Kentucky has found ways to win without Dorian Baker before

Here’s the thing to remember about the loss of Dorian Baker: Kentucky basically played without the wide receiver last season. And won seven games. And went to a bowl.

That’s not to minimize the loss of the senior from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in last Saturday’s scrimmage and, after surgery, is likely done for the season.

It was a hamstring injury that forced Baker to miss three full games in 2016 and limited his snaps in others. He didn’t catch a pass until the season’s eighth game. He didn’t catch a touchdown pass until the regular-season finale at Louisville, though the grab was certainly an important one; the 35-yard score that put the Cats up 38-31 in a 41-38 victory.

After catching 55 passes his sophomore season, Baker’s junior season was hampered by dropped balls and lingering ailments. If he doesn’t make it back in 2017, he can redshirt and play in 2018. By all reports, he had worked diligently over the summer to prepare for his senior season, only to see it likely end before it began.

“I’m getting a little misty-eyed right now just thinking about it because he really put the time in,” UK wide receivers coach Lamar Thomas said after Tuesday’s practice.

The Cats have been here before, however. Baker didn’t play in last year’s season opener against Southern Miss. True, Kentucky then had Jeff Badet, now a graduate transfer at Oklahoma. Badet led UK in receiving yards last season. But Badet was a speedster, averaging 21.6 yards per catch. At 6-foot-3, 211 pounds, Baker is a different type receiver, big, physical. He’s not a burner.

Can Baker be replaced? That’s the question. And who’s the next man up?

“It is, it’s the next man up,” offensive coordinator Eddie Gran said. “Who’s that guy? They’re all going to get opportunities.”

Early speculation has pinpointed junior Kayaune Ross, who at 6-6 and 225 pounds gives UK a tall red-zone target. A junior-college transfer last season, Ross was limited by injuries to two catches. He has had a good camp, Gran reported, but needs to be more consistent.

After watching part of practice open to the media on Tuesday, I predict freshman Clevan Thomas will be a factor. At 5-11, Thomas lacks Baker’s height, plus he’s a true freshman. The Miami, Fla., native was here for spring drills, however, and looks like he knows how to run routes.

“He had a couple of practices where he was kind of, I don’t know about lost, but he was just still learning,” Gran said Tuesday. “Then all of a sudden, the light clicked on and he had three practices in a row that were really good. He understands it. He’s getting better. He’s physical when he runs the ball and he loves football.”

Then there’s Lynn Bowden, the heralded true freshman who took a step back in UK’s second scrimmage after starring in the first. Gran thinks tired legs caused the dip. Bowden appeared fresher Tuesday. He’ll get the football.

So will the tight ends. I’ll be shocked if C.J. Conrad does not double his reception total of 19 a year ago. The analysts at Pro Football Focus ranked the junior No. 1 among returning SEC tight ends in yards per route run. Backups Greg Hart and Justin Rigg could be factors in the passing game, as well.

Bottom line: Losing Baker, after left tackle Cole Mosier was lost for the season to a torn ACL last week, is unfortunate but not a season-killer. Baker has a pro body, but had yet to show the consistency NFL scouts seek. Phil Steele ranked 78 draft-eligible wide receivers for 2017. Baker was not among them.

It’s doubtful he will be among the Cats this year, at least on the field, but the same was true for much of 2016 and UK found a way to win. It can do the same in 2017.

This story was originally published August 22, 2017 at 4:57 PM with the headline "Kentucky has found ways to win without Dorian Baker before."