Chris Matthews (8)
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 210
Position: WR
Year: Jr.
Burning question: Can Matthews do what other junior college players have had trouble doing and make an impact from the get-go?
The coaching staff is counting on him to be a starter, and he has the talent. He just needs the experience.
Zipp Duncan (72)
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 291
Position: OT
Year: Sr.
Burning question: Duncan was a solid guard, but can he make the move to left tackle, the most important position on the offensive line?
There’s no shortage of elite pass-rushers to test him in the SEC, and his development is crucial to the safety of Mike Hartline.
T.C. Drake (80)
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 242
Position: TE
Year: Sr.
Burning question: Can Drake finally break out in his senior year?
He has great measurables and should be a force, but he’s never put it together in his time at UK. Injuries have also been a problem. The tight end position looks cloudy behind him.
Derrick Locke (20)
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight:190
Position: TB
Year: Jr.
Burning question: Is Locke really back to 100 percent from his devastating knee injury?
He says he is, but likely he won’t even know until he gets into real game action. It’s as much a mental hurdle as it is a physical hurdle for Locke, whose conditioning has also been questioned.
Sam Maxwell (50)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 248
Position: LB
Year: Sr.
Burning question: Is Maxwell worthy of being a full-time starter in the Southeastern Conference?
He’s been serviceable as a reserve for three years, but filling the shoes of last year’s NFL-caliber starting outside linebackers is no small task. He’ll have one year to prove he’s up to it.
DeQuin Evans (55)
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 260
Position: DE
Year: Jr.
Burning question: Is Evans the answer to the Cats’ pass-rush prayers?
Evans impressed coaches and teammates in a big way in camp and will be a starter this fall. There’s no experience returning at defensive end, so he’ll be counted on early and often to get after the opposing quarterback.
Lones Seiber (36)
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 190
Position: K
Year: Sr.
Burning question: After three years, can Seiber find his groove and be consistent?
Seiber will likely become the program’s all-time leading scorer this season, but if he falters, talented sophomore Ryan Tydlacka could poach the kicking job from him again.
Paul Warford (34)
Height: 5- foot-10
Weight: 200
Position: CB
Year: Jr.
Burning question: Is Warford good enough to be a big-time player in the SEC?
Plenty of teams won’t even challenge Trevard Lindley on the other side, so Warford is sure to see a ton of passes coming his way. It’ll be a trial by fire for the 2007 starter who redshirted last year.
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