've done things right. We feel like we got a lot of systems and processes in place to be successful. But we needed to change. I think the roster turnover for this year was important for us. We needed that.

I think there's a great balance for us with the new faces, the fresh faces, the energy, the juice that these players are bringing, and the experience that they have. But I also love the continuity we have with our staff. This is the first time in a long time that the offensive coordinator is returning for the second season. It's been uncommon to have the turnover that we've had at offensive coordinator. Obviously, caught up to us.

This season bringing Bush Hamdan back for a second year is something I'm excited about. We need to build, and I'm confident we'll do that.

Brad White is returning for his seventh season, so we've had great stability and continuity on the defensive side of the ball.

Jay Boulware does a remarkable job. He's back for his third year with special teams.

I think there's a good mixture with new people, new faces, fresh energy, guys that are not tied up with the negative season we had last year. That's gone. The 50 players that are here and new, they really don't care about what happened last year. We acknowledge it, they understand it, but they're really concerned about what we're doing now and how we're going to move the program forward. That's been a fresh change.

I'm excited about this group. I really love the way they're working. I know everybody says that. I wouldn't be any different. I can promise you we analyzed a lot of things and we're intentional about the development of this team, trying to expediate that process, force feed the relationships, making sure they've bought in. They're fun. They've got experience. We've got to fit the pieces together, we know that. We have a lot of work to do. But again, I'm very excited about the staff and how hard they've worked. Good to get rolling.

I appreciate your time. I know it's been a long week. You have a couple more coaches here to wrap it up. But at this point I'll open it up for questions. Thank you.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. Mark, how motivated would you say you are?

MARK STOOPS: I think that's a point that, Nick, you're pretty dialed into. It's interesting. As I talk a lot in the off-season, I love how people grab certain aspects of things that I say. It's no different than I've ever been. Zero change.

I think one thing that has been a pleasant change for me is being consumed with certain aspects of this work that we have to do for the years leading up to this. In particular I think all of us have touched on it, I want to move past it. But the fundraising aspect of our job, that's something that consumes us. I want to get back to the coaching. That makes me very happy.

But motivated is something that I'm quite sure I've mentioned each and every year I've ever been a head football coach, and will continue to always do that.

I like to use the word 'grateful'. I'm very grateful to be here and happy. I know I had a hell of a year. I had to get an ankle replacement surgery. Last year was a bear on me physically. I got that fixed. I feel great. That pain is gone when I'm on the field. I'm very grateful and looking forward to this 13th year.

But it's business as usual for us. It's business as usual for myself. I think I'll play along and let the media have their fun, take their shots. That's cool with me. I'm ready to just move forward.

Q. You've done a great job recruiting the state during your tenure. You have Khalil Collins who is going to play a big part of your defense line. Talk about his development. Another coach on your staff has been with you a long time. Did a great job in our state at Auburn. What does Eddie Gran mean to the program at Kentucky?

MARK STOOPS: Khalil, so pleased with him. Just to see him mature, the way he's grown. Each and every year he's gotten better. In particular this last year, you really see him making a big move to not only be a good football player but to be a very good leader. I'm very proud of Khalil. I love the work he's doing. I'm going to challenge him to be consistent through the year.

Eddie Gran has meant an awful lot to our program in many different ways. Any way we ask Eddie to help, he is right there front and center to do that. Could not have any more respect for Eddie Gran.

I think you ask every single person in our building, every player in our building, they have the utmost respect for Eddie.

Q. You mentioned you have 50 new players coming into the campus this year. How do you build that community off the field to build that chemistry on the field?

MARK STOOPS: Yeah, that's a great question. There's a lot to that. There's a lot of things that we do. I think that's one of the things I mentioned in the opening dialogue, being intentional about forcing that relationship. What I mean by that is just making sure we're putting things in front of them.

One of the things we do is simply getting to know people. When you have 50 new people, quite a few at the midterm, guys that come in. Coach Dean Hood does quite a bit with our player development.

Something that we do each and every day in our building, we put four individuals on there with their name, information, where they came from, first name, background. We quiz our players. That's one of the things we do where we make sure everybody knows everybody. Sounds like a simple thing, but when you have that much turnover and change, it's something we have to do.

The next step we do after they get to know everybody, we have them sit there and break bread and eat dinner or lunch with somebody they didn't know, communicate some things that maybe the team doesn't know, maybe the coaches don't know. Getting in front of people and pour that back.

That's just some of the things we do to specifically answer your question on trying to get the camaraderie.

Q. The 13 years in an SEC cool is a long run. How have you been able to sustain that? What can you do going forward to have as long of a runway as you want?

MARK STOOPS: I appreciate that.

It's a real challenge. When I got to Kentucky, as I mentioned...

Listen, I might as well just stay away from that. I was going to say something. I say things tongue in cheek and it gets taken way out of control. When you lose, you got to watch what you say.

Truthfully, when we got there, there was so much work to be done. I'm proud of that run. Maybe one other one with Bear Bryant, going back to the '50s. There's an eight-year run there where we've been as consistent as anybody in the history of our school. Our local media was asking me this morning. Each coach that stands up here, we go back a little bit, but we're really concentrating on this year, what's ahead of us.

When you have a down year, you have to stand up here, own it, face it, talk about the things you're doing to address it, then move on.

I've stood up here after two 10-win seasons. That has only happened two times in the history of our school. I don't want to talk about that year, I want to talk about this year. There's a fine balance there.

For me it's just exciting. As I mentioned to your colleague there to your right, I'm really just excited about the opportunity, really diving into the challenge that lies ahead of us and embracing that and having fun with it.

This shit's hard. You might as well go enjoy it, dive into it. There's a lot of people that can't do it and didn't do it for 12 years, didn't do it for 13 years, not at Kentucky. You look at the history of what we've done, there's a lot of great ones that didn't make it very long.

I'm proud of the run that we have. I want to use last year for us to learn from and to grow from and to get better and to get back to who we want to be. That's something that our program deserves. That's something our fan base deserves. The great people in Kentucky, the administration. We're all in and we're excited about this next season.

Q. You talk about 50-plus players coming in new. It takes a while to build a culture. Have you ever thought about adopting a mantra of 13 weeks? In 13 weeks you can take kids from all over and turn them into Marines. Kids, they don't want to be coached hard. You're a Stoops from Youngstown, Ohio. It's in your blood. How are you dealing with that? Your personality seems to me to be a 110% competitor.

MARK STOOPS: I appreciate that. That's what I try to be. I can promise you that. I don't know any different.

As I just mentioned to our players coming in here today, I said, Be you. All you want to do is see authenticity. Be who you are. I can't stand up here and try to be somebody different. I have respect.

I watched the great Nick Saban so many years, listened to him, all that. I can't be him. I can only be me and be authentic. I think players see that and understand that.

I do think players want to be coached. I think a lot has been talked about and a lot has changed. I hope were on the other side of that. I feel it right now even in this recruiting class that we're going through right now, I feel the shift going forward.

If we can keep this thing in the guardrails and keep this House settlement the way it is, they deserve to be paid. Pay 'em what it is and then coach 'em hard and let us do our job. That's developing young men into great people. Better people make better players. Each and every year, that's our job. We're committed to that.

I love it, man. You're right, remind me of who I am. I'm going to go out there and we're going to swing. You know what I mean? We got a lot of work to do. We have an incredibly challenging schedule, but bring it on. Let's embrace it, have fun with it and attack each and every day. That's all we can do.

Q. What attracted you guys to Zach Calzada in the portal? How much do you think his previous SEC experience might help?

MARK STOOPS: That certainly played into it for me. I think the fact that we had a local young quarterback on campus that we certainly feel is the future. When that time is, I'm not sure. Whether it's next week, two weeks, three weeks, next season, next year, I'm not sure.

With Zach, it definitely played a factor. He won big games in the SEC. Has a ton of experience under his belt. Has a chip on his shoulder. Wants to come back and prove that.

I'm excited about Zach.

Q. Given your experience, especially your tenure in the SEC, I'm wondering if you'll see rule changes, the NIL, transfer portal, having impacted and making it more advantageous for kids to stick around?

MARK STOOPS: I hope I'm interpreting that question the right way.

I think any coach that comes in here and talks about it, we're all into developing our program, developing players, bringing them along. Sometimes that's in one year, sometimes it's in two and three.

Listen, we all love our players, whether they're one year in our program, six months, or four years. The three players I brought here today have been in our program four years. They understand the culture. Like I said, they've been around when we won a bunch of big games. They'll stick with us as we fight through what we went through last year. Those are the guys I want to have by my side.

Q. Derek Shay already was part of your program before you promoted him. What has that been like with him taking a more active role?

MARK STOOPS: Very smooth. Very, very quick adjustment. Very smooth. Josh Kattus is here today. You can ask him about it. It was a very easy transition, very smooth.

He's a guy that Coach Hamdan and he work side by side anyway. Big picture scheme, a guy that Bush relied on, the communication that's already been done. He's already coached tight ends at a high level in a Power Five school.

I love what I'm seeing there. He immediately, within a day or two of being promoted, at least verbally by me, hit the ground running, did amazing in recruiting. He's done a wonderful job in the classroom, as well.

Very excited about Derek.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. During the spring meetings, it really felt like there was a lot of different opinions coming out from different coaches. Could you take me in the room and just maybe give me a highlight or two of talking to other coaches about all of these different elements that are now in your world.

MARK STOOPS: Well, I'm not disagreeing with you maybe how that's communicated or how that comes out sometimes. Some of us may be a little more guarded in what we're communicating until we make sure we get everything on the same page.

I think one thing about that meeting is there's a lot going on. There's a lot happening, as you know. There's so much transition. We have to talk about many different things. I don't think any of us want to stay any more days. It seems like we could sit in there for a week and hammer out these things.

I will say this. I feel actually the opposite. I feel like there's a lot of coaches in there that really we want the same thing. How we get there, there may be some different opinions. There's a lot of guys in there that are very unified, that really want to continue to make this great game great and continue that.

I mean, everybody is always going to have a personal agenda here or there that we have to look out for our own institution, what's right for us. But I truly believe there's a bunch of men in there that are in it for the good of the game. We really want to make it better.

I think we want to get unified and on the same page with some of the other Power Four head coaches.

Q. I don't know how closely you follow the discussion over the Playoff model moving ahead. Do you favor a situation like the Big Ten with four automatic qualifiers or do you prefer the five 11 format?

MARK STOOPS: To answer the front part of your question, not that closely right now. If you haven't noticed, I have a lot of work to do. I say it with a grain of salt, but I have a lot of work to do.

I think expansion is good. I think there's a lot of people that are looking at it, analyzing it. They gave us different options in our meeting. Whatever it is it is. It's just like our schedule or anything else. Whether we play eight, nine, who we play, put it in front of us and let's get going.

No, I haven't analyzed it too close.

Q. Your relationship with your president may be 13 years. Bob had the same thing with 18 at Norman. What's the key with getting along with each other? It doesn't happen very often.

MARK STOOPS: No, it really doesn't. Sometimes you have to put your personal agenda to the side. That's difficult because I have a job to do, they have a job to do. I think understanding that is difficult.

Sometimes there's some give-and-take in the situation. But they've been just absolutely amazing people to work for, much like Bob's situation at Oklahoma. I've been very blessed that way.

I think first and foremost, they are great people. They care about Kentucky football, but they also care about the other student-athletes and the other coaches that are on our campus. There's a balance there.

I think each of us at every institution, there's some things that are to your advantage and may be to a disadvantage. You got to overcome 'em the best you can and make the most of any situation.

I couldn't be more pleased with the people that I work with.

Q. Who have been your favorite players to watch work out this season, the way they go about their routine?

MARK STOOPS: It's hard to single out. It might say two or three guys and the other ones are going to get a little bent.

I really love the attitude of the whole group. That's what it takes. Let's be honest. I think that's an area that we've talked about, the culture of your program. That's unity and being together and unified in everything that we do, holding each other accountable. They're doing that.

I love the way they're attacking it, the way they're working. They understand what's at stake, the importance of it. They embrace that. I respect the way they're working. I'm excited to get on the grass full-time with them.

Thank y'all very much. Got two more and I'm sure you're ready to get out of here. Appreciate what you do.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

ALEX AFARI JR: I'm just blessed to be here. I thank God for letting me have this opportunity to be here and representing the University of Kentucky.

Q. The SEC attracts a lot of different people. You have an interesting background. Why don't you share that with us.

ALEX AFARI JR: I was originally born in Italy. Then later, after four years -- my parents are originally from Ghana. They moved to Ghana for about four years. I played real football over there.

And then came to the United States and I wanted to continue playing real football. My neighbor was Kaleb Johnson, he's a rookie running back for the Steelers. His grandpa signed me up for football.

First day of practice, they put a helmet on me and some shoulder pads. I said, this is not what I signed up for. But he didn't let me quit. He let me stay with it. Just blessed to be here now.

Q. How old were you when you first started playing?

ALEX AFARI JR: I was 8 years old.

Q. So you were a natural right off the bat?

ALEX AFARI JR: I wouldn't say natural. I started really becoming good at football in seventh grade. It took me some time.

Q. Did you know much about the rules, or did you have to learn those on the fly?

ALEX AFARI JR: I just learned off the fly. Kaleb Johnson's grandpa brought me to the football field every day with him. We were just practicing out in the backyard.

Q. When you first started following teams, who did you follow in college and the pros?

ALEX AFARI JR: In college, I feel like every kid followed Oregon. I just liked the uniforms. I liked them.

The NFL, AJ Peterson was my favorite player. The Vikings, that's who I was following.

Q. Tell me about the transition from DB to linebacker. How is that process going for you?

ALEX AFARI JR: It's going great. I'm closer to the ball. I can make more plays when I'm closer to the ball. It was a great transition. And I feel like this is the year for me. Put on some weight. I'm at 230 now. I feel good about this year.

Q. In terms of keys, what do you look at? How big of a difference is it from DB to linebacker?

ALEX AFARI JR: It's a big difference because at DB, you don't really focus too much on O linemen. You go at as receivers. Being in the box, it's a big difference seeing guard pulls and misdirections and getting everybody on the same page.

Q. Zach Calzada joined the team this offseason. He's been around the conference, couple other schools, played a lot of college football. Your impressions of Zach on and off the field?

ALEX AFARI JR: He's a great person off the field. He is really doing a good job winning the locker room over. He can take control in the huddle with the offense as well. And he has a big arm. I feel like he's really slept on. And people will see it this year.

Q. Your coach is the longest-tenured coach in the conference. What's it like playing for Coach Stoops?

ALEX AFARI JR: It's amazing. He's a player-led coach, a real loyal guy. I'm just blessed to be able to play for him. I just want to be loyal to him.

Q. This is the first time in a long time at Kentucky that the back four is more experienced and there are fewer question marks than the front seven. Of course, you're a linebacker now but you've been a part of both. What's it been like assimilating with guys who might have been backups or transfers that are going to get more playing time up front, and how do you feel about them?

ALEX AFARI JR: I feel great. The coaches did a really good job recruiting and bringing the right people to Kentucky. I feel like they played a lot of football. Have a lot of experience. I feel like they're going to be good for us. I'm excited about that.

Q. What's your favorite rivalry? Fans have them for each school. What is your favorite rival?

ALEX AFARI JR: Louisville.

Q. Why so?

ALEX AFARI JR: We don't like 'em. (Laughter).

Q. I know Mark Stoops loves it when his team can play with a chip on its shoulder. That's especially relevant now coming off last year. What's the mindset been like in the building and workouts?

ALEX AFARI JR: We know what happened last year. We addressed it. We're going to grow from it. We're going to play with a chip on our shoulder. Makes us more hungry this year to prove everybody wrong, seeing everybody putting us last in the SEC.

We have a chip on our shoulder and ready to prove people wrong.

Q. You finished last year third on your team in tackles with 62. What have you worked on during the offseason to not only improve your game but bring success this season?

ALEX AFARI JR: First of all, I got stronger in the weight room. I got way stronger, way more explosive. I feel it's going to translate on the field.

I feel like the strength coach has done a great job with all our players, changing our bodies, making us stronger and more explosive and faster.

Q. Who is somebody on the Kentucky front seven people may not know about right now but you think by the end of the season could break through?

ALEX AFARI JR: I like all the players in our D line room. I like Mi'Quise Grace. He's going to be real good for us. Devon Gusta, I feel he's going to be real good for us. Jaden Williams, I feel he's going to be good. And just the returning players, Saunders is going to be good. And I feel real good about our front seven and our linebackers as well, too.

Q. From a food perspective, from Italy to Ghana to Kentucky, how does it compare? What's your favorite dish?

ALEX AFARI JR: I would say my favorite dish would be jollof rice. My mom makes jollof rice, it's an African dish, from Ghana. That's my favorite food.

Q. Find it in Kentucky?

ALEX AFARI JR: Not as good as my mom's.

Q. How about the different climates you've lived in? How is the climate in Lexington compared to others?

ALEX AFARI JR: It's not even close to Ghana. It's real hot in Ghana. It stays hot the whole year. It's not even close in Ghana.

Q. You mentioned playing a different kind of football growing up. You still kick the ball around a little bit, do you find time to do that? Are you too busy?

ALEX AFARI JR: No, I'm too busy right now. I don't really play soccer. I used to when I was younger, I used to play at recess during elementary grade, but I ain't really pick it up.

Q. When you first started following football, was it tough to follow the scoring system, how teams got points?

ALEX AFARI JR: It was difficult, it was something that I had to adjust to. Took me a while to understand all the rules that go into football. I think by my eighth grade, seventh grade year, that's when I truly understood everything that comes with football.

Q. What rule made the least amount of sense growing up? You had to learn a new game. What was strange?

ALEX AFARI JR: I'd probably say like the field goals. Some is worth three points, then one point. I was, like, why can't it all just be worth one? I feel like that's something that I had to get used to.

Q. You've been on this team for a couple years now. What specifically is different about the makeup of this year's roster?

ALEX AFARI JR: I feel like we've grown as a team. I feel like this is the closest our team has ever been since I've been here. I truly feel that way. I feel like once we all know each other on a personal level, I feel like if you really know your brothers, during game days, you want to fight a little harder for them.

Q. Is there a particular SEC road site that you enjoy going to play at?

ALEX AFARI JR: I like Ole Miss. Ole Miss and Tennessee. They've got good fans. I like Tennessee. Tennessee is fun to play at.

Q. Ole Miss, it was a great win last year, obviously. You played so well against Georgia. Then things kind of fell off the cliff. What was going on then that worked so well that you guys can carry into this year? I know you don't spend a lot of time dwelling, but what did you learn from those efforts that you can use this coming season?

ALEX AFARI JR: Just finishing games. Finishing in general. We will start off great then by the fourth quarter we're not the same as the first quarter. We've just got to be able to finish out games and finish out each quarter, take it quarter by quarter and just finish out games.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

Q. How does it feel coming back?

JORDAN LOVETT: It feels great, being an Atlanta, Georgia kid. It feels great coming back to the city.

Q. What are the prospects for the team this year? What does the coach have to say? What's his message this season getting ready?

JORDAN LOVETT: We've just really been working, honestly. Just keeping the blue-collar mentality. Just being determined.

Q. What does it mean to be here back in your hometown and represent Kentucky here on this stage during media week?

JORDAN LOVETT: Being from Atlanta and being a military kid, it was like tough being a military kid, but especially being from Georgia. It's been great, especially just knowing my family's watching. A whole bunch of family members texting me, phone blowing up and stuff like that. It's been great.

Q. You mentioned growing up in a military family. Have you found that that's contributed to any sort of, I guess, your path in football, your work ethic and what you've been able to build at Kentucky?

JORDAN LOVETT: Most definitely. Especially growing up, like, my mom, she's a single mom, two kids, raised by herself, military. It gave me like hard-nosed mentality, like, "yes, sir, yes, ma'am." I grew up, "yes, sir, yes, ma'am," whole bunch of manners, stuff like that. Yes, it definitely gave me an edge.

Q. Does your team have an edge this year? Last year didn't go quite as you wanted to. Is there more impetus to turn it around?

JORDAN LOVETT: Yes, I feel we're a lot more dialed in, especially as a team, especially with all the transfers we got. We have to be, chemistry has to be on 10, and everybody has to be dialed in a lot more than we did last year to overcome this slump that happened last year.

Q. The transfers coming in, what do you tell them about the program and the university?

JORDAN LOVETT: I tell them, like I said, attitude, toughness, discipline, pride is our core value. As long as we go by those core values and as long as we stick together, I feel everything will be great.

Q. The college football video game, ever since it came out, has been a big deal. When it came out this year, you mentioned toughness. Your punter was the only player in the game with a toughness rating of 1. What was the team's reaction to that? I saw that he was training to try to improve that rating?

JORDAN LOVETT: I think his toughness rating was zero. I'm not going to lie. I know Aidin Laros, before he was a rugby player. Rugby dudes, rugby players aren't -- they're not nothing to play with. They're pretty tough. EA has to change that one. I don't know about that one.

Q. What do you think is your team's biggest challenge that you believe you all can overcome this season?

JORDAN LOVETT: The biggest challenge is -- the biggest challenge this season is overcoming what happened last season, just putting your head down, being dialed in, just focused on the little things.

Like I said, we focus on the little things, the big things will come and they'll be easier. Really just the big moments, more film study, more working, more just team bonding.

Last year I would say that our team bonding, we were tight but we weren't as tight as we are now. Like I said, if we just stay together and execute together, I feel we'll be good.

Q. Just to follow up, what has created that enhanced level of connectivity through this year's team?

JORDAN LOVETT: I'm going to give a shoutout to Coach Hood for giving us -- every Wednesday we have a guest speaker. It's called four for 40. We have a guest speaker, certain people just giving us on and off-the-field advice, just like about mental health, about just stuff, just to make us better people in life.

We kind of used that as team bonding, just to get closer as a team. Like I said, we got a lot of new guys. I don't even know they feel -- they feel like they're my brothers already.

Q. A lot of rivalries in the SEC. Is there a particular rival you'd like to play?

JORDAN LOVETT: I want to play everybody, everybody and anybody. Doesn't matter who you is, put the pads on, we're going to get it going.

Q. Alex mentioned a particular in-state team he likes to face and doesn't care for much. Is that quite a rivalry within the state?

JORDAN LOVETT: Well, since I've been at Kentucky, we're up right now, I'm up right now. I think it's 3-2 right now. I don't want to say too much about that team across the road. We're going to see them when we see them.

Q. What about Coach Stoops really appeals to his players? What do they like about them?

JORDAN LOVETT: I love that Coach Stoops is loyal. Loyal to you. Like I say, I've been in the program for five years now. Loyalty is a big thing for me. He's really a chill guy. He's a player-led coach and he's a coach that you can depend on.

Q. Does it help to have a coach who actually played at some point in his life?

JORDAN LOVETT: Yeah, it definitely does. Especially Coach Stoops has coached every -- he's a safety guy. Especially me being a safety, me being a DB myself, it definitely helps.

Q. You've been on record saying you chose Kentucky because you thought it was the best fit. So what skills in game play do you believe you bring to the team that can help contribute to the team's success?

JORDAN LOVETT: First, I want to say my ball skills. Ball skills, turnovers. You've got to turn the ball over, get the ball back to the offense, score touchdowns. My tackling. Tackling is really underrated. Actually, my tackling is underrated. I feel I'm one of the best tacklers in the SEC. I feel I have the stats to back that up.

This year, working on my leadership, leadership skills as well, just being a better leader around the locker room, making sure guys are on their toes and make sure everybody is doing what they're supposed to do.

Q. Are you a leader by example or by words or by both?

JORDAN LOVETT: Last year I was a leader by example. This year, I'm a leader by both.

Q. You think you have to earn that? You can't be loud enough?

JORDAN LOVETT: I think I earned it these past couple of years, I think I earned it. Like I said, I had to work on myself for being a vocal leader. I'm definitely going to be a vocal leader this year.

Q. Is there a teammate maybe that fans don't know about, maybe flies under the radar but actually contributes to the team quite a bit, who would be that player?

JORDAN LOVETT: I'm going to say, I've got a couple of players in mind. I'm going to say Ty Bryant, Ty Bryant and DJ Waller. Everybody feeds off his energy. He's a God-fearing man. He's like when anybody want to pray, he's the first person I'm going to. Ty B was there because I recently lost my father to a stroke. He was one of the first people to help me out, one of the guys to sit me down, just pray with me. I feel like he's a playmaker, of course, as well. On the football field, he gets it done. I feel like he practices like a pro. If everybody feeds off that energy, everybody looks at him, he leads by example. If everybody does what Ty Bryant does, we'll be good.

DJ Waller, like I said, he's slept on -- he's our cornerback, No. 5, his height and fluidity, just his size, it will be a problem this year.

 

[Mark Wheeler]

JOSH KATTUS: I wanted to say I am honored and feel very blessed to be here. This is something I've always wanted to do ever since I was a freshman getting to see some of the older guys. So just really excited to be here and answer some of your guys' questions.

Q. You just mentioned it's meaningful to be here. How did you find out? What was the conversation like with Coach when you found out you were going to media days?

JOSH KATTUS: Coach and Susan out here obviously pulled me aside and just told me that I had been chosen to get to come to media days. And I instantly, called my mom and told her and they were so pumped.

So super blessed and very thankful for Coach Stoops and Susan. They do a lot for UK. Very thankful for them.

Q. Josh, what can you tell us about the quarterback situation at Kentucky this year?

JOSH KATTUS: I think we all around have a great quarterback room. We've got two guys kind of battling out right now, Zach Calzada and Cutter Boley. They both possess strong quarterback traits. They're leaders. They have great arms. And they're very smart. Really excited to see that quarterback battle and what shakes out this fall.

Q. You mentioned the fact you wanted to be here since your freshman year. When you reflect upon the experience you had at Kentucky, how has both your game evolved and how have you changed as a person over your time in college?

JOSH KATTUS: That's a great question. I think I've changed an incredible amount since I've been here maturity-wise. I came from a great program, great school. They taught me a lot of stuff.

But getting to play under Coach Stoops, he doesn't always develop you as a football player, but he develops you as a young man and looks forward to sending you off into your future career.

They've done a great job. I think I've gotten better in every aspect as a player. And they obviously challenge you to be the best man you can be.

Thankful that I'm in a leadership position now. And when I look back at my Kentucky experience and career, I'm just super blessed to be able to wear the blue and white.

Q. You have participated in various community activities such as going to children's hospitals and helping with humane societies. What does it mean to you to contribute not only on the field but off the field for the community of Lexington?

JOSH KATTUS: It means so much to me. In Lexington, they take care of their athletes. Everything thrives around the University of Kentucky.

So with that, I feel obligated to do so. Lexington means so much to me. It has a special place in my heart. It's like a home to me. So anything I can do to give back to the city of Lexington, I'll do.

Like you said, whether it's with the children's hospital or doing Dancing With The Stars, which is raising money for charities that they have selected, I love to do that stuff. I love to give back. I'm super thankful for Lexington and all the Kentucky fans.

Q. Is there a friendly rivalry and a competition, you being from Cincinnati, and Willie Rodriguez being on the south side of Cincinnati, from Northern Kentucky?

JOSH KATTUS: Crazy thing is we actually just moved to Northern Kentucky. So I'm a Kentucky citizen now.

No, but Willie and I are actually roommates. We're really good friends. We're going to compete. We're going to compete on the friend and be best friends off the field.

I think he's super talented. I think we've got a lot of tight ends that are really talented in our room. Our coaches have done a great job of bringing in really great players this offseason.

So I think obviously we want to compete. That's the name of the game. That's what it is in the SEC. But we're really excited and we're still best friends.

Q. Up until this past year, you and your teammates had known nothing but success at Kentucky winning seasons, bowl games, maybe not as many wins as you like, but still. What was it like suffering through that last year, the offseason, and then trying to learn lessons that you can apply this season to make sure it doesn't happen again?

JOSH KATTUS: I think we all here can agree that this last year didn't go as planned. But ultimately, for the guys that were here last year, this is a learning experience. We've got to learn from what kind of went wrong last year.

I think there was a lot of good to build off. That's what's great about football and the transfer portal. We brought in a bunch of new guys that are just looking to go 1-0 when it comes to week one.

That's what we're focused on. We're focused on getting better. We're focused on going into this fall camp and competing. And we're trying to move past last year on to this year.

Q. Alex was in here recently. He mentioned the steps Zach Calzada has taken to ingratiate himself with the team and win over the locker room. What are some things that a new teammate, especially a quarterback, needs to do in the offseason in order to win his teammates' respect?

JOSH KATTUS: It's small things, it's being open to getting to know everyone. It's sitting down at the lunch table, putting your phone down and having genuine conversation. It's putting in extra work, whether that's on Saturdays.

I'd say that's something we've done really good. We only get so much time to work with the coaches. It's in the leaders' hands to go do that extra work. So he stepped up as one of the quarterbacks and has done that.

I think when I get back, I've got to stay for the leadership council tomorrow. But then on Saturday we're going to have a voluntary 7-on-7 with just the players, no coaches.

But that's what it takes. That's what we respect, those players that will come in, that are willing to work, that will embody our core values, which are attitude, toughness, discipline and pride. And really get to know everyone.

He's done great. He's a great guy. I'm good friends with him off the field. So he's done a lot of great things.

Q. You had the touchdown to win against Ole Miss. How do you build off a win like that to help continue to have a more successful year next year?

JOSH KATTUS: I think that game just kind of shows what the margins are like in an SEC game. One small mistake, one fumble, one dropped pass can lead to a win or a loss. And that's something we can learn from, that we've got to be intentional about every snap. Every single play, we've got to have 11 guys on the same page. So that's what we learned from, the guys that got to experience that.

Then we have a lot of experienced players coming in that have played a lot of snaps. They know that as well. They're embracing that they get to play in one of the best conferences in the country.

So, yeah, we're really excited about it. And I learned from it, and so did some of my teammates.

Q. UK hit the transfer portal pretty hard as every team does nowadays. Is there anybody on day one that you think that's really going to stand out to fans and come in and make an impact?

JOSH KATTUS: I think a lot of the guys they brought in and a lot of guys that are returning, they've shown some great things this spring and the summer.

Two guys that I can think of maybe on the top of my head would be Gusta from Washington State. He was in the backfield a lot during the spring. He's a stud. He's a really good player and great guy off the field, great locker room guy.

Another guy, Kendrick Law from Alabama, another stud. He's really strong in the weight room. Probably lifts just as much as most offensive linemen. He's really fast, makes plays when the ball is in the air.

Those are just two of many guys that we brought in that I think fans are going to be excited to see come this fall.

Q. How has the dynamic changed since your little brother came into the position group?

JOSH KATTUS: I wouldn't say anything has changed because I do take a leadership role in that room. But I just want to be a model for him throughout his college career.

As the older brother, you want to pave the way for your younger siblings. That's just all I'm doing. I'm here as a resource. Being a college athlete can be challenging, whether that's with school, social life or football. I just want to be a resource with him.

I don't think much has changed. I'm going to always be there for him. I'm just blessed to get to play with him.

Q. What's the role of the tight end in the Mark Stoops offense?

JOSH KATTUS: I think it hasn't changed. I think we have to be able to block, be able to catch when the ball is thrown to us. I think the tight end room looks really complete. I think we've been showing that we are able to catch and block.

That's what it is. Tight end has to be nitty-gritty in the SEC. Everything starts with the run game. We're very involved with that. We're also very involved in the passing game. We're going to play a big role.

Q. Speaking of the offense, you actually have an offensive coordinator for a second consecutive year. What's that been like for you guys to develop -- I know you've got new faces, a lot of guys back on the offense under Hamdan's offense?

JOSH KATTUS: I love it. I've gone through three head coaches in high school, three offensive coordinators in college. It's nothing new to me. It's nice to have that familiar face and offense and have that continuity.

Obviously, as you said, there's 50 newcomers, so they're going to have to learn the offense.

But we're a player-led team, and that's what Coach Stoops wants and that's what Coach Hamdan challenges some of the offensive leaders to do, to make sure some of these new guys pick it up fast, play fast and help us win games. It's really nice. I love Coach Hamdan. I like him on and off the field. I like playing for him. I think he's a brilliant play-caller.