KENTUCKY at VANDERBILT 11:21 a.m. CT Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt Stadium (39,773)
THE COACHES Rich Brooks is in his seventh season at Kentucky with a record of 37-45 (.451) and 19th overall with a record of 128-154-4 (.455). The Wildcats’ offensive coordinator is Randy Sanders and Steve Brown serves as the defensive coordinator. Bobby Johnson is in his eighth season at Vanderbilt with a record of 29-65 (.309) and in his 16th season overall with a record of 89-101 (.468). Ted Cain serves as the offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator is Jaime Bryant.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN KENTUCKY HAS THE BALL Against Eastern Kentucky, Morgan Newton set new career highs with 20 completions on 29 attempts for 187 yards and two passing touchdowns. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Derrick Locke ranks fifth in the SEC in rushing yards per game, averaging 74.6 yards per game. Randall Cobb leads UK and is eighth in the SEC in receptions per game. In eight games played (he did not see action vs. Eastern Kentucky with a sprained thumb) he has 30 catches for 381 yards for an average of 3.8 catches per game. He also has four TD receptions. The VU defense is yielding just 2.7 points and 28.2 yards more this year than in 2008. They are also allowing less first downs and passing yards than a year ago while permitting more rushing yards this season. Linebackers Patrick Benoist and Chris Marve topped the Commodores with nine and seven tackles, respectively, at Florida. Benoist also added a 12-yard quarterback sack, giving him 3.5 sacks this season, tied for the team high with DT Greg Billinger. DE Steven Stone put together his best game since returning from a foot injury, posting a quarterback sack among five tackles.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN VANDERBILT HAS THE BALL Senior cornerback Trevard Lindley has made several game-changing plays while at Kentucky. He currently has 10 interceptions and 39 pass breakups during his Wildcat career. Despite missing four games with injury, he ranks tied for second on the team with five pass breakups in five games played. Senior defensive tackle Corey Peters is the only returning starter in the defensive line. Peters has 131 tackles in his career, including 23.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 quarterback sacks. He currently ranks tied for 13th in tackles for loss in the SEC and tied for 10th in sacks. Sam Maxwell currently ranks tied for first in the SEC and tied for 11th nationally in passes defended, averaging 1.22 per game. Warren Norman topped the Commodores with 65 rushing yards at Florida, pushing his season total to 658 yards, second most ever by a Commodore freshman behind Kwane Doster's 2002 total of 798 yards. Norman totaled 170 yards in all-purpose yardage, right at his 169.6-yard average. He ranks first in the SEC and 11th nationally in the category and is on pace to break Herschel Walker's SEC record for all-purpose yardage by a freshman set in 1,805. Norman's freshman running mate, Zac Stacy, needs five yards to join Norman on the VU Freshman Top Ten list.