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LARRY VAUGHT, SPORTS EDITOR (859) 936-0353 | FAX (859) 236-9566 SPORTS DEPT. (859) 236-2551 or (800) 428-0409, extension 137 or 246 | To report a score, use extension 305. B TUESDAY SPORTS JUNE 26, 2012 Yeager enjoying combines e’s not exactly sure what might come Hfrom taking part in two national high school foot- ball combines, but Boyle County senior lineman Trey Yeager figures there is no downside for him. “It’s a good way to gauge myself against players from Larry Vaught other parts of Sports Editor the country and also get my [email protected] name out to more college coaches,” said Yeager. He was in Canton, Ohio, over the weekend for the Blue-Gray Combine that could lead to an invitation to Clay Jackson/[email protected] the Blue-Gray National High Boyle County’s Trey Yeager said School Football Classic. there is no downside to participat- “e combine was basi- ing in two recent football com- cally a tryout for their game in bines. January,” Yeager said. “I feel like I did pretty well. I am ac- best events. tually kind of nervous about Currently he’s trying to put AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh having to wait a month to on some of the weight he’s Kentucky coach said Monday that incoming freshman Alex Poythress, left, seen playing in the McDonald’s All-American game hear back on how I did. It was lost since Boyle’s 2011 season in March, “is a beast. He is going to be another wing that runs and can make plays and score the ball. He shoots good, but he has to get more just combine-style testing. We ended. He’s gone from 225 consistent.” did some one-on-one against pounds down to about 215 an offensive lineman for pass and hopes to be back at 225- rush, but that was it.” 230 when the season starts in ere were no college mid-August. coaches at this combine that “I’ve been eating protein featured about 200 players shakes and trying to get the who earned invitations at ear- weight back,” he said. “I am ‘I like my team’ really not sure why I lost it. lier regional tryouts. “We got to take a tour of Part of it might have been I Kentucky coach John Calipari likes overall talent for next season the Pro Football Hall of Fame was on the track team, but I and that was really a good ex- was a thrower and didn’t do By LARRY VAUGHT consistent.” joking that “he is still not shav- perience,” Yeager said. “It was a lot of extra running. Maybe [email protected] Calipari says he has been ing. He does have hair under also nice to test yourself just that and the combina- “blown away” by Cauley- his arms. I did see that.” against players from not just tion of all the lifting I was Kentucky coach John Cali- Stein, the lowest rated fresh- Calipari also said that Jon Kentucky but Texas, Califor- doing was bad. So right now pari joked “that you are not man in UK’s No. 1 ranked Hood, who missed last year nia, Ohio and all over the I am just lifting to try and get going to believe this, but we recruiting class that also in- with a knee injury, and Twany country.” stronger and working on my are going to be really young cludes Nerlens Noel, who is Beckham will have “their op- In July he’ll be off to the sprints for the combine again” to open his remarks on not yet on campus. portunity this year” to help National Underclassmen Top while also trying to add the Southeastern Conference “I knew he was good, but the team. 100 Combine on July 8 in In- weight.” coaches teleconference and kind of players, but both have on his official visit he was 215 Kentucky is coming off a dianapolis. He got an auto- He’s open minded about that he might start three fresh- looked really good” during (pounds). He’s over 230 now 38-2 year in which it won the matic invitation because he any college football possibil- men for the fourth straight workouts. and loving it,” Calipari said. NCAA championship and won the top defensive line- ity. year at Kentucky. “Archie is a slasher, scorer “He is soaking it all in. He is dominated Southeastern man at the NUC combine in “I have talked to Louisville However, Calipari was also who can play both the one one of those guys that just Conference play. Kentucky May. and Kentucky both this quick to note that “I like my and two (guard spots), which blossoms.” should have six players off last is one not only will be spring. I have also got stuff in team” and has big expecta- is going to be vital. When you Calipari said counting year’s team picked in urs- open to college coaches, but the mail from Tennessee and tions for his new roster. are not playing 10 guys and Noel, the top-ranked player in day’s NBA draft, including No. also recruiting analysts from Cincinnati. I have talked to ree freshmen — guard are playing seven or eight the 2012 recruiting class, that 1 overall choice Anthony ESPN, Scout.com and Ri- Murray, Centre, Pikeville and Archie Goodwin, forward guys, you need guys who play UK has “four pretty good Davis. At least three more — vals.com among others. Wofford,” he said. “I am try- Alex Poythress and multiple positions,” said Cali- guys” coming into the pro- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Mar- “at will be a chance to ing to keep all doors open. Willie Cauley-Stein — are al- pari. “Alex is a beast. I think gram. e Cats also add quis Teague and Terrence get a lot of information about “I really don’t care about ready on campus and be- Alex and Willie do not under- Wright State transfer Julius Jones — are expected to also me out there,” Yeager said. what position I play. I can do cause of a NCAA rule change stand how good they can be. Mays along with Ryan Har- go in the first round and both He will be tested in the 40- pretty much anything and that allows coaches limited He (Poythress) is 6-7, has long row, who sat out last year after Doron Lamb and Darius yard dash, 20-yard shuttle have in the past. I will just be workout time with players this arms and plays bigger. He is transferring from North Car- Miller have been listed in run, vertical leap, broad happy to play college football. summer, Calipari has had a going to be another wing that olina State. some mock drafts as first- jump and bench press (how It doesn’t matter if it is line- chance to work with the trio. runs and can make plays and e UK coach said sopho- round picks. many 185-pound repetitions backer, defensive end or any- He says Poythress and score the ball. He shoots more Kyle Wiltjer is “bouncier he can do). He says the shut- where else. I just want a Goodwin are “two different good, but he has to get more than I have ever seen” before See UK, on B8 tle and broad jump are his chance to play.” Crowe finds niche coaching middle school football

By LARRY VAUGHT [email protected] Proud of Garrard County LEXINGTON — Former Gordon Crowe is proud of what Garrard County did last season de- when it made the state football semifinals for the first time. He is in fensive lineman Gordon the Garrard County High School Football Hall of Fame and was the Crowe has recently started Kentucky Class A Player of the Year in 1995 when he earned first- a coaching career, but he team All-State honors at Garrard. He finished his prep career as Gar- has no aspirations of rard's all-time leading tackler with 361 tackles. doing anything more than “They did a heck of a job. They finally did something that we were helping youngsters learn never able to do while I was there, so I was pretty excited about that to play the sport he loved when they won the region and got to the semifinals,” he said. “Of so much first at Garrard course, they came up a little short (against Belfry), but they are def- County High School and initely going in the right direction and I’m glad to see that.” then at UK and on the pro- —Larry Vaught fessional level. “I am teaching special education and coaching “But middle school is middle school. I think football at Crawford Mid- simpler than high school. maybe one day I might try dle School in Lexington However, I like being able to go up the ladder some, and like it pretty good,” to steer sixth-, seventh- but honestly I would be said Crowe, who lettered and eighth-grade players happy just coaching mid- at UK from 1996-99. “This in the right direction. dle school forever,” Crowe will be my third season. That’s a lot of fun.” said. My first two years were an That’s why he has lim- Last week he was part of adjustment. I started off as ited aspirations about his the instructional staff at a head coach. I’ve never coaching future. the C.H.A.M.P. Camp in Clay Jackson/[email protected] been an assistant coach “At this point, I am Former Garrard County and Kentucky player Gordon Crowe said he has found his niche coaching middle yet. pretty happy just coaching See CROWE, on B8 school football at Crawford Middle School in Lexington.

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