Nashville QB likes Kentucky

[AndyPopCat]

Deaunte Mason (Pearl-Cohn HS, Nashville)

“Right now I would say that I am wide open. I like North Carolina, Louisville, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and others."

“Kentucky is a place where I would have a great opportunity to play because they lose their quarterback (Andre Woodson) to graduation."

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=2&c=659650

[poodoo]

Good observation from the young man. Here's hoping the realization that Woodson is leaving and there is not currently a strong replacement will help UK in landing Mr. Mason or another fine quarterback prospect.

[gerntz]

poodoo, what makes you conclude that we don't have a strong replacement for AW? I'm not there.

[boomdaddy]

If anyone requires proof, the fact that Brooks has not named a number 2 QB for this season seems to be proof enough for me, that there is not a solid replacement for Andre Woodson.

[gerntz]

I don't follow. If one of the two RSFR stunk, picking #2 would be easy, not hard - as it appears to be.

[WestTexCatFan]

poodoo, what makes you conclude that we don't have a strong replacement for AW? I'm not there.

I agree. These two kids got a chance to Redshirt. They have been mentored and groomed by Sanders and Woodson. I would have to think that even a bad QB would have to be fairly decent after that experience. With another year of this under their belt I will be extremely confident with either to take over.

[poodoo]

poodoo, what makes you conclude that we don't have a strong replacement for AW? I'm not there.

It is based SOLELY on what the coaches themselves have said. I'm not positive if it was Coach Brooks, Coach Phillips, or Coach Sanders, but ONE of those three SPECIFICALLY said after spring practice that no quarterback was "currently" ready for that important backup position. I heard it with my own ears, and, yes, the words concerned me enough to remember them. The words were not merely that neither of them had a distinct advantage, but that neither was READY AT THIS TIME.

Also, in NO WAY does that mean that neither of the two WILL BE READY by the time the season begins. Further, it certainly does not mean that neither Fidler nor Hartline has the talent to become a fine quarterback. Personally, I think that both of them do have A LOT of potential. I'm hoping that BOTH develop and that one soon becomes a "strong" backup. :)

Regardless, back to my comment that used the word "currently," I would think such comments from UK coaches--besides no one's having currently won the backup position--would be helpful in our currently recruiting the quarterback position. I hope that answer makes my statement more clear, for I definitely would not draw such a conclusion (and make such a statement) on my own. GO CATS!

[BigblueDrew]

Poodoo you are repeating words from the coaches I have heard as well. It's pretty obvious we don't have an SEC calibre QB(besides Woodson) on campus right now. I hope we recruit one QUICK.

[SBCatMan]

Well, to some extent we are splitting hairs here. Clearly, at this point in time, we do not have an adequate backup for AW. Even if Hartline or Fidler had distinguished themselves in the Spring and taken a clear lead over the other, that QB would still have not taken a single snap in a college football game. So, to say we do not have an adequate replacement for Woodson is an acurate statement.

However, by August of 2008, that will not be the case. With another Fall and another Spring, I feel very, very confident that Hartline or Fidler or both with be ready to play. And, everything I have heard about the freshman Lentz has been extremely encouraging. Then, throw Curtis Pulley into the mix and the QB competition next year will be very, very interesting.

Will another Andre Woodson emerge from that quartet? Maybe not. But then, how often does an Andre Woodson come along. That is not to say that we will not have a very capable QB under center next Spetember. I, for one, think we will. Just don't ask me who it will be.

[RV]

Well, to some extent we are splitting hairs here. Clearly, at this point in time, we do not have an adequate backup for AW. Even if Hartline or Fidler had distinguished themselves in the Spring and taken a clear lead over the other, that QB would still have not taken a single snap in a college football game. So, to say we do not have an adequate replacement for Woodson is an acurate statement.

However, by August of 2008, that will not be the case. With another Fall and another Spring, I feel very, very confident that Hartline or Fidler or both with be ready to play. And, everything I have heard about the freshman Lentz has been extremely encouraging. Then, throw Curtis Pulley into the mix and the QB competition next year will be very, very interesting.

Will another Andre Woodson emerge from that quartet? Maybe not. But then, how often does an Andre Woodson come along. That is not to say that we will not have a very capable QB under center next Spetember. I, for one, think we will. Just don't ask me who it will be.

Exactly.

[WildcatRick]

Poodoo you are repeating words from the coaches I have heard as well. It's pretty obvious we don't have an SEC calibre QB(besides Woodson) on campus right now. I hope we recruit one QUICK.

I dont think this is what poodoo or the coaches are saying about the backups. We dont have one ready yet, but as said above they have yet to take a snap in a real game. I dont think the coaches have given up on any of the backups yet, they just havent had time.

Dont forget, many people said the same thing about Woodson a couple years back.:shrug1:

[Levi]

This is kind of what we were all worried about last year with our starting QB!

I wasn't real worried then because Woodson was so young he had not had a chance to really show his ability and he was a very good QB in high school. This year it seems we have three QB's to worry about as back-up. Come on folks relax. ITS GREAT we are getting nervous about our FOUR back up QB's watching and learning from Woodson and Sanders!

Hartline, Fidler, Lentz, and Pulley This exactly what building up our numbers is suppose to do!

Think of it this way UK is finally doing what the big boys of the SEC have been doing for years. Taking a few years to groom replacements at the QB and it is not like we don't have a good coach doing the job.

[poodoo]

I dont think this is what poodoo or the coaches are saying about the backups. We dont have one ready yet, but as said above they have yet to take a snap in a real game. I dont think the coaches have given up on any of the backups yet, they just havent had time.

Dont forget, many people said the same thing about Woodson a couple years back.:shrug1:

Exactly, WildcatRick. In fact, I do believe we have some SEC-caliber quarterbacks behind Woodson AND that the coaches feel the same (as, otherwise, they would not have recruited the young men).

However, IF I were a most talented recruit at the position, :icon_lol: I would be listening to what the coaches have been saying about our backups (and they continued to speak most similarly at the women's clinic yesterday--as neither Hartline nor Fidler has shown that he is YET READY to step in, which is why Andre was forced to wear the red shirt during the ENTIRE spring practice). As that recruit, I would probably be feel more confident that I just MIGHT be able to come in and contribute early. That was the only meaning of my original post (and I did think yesterday that gerntz would have certainly understand if he had not been disallowed from attending the clinic :icon_lol:).

In my opinion, it would be "icing on the cake" for Andre to remain healthy all season and thus help us in getting a commitment form an ADDITIONAL SEC-caliber quarterback (besides helping us to shine in 2007, which is obviously most important). THEN, in 2008, Hartline, Fidler, Pulley, Lentz, AND that "highly rated quarterback prospect" could all fight all the harder to WIN THE JOB. That's what any football coach wants--COMPETITION for the job. Too, surely any fan wants the same--for the BEST quarterback to be on the field for the most snaps, period. This particular forum is a recruiting forum, so my emphasis here had merely been on recruiting, which is the lifeblood of the program.

Again, my post was NOT meant to "slight" any of the backups in any way (and I don't like to put ANYONE down). YET, it is a FACT that no backup has pushed himself to the front--and, more important, that not a single backup is YET considered to be READY. May that change by the fall of 2007, which may well happen, and Woodson's development is a perfect example. Too, regardless, the coaches say they are going to pick one of the backups to get more snaps after a couple of weeks of practice, regardless, out of necessity.

FWIW, I was SO IMPRESSED by Michael Hartline's "PRESENCE" at the clinic, as he signed autographs and introduced himself. This guy has POISE and LEADERSHIP written all over him, although he seemingly needs to add some weight and strength to be ready for SEC action. Those are merely my own observations, by the way (although a writer similarly commented about Hartline's interviews).

It will take TIME for any of the candidates to develop, but, yes, one may absolutely emerge as a FINE quarterback for UK. In fact, I EXPECT it to happen. :) Drew is so right, though, that the coaches' words themselves had caused me to post as I had posted. GO CATS!!!