Walk-on DT Luke McDermott new to Kentucky football's spotlight

[WildcatRick]

For more than three years, Luke McDermott walked off the University of Kentucky football practice field in obscurity.

On Tuesday he was a news event.

The walk-on defensive tackle, named Monday as a starter for Saturday's season opener at Louisville, was swarmed by the media. Asked how many times he'd been stopped for interviews in his UK career, McDermott grinned.

“This is my first time,” the junior said.

The former Trinity High School standout will make his first start when the Wildcats visit UofL, and it will be just his seventh career appearance in a UK game.

A starting nod against the Cats' biggest rival is no small feat for a player who graduated from Trinity in 2007 without a Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offer.

McDermott, who admits he grew up “kind of a Louisville fan,” had spoken with the Cardinals about a walk-on spot, but he said he lost touch with the staff after coach Bobby Petrino left for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

So he opted to walk on at UK, where the 6-foot-1 McDermott arrived with a bench press and body weight that both hovered in the 230-pound range. He redshirted in 2007 and played sparingly in 2008 and 2009 as he worked tirelessly to reshape his body.

Brett Dawson

[PeachtreeCat]

Great story, Rick. I did a little research on WCN and found only 10 threads that mention Mr. McDermett as of now. I saw on a post last year that he was listed as 4th string. Then, RV posted on 4/28/10 a post-spring depth chart that did not list him even on the 4-deep roster. The summer was definitely good for him as he started the fall practice as 2nd on the depth chart behind Crawford (as of 7/21). Hope he gets mean in the trenches on Saturday!

[poodoo]

Great story, Rick. I did a little research on WCN and found only 10 threads that mention Mr. McDermett as of now. I saw on a post last year that he was listed as 4th string. Then, RV posted on 4/28/10 a post-spring depth chart that did not list him even on the 4-deep roster. The summer was definitely good for him as he started the fall practice as 2nd on the depth chart behind Crawford (as of 7/21). Hope he gets mean in the trenches on Saturday!

PeachtreeCat, similarly, I had remembered Joker's praising McDermott's play in an after-practice interview, and I had thought -- who? From this corner it's to Mr. McDermott, and, indeed, may he "get mean in those trenches Saturday."