Kentucky has been red-hot with its recent football recruiting but don’t forget that the 2019 season opener is now only about three months away.
The Wildcats are coming off a rare 10-win season, including a Citrus Bowl victory, but lost their top five defensive backs along with No. 7 overall draft pick Josh Allen and three-year linebacker starter Jordan Jones off the defense that was so good most of last season.
The top returning tackler will be senior linebacker Kash Daniel. He had 84 tackles — 42 solo, 42 assists — after becoming a starter for the first time last year. His leadership role this season will need to dramatically increase just like his tackle total did last year.
“I believe I have stepped into a leadership role but there are also many guys at every position who can lead,” said Daniel. “It’s not like I am the only guy who can lead the defense. I am just one piece of the puzzle. Every leader in some aspect has to be vocal. Leading by example can only get you so far but you add emotion and it shows how much you care and intrigues even more people to follow you.
“I am ready to rock and roll right now. If the season started tomorrow, I would be happy. I miss football. I like to hone my craft daily and build on my weaknesses. I love to be out there every day working.”
Doing the work to succeed is something Daniel did growing up in Paintsville when he was a football, basketball and baseball standout. He’s got size and talent, but his heart and work ethic helped make him an elite athlete.
“When I was a kid and teenager I was always working my tail off to reach this dream of being at UK and being a starting linebacker,” Daniel said. “I live, eat, breath to get bigger and faster and to be a better player. There would be times we would go away from home and when I got back at 10 at night I would call a coach and ask for the weight room keys and lift until 1 a.m.
“If I was bored at the house even at midnight, I might just go and get in an extra lift. Where I grew up there was a lot of trouble you could get into it. I knew where I wanted to go and what kind of work I had to do to get where I wanted. If that meant sacrificing sleep while others were taking it easy, so be it. I wanted to work.”
Not only does that fire still fuel him to help UK have another special season, but he wants to get a chance to play in the NFL like many of last year’s teammates now have.
“Getting to the NFL is something that never leaves you once you have have that hunger and fire in you,” Daniel said. “You can try to hide it but it will always be there burning inside me.”
The senior appreciates the way coach Mark Stoops lets him and others “be who we are” on the football field.
“He has been a player’s coach and a dream to play for,” Daniel said. “He will always have your back and lets you be who you are. You have got to know when to play and when to be serious. He wants us to be passionate with our play but to also be in control. I call it controlled madness. I can lose my mind on Saturday (during games) and not get in trouble. But I know I can’t cost us 15 yards (with a penalty) every play, either.”
Daniel could be UK’s defensive leader next season because of his experience and personality. He also has quite a way with words.
“Football is a barbaric sport. It is very violent and you have to have this aggression about you and meanness about you to be a good player, especially on defense,” Daniel said. “You want to throw a punch or do this but you also don’t want to cost your team. The best thing to do is just bite your mouthpiece and hit the guy as hard as you can the next play.
“I am the guy who gets in other players’ heads. I don’t let them get in my head and I am not going to let them get into my head because I know what I have to do to help our team.”