Two defensive backs who hadn't played a down of football at Kentucky are no longer with the team.

Redshirt freshman Marcus Caffey and freshman Jonathan Reed were dismissed for violating team rules, football spokesman Tony Neely said Wednesday.

Caffey, a 5-foot-11 cornerback who was recruited to UK as a running back before moving to defense last summer, had to sit out this past season for academic reasons. He had been projected as a starter for former defensive coordinator Rick Minter.

In addition to his academic issues, Caffey was one of three UK players charged with marijuana possession in September.

The Atlanta native was rated among the nation's top 40 running backs out of Grady High School.

Reed, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound defensive back from Indianapolis Pike, was redshirted this past season. He was rated the No. 44 cornerback prospect nationally by ESPN.

QB Phillips enrolls early

Freshman quarterback Reese Phillips, who committed to Kentucky last June, has enrolled for the spring semester, Coach Mark Stoops announced Wednesday, the first day of classes at UK.

"We're excited about Reese getting started with us," Stoops said in a news release. "Being able to enroll at mid-year and go through spring practice will greatly help his development."

Phillips, who graduated from Signal Mountain (Tenn.) High School a semester early, is a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder who recently was named Most Valuable Player of the Tennessee High School East/West All-Star Classic, where he completed 10 of 10 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

As a senior, Phillips threw for 2,274 yards (172-for-274 passing) and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. In his junior season, his first as a starting quarterback, Phillips threw for 1,895 yards and 21 touchdowns with just four interceptions, completing 71 percent of his passes (132 of 186).

■ UK's two junior-college signees, tight end Steven Borden and defensive end Za'Darius Smith, also have enrolled and will participate in spring practice.

No assistant announcements pending

The open assistant coaching positions at UK officially closed Wednesday, and Neely said there will be no announcements this week. He said the Cats expect to announce the two new coaches next week.

It's been widely reported that UK's new cornerbacks coach will be Derrick Ansley, who held the same position at Tennessee last season. The former standout at Troy was on the Volunteers' staff for one season before head coach Derek Dooley was fired.

Jennifer Smith: (859) 231-3241 Twitter: @jenheraldleader Blog: ukwomen.bloginky.com