Summer school begins for new UK QBs

Freshmen Newton, Mossakowski take part in 7-on-7 drills

By Chip Cosby / Herald-Leader Staff Writer

Chip Cosby

Sixteen incoming freshmen enrolled in summer school last week and will begin off-season workouts with the team. UK Coach Rich Brooks said that number includes a couple of walk-ons. The remaining members of the recruiting class scheduled to arrive in the summer will report for the second eight-week session later this month. Freshmen already enrolled include quarterbacks Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski, linebacker Qua Huzzie, defensive end Ryan Mosby, and offensive linemen Kevin Mitchell and Sam Simpson.

Newton and Simpson are roommates and could be potential battery mates down the road with Simpson snapping the ball to Newton.

Team workouts also began last week, with Newton and Mossakowski participating in their first pass skeleton (7-on-7) drills.

"I felt pretty good considering I'm just getting started," said Newton, who was honored as the Indianapolis Star Suburban Male Athlete of the Year at the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star basketball games Saturday in Conseco Fieldhouse. "I was here in the spring at practices and I've been learning the plays, but being out there throwing is different. I feel like I can get adjusted pretty quick, though."

Summer workouts are closed to both the media and the public.

Brooks said Wednesday that Mossakowski is expected to be cleared for full contact once fall camp begins in August. Mossakowski had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder last winter. When asked if he'd rather redshirt Mossakowski if he's not fully healthy, Brooks said, "I wouldn't rather redshirt anybody. With all of our freshmen, I wait to see them on the field and judge if they're ready to help us or not."

One signee who's not on campus yet is defensive end Donte Rumph, who's still waiting word on his eligibility. Brooks said last week that Rumph still has a class to complete at Fork Union and is awaiting the results of his latest standardized test scores. "It's a situation where we're just going to have to wait and see," Brooks said.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Rumph originally signed with UK in February 2008 but instead enrolled at Fork Union Military Academy before re-signing with the Cats in 2009. Rumph, a three-star recruit when he came out of Calhoun County (S.C.) High School, would probably challenge for immediate playing time at defensive end. The Wildcats don't have any experience at the position after senior-to-be Jeremy Jarmon was ruled ineligible by the NCAA upon testing positive for a banned substance.

Cats lose three more

The off-season brings attrition to just about every college football program, and while UK's 2009 roster won't be official until both summer-school sessions are completed, the Cats have already had some defections.

First there was Jarmon's situation, and then the school announced Friday that receiver E.J. Adams, tight end Chris Cessna and quarterback DeAunte Mason were no longer on the team.

Cessna's and Mason's departures were not surprising. Cessna never seemed to fully recover from multiple knee injuries and will finish his education at UK on a medical scholarship. Mason didn't seem to buy into his switch from quarterback to tight end in the spring and will look to transfer to somewhere he can play QB.

Kentucky still has its top three tight ends back in Ross Bogue, T.C. Drake and Maurice Grinter.

Adams' departure, which was for personal reasons per UK's official announcement, was the most surprising. The senior was one of UK's most experienced receivers and was listed as a starter on the spring depth chart. That gives junior-college standout Chris Matthews an even bigger opening to step into opposite Randall Cobb, with Kyrus Lanxter, Gene McCaskill and Eric Adeyemi also in the mix. Sophomores Aaron Boyd, E.J. Fields and Matt Roark might have to fight it out for a rotation spot.

Based on what we know now, UK has 62 returning scholarship players, although that number could change between now and the start of fall camp. That would allow Kentucky to bring in 23 newcomers in the fall. The Wildcats signed 27 players in their 2009 class.