Amidst Kentucky Football’s Fall Camp, defensive coordinator Brad White spoke with the media about how the backup groups will need to step up and make plays if the defense wants to be where they want to be, specifically at Linebacker.
White says that JJ Weaver will be a good “leader” for that position group. He stresses the importance of not having any “drop-offs” at any position on defense, but talks about that at the Linebacker position: “It’s a continue-to-learn process for all those guys. They’ve got a really good one, JJ (Weaver), to lead. It’s another group that the guys behind are going to have to play meaningful snaps.”
He is also really hopeful for a big jump from the younger players at that position: “Every player here, and it’s not just Deone (Walker), when they’re a freshman going into their sophomore year you’re hoping for big jumps.”
Speaking on Walker, White is expecting a little more than a “big jump”: “It’s time to take that next step from good to great, to great to elite.”
White says he can be one of the best Defensive Linemen in College Football: “He can be as good as he wants to be. Like, he can be as dominant a D-lineman as there is in this league and really in this country.”
Some other notable Linebackers looking to have more significant roles this season are Alex Afari and Keaton Wade, who White expects to make big jumps.
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