UK’s new receivers coach has spent little time on campus, but he likes what he’s seen
Had University of Kentucky wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight waited a week longer to join the program, he likely would have had to meet his new players over a computer screen rather than in person.
The coronavirus pandemic has prevented Bouknight and his family from making a complete transition away from the West Coast — he coached receivers at Oregon last season after 10 years of service at Utah State — but he was able visit Lexington and coach in-person during UK’s final two practices before spring break, during which the Southeastern Conference determined that competitions would be canceled through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and organized team activities were suspended through April 15.
Bouknight was also able to take in and evaluate a practice before he was officially hired.
“I kind of have a pulse on the room as far as what we have and the things that we need to work on,” Bouknight said in a phone interview with the Herald-Leader. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate that we didn’t get to finish the spring and there’s a some work that I’m sure every coach feels like needs done in the spring.”
What Bouknight got a glimpse of in his short time with the receivers was their ability to rally around one another and self-lead in the absence of a coach. Those qualities could serve them well in the coming months; teams were informed Friday by the NCAA that, starting Monday, they may each week conduct up to two hours of virtual meetings about their sports, as long as they are free of physical activity. Trainers are allowed to provide strength-and-conditioning workouts but no coaches or staff may observe activities, in-person or virtually.
“I saw the leadership skills a lot from Josh Ali and Clevan Thomas, those guys are eager to learn and eager to lead the group,” Bouknight said. “Allen Dailey, he’s another guy that once we got rolling, is always at the front of the line. They’re guys that want to lead by example. … I’m eager to get back out there with those guys and I think it’s two-fold.”
Past and future
Bouknight, a Denver native, was only in Eugene for one season but his unit produced 3,615 yards and featured four receivers who reeled in at least 20 catches and generated at least 400 yards each.
“It was a wonderful experience,” Bouknight said of Oregon. “Football’s football at the end of the day, and if you believe in your core values, your coaching standards and your expectations, I think you shouldn’t have a hard time adjusting. It all falls into place.”
UK co-offensive coordinator Eddie Gran crossed paths with Bouknight several times on the recruiting trail, and it was him who first talked to Bouknight about the open job.
While at Utah State, a member of the Mountain West Conference, Bouknight was able to bring in about two or three guys from Florida in each recruiting class. After a few classes, the success other Floridians demonstrated helped sell the Aggies to future athletes. Bouknight never really had a pitch to get guys to leave the Sunshine State for Logan, Utah, other than his principles and the values of the program, which during Bouknight’s tenure managed to finish with double-digit win totals with three different head coaches and reached seven bowl games (going 4-3 in those).
“We elevated Utah State to a contender in the conference, so I think those guys seeing the body of work and seeing the output, that was probably the biggest thing,” Bouknight said. “There’s plenty of talent in that state. A lot of kids down there, some just want to get out and seeing another side of the country was new and big for them.”
Kentucky, in part because of having to re-orient its offense to a run-heavy scheme, didn’t have a single receiver reach 400 yards in 2019. The Wildcats generated 1,478 receiving yards on 128 catches; Oregon’s receivers recorded 298 catches while its run game produced 2,448 yards on 510 carries, which is closer to the kind of balance UK would like to find within its own offense.
Bouknight hasn’t spent too much time dissecting film from last year. He’s all about looking forward and building complete receivers.
“We’re trying to focus on what it’s going to be like and things to come,” Bouknight said. “… We’ve gotta step up in our room and show Coach Gran and all the offensive coaches that we are capable of making those plays.”
