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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 07-12-2014, 05:51 PM:

It helps to have a good kicking game and it looks like we are going to be just fine in that department.

Kentucky offensive coordinator Neal Brown likes the way UK’s kicking game shapes up going into this season.

Kicker Austin MacGinnis of Prattville, Ala., was redshirted last year after being one of the top three ranked kickers in the 2013 recruiting class.

“He kicked in lot of big high school games,” said Brown. “He was really well thought of coming out of high school. He got several offers once we had been hired but stayed with Kentucky. We were really pleased to get him.

“We were able to redshirt him last year because of Joe Mansour and now have him for four more years. We are really confident what he can do field-goal wise and he has added strength. He really does a good job with directional kicks on his kickoffs already.”

The punter will be junior Landon Foster, who has already punted for two seasons. He averaged 42.9 yards per punt as a freshman — highest ever by a UK freshman — and earned freshman All-America honors. Last year he punted 68 times for a 41.3-yard average and had 15 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line after putting 13 inside the 20 as a freshman.

“Landon is as good as any punter in the country,” Brown said. “He fell off a little bit at the end of last year with a back injury, but he’s really good.”

Brown admits punt return is a “question mark.” That is partially due to the status of DeMarco Robinson, who Brown said was UK’s “most solid” returner, being in limbo. He was suspended late last season but has remained on the team. Coach Mark Stoops has not announced when he will be able to play this season.

“T.V. Williams has some ability to make people miss and could be a factor there, too,” Brown said. “Kickoff return, Javess Blue is really good. Ryan Timmons is good. Any running back could get an opportunity there. We feel good about that spot.”

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