By Keith Taylor
Special to NKyTribune
It didn’t take Naquez Pringle long to make an impact for Kentucky last season.
The junior college transfer started five games, recorded 39 tackles, including two for a loss, had a sack and collected a career-high six tackles in a 33-18 loss to Georgia Tech in the TaxSlayer Bowl. In such a short time, Pringle has made his presence known and he’s building his confidence level, while providing leadership on the team’s defensive line during spring workouts.
“It feels like I’ve been here for four years already,” Pringle said. “I have to be vocal out there, because if not, who is going to step up? At my position, I have to be vocal, because I’m the first person down and the last to get up. It’s very important for me to be vocal.”
His athletic skills have never been in question considering his quick rise up the Kentucky depth chart last season, but Pringle is always striving to gain more confidence in his abilities on the field and it’s a continual progression.
“I’m more confident in everything I do,” Pringle said. “I know the plays and I’m just trying to get better and progress.”
During a scrimmage last Saturday, the final tune-up before Friday night’s annual Blue-White game, Pringle and the defensive unit held their own against the offense and dominated the last segment of the scrimmage.
“You have to take advantage of it,” Pringle said. “You can’t just sit there and wait for something to happen. We have to take advantage of every moment. We have to go out there and just swing.”
Behind Pringle’s leadership, Kentucky’s defense is starting to turn the proverbial corner and Pringle said the newcomers and veterans are starting to feel more comfortable as a unit.
“Every day we’re getting better and we’re starting to trust each other more,” Pringle said. “We’re starting to communicate more and our confidence level is just building every day. By the time the spring game gets here, we should be ready to roll.”
In addition to getting used to Matt House, the team’s new defensive coordinator, Kentucky’s main point of emphasis this spring has been stopping the run and creating better habits when it comes to defending the opposition in the trenches.
“It’s our job to stop the run and that’s what we’re going to do,” Pringle said. “That’s what we’ve been working on all spring and hopefully we show up.”
Kentucky defensive back Chris Westry, who will be a junior next season, added the secondary also is making strides when it comes to stopping the run.
“We’ve got to stop the run and that’s the key,” Westry said. “That’s the biggest thing and (the coaches) harp on that a lot, stopping the run.”
Pringle added it helps having a running back like Benny Snell on the roster to give the Wildcats the opportunity to go up against a top-notch runner behind the scenes. Pringle said Snell is already a better runner than he was last season when he quickly emerged as one if the team’s top rushers as a freshman.
“Benny is a good running back and it’s hard to stop somebody who is so physical and fast,” Pringle said. “(Next fall) he’s going to be 10 times better than he is now.”
Although defense is his specialty, Pringle said overall, the Wildcats are making strides on both sides off the ball.
“We’re all working hard to reach the next level and we’re doing a good job,” Pringle said.
Spring Game: Blue vs. White, 7:30 p.m., Saturday. TV/Radio: SEC Network, 98.1 FM WBUL.
Keith Taylor is a senior sports writer for KyForward, where he primarily covers University of Kentucky sports. Reach him at keith.taylor@kyforward.com or @keithtaylor21 on Twitter