Wildcats' Locke leaps at his chance

[WildcatRick]

Long-jumping RB fills in for injured

By C.L. Brown
The Courier-Journal


LEXINGTON, Ky. -- It took a long jump for this long shot to get noticed, but University of Kentucky tailback Derrick Locke is making good on his opportunity.

UK assistant track coach James Thomas saw Locke's potential long before the true freshman -- fourth on the depth chart -- sliced through Arkansas' defense Saturday.

"I always felt if I could get here and let the coach see what I can do, I'd like my chances," Locke said.

Thomas zeroed in on Locke, thanks to a long jump that ranked in the top five nationally and a 10.6-second 100-meter dash time. Locke's first visit to UK was to meet with the track coaches, although he brought a copy of his football highlights with him.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/SPORTS03/709260975/1002/SPORTS

[VirginiaBlue]

The thing that impressed me the most about Derrick is his toughness. He took some serious pops in the Ark game, it was like they thought they could maybe intimidate the freshman, or bust it loose, because they needed a TO bad. He just got up and walked back to the huddle every time. No jawing, no "he speared me, ref", no getting up slow and looking at the bench, just go back and run another play. Excellent!

[gerntz]

He really had the ball wrapped up well late in the game. Impressive for a pure FR.

Let me see him block & catch "a Little" & we may well be projecting another all-SEC player or even higher in a couple of years.

What a find/steal/recruting job.