Kentucky will need some lightly used wide receivers to step up in the Citrus Bowl

Random notes:

▪ With Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps unable to play for Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, the door opens for other UK receivers to make an impression on offensive coordinator Liam Coen for next season.

Izayah Cummings might be one candidate. Shifted from wide receiver to a hybrid tight end role, he caught 13 passes on the year. DeMarcus Harris is another. Harris caught 10 balls, but six of those catches came in the final five games. I’d keep any eye on freshmen Chauncey Magwood and Chris Lewis. This could be their time to shine.

▪ The game will also be a test for Coen, UK’s first-year offensive coordinator, who will have to alter his game plan to accommodate for the fact that Wan’Dale Robinson may receive even more attention now from the Iowa defense.

▪ The news is especially disappointing for Ali, who opted to use his extra COVID year of eligibility to play in Coen’s system. Plus, Ali is a Hollywood, Florida, native. He ended up catching 41 passes this season, including three for touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown at Mississippi State.

▪ Even before its Citrus Bowl, Kentucky football earned a “W” with news defensive coordinator Brad White is staying put. Continuity matters. And White has done a terrific job for Mark Stoops.

▪ Tyler Linderbaum is the All-America center for the Iowa Hawkeyes, UK’s Citrus Bowl opponent. Linderbaum also just raised $30,000 for Iowa Children’s Hospital.

▪ In case you missed it, Iowa’s leading running back has opted out of the Citrus Bowl. After rushing for 1,151 yards this season, Tyler Goodson is skipping the Jan. 1 game in Orlando to prepare for the NFL Draft.

▪ Kentucky is holding as a three-point Citrus Bowl favorite, by the way.

▪ With Kentucky football’s recruiting continuing to improve, Mark Stoops was asked if what he looks for in a player has changed.

“Yes, I think it does,” said the coach last week. “I think as we continue to build our program, it’s fair to say that we’re looking for a more polished player and certain dynamics that we always — we always have set parameters of what we’re looking for, and that does change, and those standards do change year to year.”

▪ New LSU football coach Brian Kelly is reportedly targeting former UK defensive coordinator Matt House to be the DC in Baton Rouge. House is currently linebackers coach with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.

▪ The rich get richer. Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs is transferring to Alabama. Gibbs rushed for 746 yards this season with the Yellow Jackets. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry. Another weapon for Nick Saban.

▪ Though certainly important, not sure Sunday’s Bengals-Ravens matchup at Paul Brown Stadium will decide the AFC North. Both teams are 8-6. The Zombie Steelers are 7-6-1. The Browns sit fourth in the four-team division at 7-7. The Browns play at Green Bay on Christmas Day. The Steelers play at Kansas City on Sunday.

After Sunday, the Bengals have Kansas City at home and Cleveland on the road. The Ravens have home games left with the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh. The Steelers play host to the Browns before playing the Ravens. It’s really anybody’s division.

▪ Yes, the Tampa Bay Bucs reinstated safety Mike Edwards after the former UK defensive back was suspended for three games for misrepresenting his COVID vaccination status.

▪ SEC basketball’s early-season surprise? LSU was not only 11-0 but No. 3 in the NET rankings heading into its game Wednesday night against Lipscomb. The Tigers were No. 1 in the nation in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive efficiency rankings.

▪ That Valerie Still is not already in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an outrage. UK’s all-time scoring leader (1979-80 through 1982-83) is among the candidates for 2022 inductions. Her inclusion is way overdue.

This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 2:15 PM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-472-4218

John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription