SEC bowl games gear up and more Big Blue Links

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

▪ Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson has a unique talent for throwing the deep ball, reports Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader.

▪ Mark Stoops trusts Eddie Gran as key to Kentucky’s 2016 success, writes Kyle Tucker of SEC Country.

▪ Kentucky staying focused in Florida, reports Jon Hale of the Courier-Journal. UK plays Georgia Tech in the Taxslayer Bowl at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

▪ Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson calls running back Marcus Allen a program guy, reports Ken Sugiura of the AJC.

▪ Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy says this may be the fastest Kentucky team he has seen, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader. UK opens SEC play at Mississippi on Thursday night.

▪ Rebels’ guard Cullen Neal decided he needed a change of pace after playing for father, reports Tipton.

▪ Rick Pitino praises Virginia ahead of Louisville’s ACC opener, reports Jeff Greer of the Courier-Journal. The two teams meet Wednesday night at U of L.

▪ Lamar Jackson has the right stuff for an encore, writes Tim Sullivan of the Courier-Journal. Louisville plays LSU in the Citrus Bowl on Saturday.

▪ LSU running back Derrick Guice has been through a lot to get to where he is now, writes Matt Hayes of Bleacher Report.

▪ Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News interrupts bowl season to give Auburn basketball a well-deserved shout-out.

▪ South Carolina basketball wins a laugher over Lander, reports Chris Dearing for The State.

▪ Mississippi State quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson named offensive coordinator at Houston, reports Michael Bonner of the Clarion-Ledger.

▪ We’re headed for a College Football Playoff title rematch, says my notes column.

▪ Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has fun talking Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin, reports Duane Rankin of the Montgomery Advertiser.

▪ Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster credits joining fraternity with his success, reports Aaron Suttles of Tide Sports.

▪ Washington quarterback Jake Browning has lifted Huskies to new heights, reports Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald.

▪ John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel says Tennessee fans are running out of patience with Butch Jones.

▪ Tennessee defensive star Derek Barnett says skipping bowl would be disrespectful, reports Patrick Brown of Chattanooga Times Free Press. The Vols play Nebraska in the Music City Bowl.

▪ Mel Tucker says Georgia defense is still a work in progress, reports Jason Butt of the Macon Telegraph. The Bulldogs play TCU in the Liberty Bowl.

▪ Hugh Freeze searching for better chemistry at Ole Miss, reports Parrish Alford the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.