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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 08-27-2014, 10:35 AM:

The day we signed Elam was a big day for Kentucky football.

Defensive tackle Matt Elam, who picked Kentucky over Alabama, is “getting better every day” from what coach Mark Stoops is seeing.

“He’s about where I thought he would be,” said Stoops going into Saturday’s season-opening game against UT-Martin. “He’s a talented football player that the sky’s the limit. We need to continue to develop him fundamentally, not just shape, but fundamentally he’s got to play better. He’s got to be lower, play more consistent.

“What I love about him, it’s not easy, it’s not been easy, he has a good attitude about it. He’s got his ups and downs like all freshmen. But he’s really trying to fight through it, wants to be a good player. He needs to stay extremely dedicated if he wants to be everything we know he can be, which is a great football player.”

Elam prides himself on his sense of humor, but Stoops joked he’s had to change that a bit during preseason camp.

“He’s a funny guy. A lot less jokes through camp because he’s been really tired. He’s got a good attitude. He’s been fun,” Stoops said.

“He’s working hard. Just like any young guy, any freshman, it takes time. You just got to keep on working. But I like his attitude. He knows that he’s got to work hard. He knows he’s got areas he needs to improve. He’s addressing them.”

Elam adds depth along with junior college transfer C.J. Johnson to a position that Stoops feels good about.

“I feel good about our D-tackles. I feel like we’re getting closer to playing better fundamentally. If you know anything about myself, we take great pride in that,” Stoops said. “That’s our job, to develop them into good fundamental football players. I feel like (assistant) Jimmy (Brumbaugh) has done a good job with them. We’re getting closer to where we want to be.”

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