By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
Kentucky is facing a challenge on both sides of the football when the Wildcats take on top-ranked Georgia Saturday in Athens.
“We’re all going to get tested,” Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White said earlier this week. “From the back end to the front, playcallers, position coaches, we’re all going to get tested this week.
“Need not forget, this is the two-time defending national champion. This is the 10th-ranked passing offense, they average almost 500 yards of offense, 150 on the ground, 330 through the air, 39 points per game, you can just rattle off the stats. And they’re starting to get guys back who may have been dinged. It’s a huge challenge.”
Kentucky’s biggest challenge will be stopping Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. In the past two games, he has caught 17 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns in wins over UAB and Auburn.
White said Bowers will create “huge matchup issues” for the Wildcats.
“He’s big, he’s fast,” White said. “He’s going to be, if not the top, he’s one of the top blockers we’ll face all year from the tight end position.
“He’s relentless. Obviously, everybody sees what he does when the ball is in his hands. He’s the ultimate teammate. You’ll see him cheering. He’s as excited about a play his teammates makes as one he makes. An incredible player. One of the top football players in college football. Not tight ends, football players. He’s elite level.”
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops agreed, saying Bowers is an “absolute freak.”
“I mean that in the most complimentary way,” the Kentucky coach said. “What an incredible player. He’s selfless. You could tell he’s a complete player. He plays well without the football. He plays well with the football. He’s a team guy. You could tell that’s a great guy to work around right there.
“He steps up when they need him to but you know (he’s a) very unique player. I had the opportunity to be at Arizona when Gronk (Rob Gronkowski) was there and you know they’re just different players. Both unbelievably great and talented, just different, this guy’s something I haven’t seen before.”
Georgia coach Kirby Smart is expecting a challenge from Kentucky.
“That’s Mark Stoops (coached) team,” Smart said. “They’re going to be physical. He’s a defensive coach. They run the rock. I always said, our kids are the most sore they’ve been after playing Kentucky. It was that way last year. It was a bloodbath up there last year. It’ll be the same way.”
Gametracker: Kentucky at Georgia, 7 p.m., Saturday. TV/Radio: ESPN, UK Radio