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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 10-14-2014, 05:15 PM:

Our defense has made great strides especially our linebacker play and the coachs and players are to be commended.

Kentucky’s defense hasn’t traditionally been known as a driving force behind the team’s success. In fact, the Wildcats’ defense hasn’t been known to make headlines.

A year ago, the Wildcats had just three interceptions during a second-straight 2-10 campaign but have turned the corner this season with 11 pickoffs in their first six games, which ranks fourth nationally and second in the Southeastern Conference.

The successful turnaround has been helped by a solid linebacker corps anchored by juniors Josh Forrest and Khalid Henderson. Alvin “Bud” Dupree and Jason Hatcher have split time at end and linebacker in the team’s various schemes.

Forrest leads Kentucky with 46 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss of 23 yards, one sack and a 29-yard touchdown return for a touchdown in Kentucky’s 48-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday in Lexington. Forrest hasn’t been surprised by the team’s 5-1 start at the midway point of the regular season.

“We worked hard this off-season,” he said. “Really for two years we’ve been working hard. I felt the time was coming.”

Like Forrest, Henderson also has been an anchor in Kentucky’s defense and is second behind Forrest in tackles with 35 in five games. Henderson leads the team with two fumble recoveries.

“It’s satisfying, because of the hard work in the off-season but at the same time, we’re taking advantage of every single game. It’s not surprising, we’re taking advantage of all of the hard work that we’ve put in.”

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