Photo by Keyli Chisesi (Go Big Blue Country)
Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops announced during the first press conference of the spring Monday morning that Dorian Baker, CJ Conrad, and Derrick Baity will be out for spring practice.
Baker redshirted after missing the entire 2017 season due to an ankle injury that required surgery last August. The 6-4 wide receiver from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, has 88 catches for his career and will add veteran experience to the receiver position when he returns.
“I think Dorian is going to be just fine,” said Stoops. “He just started running and he’s been running, he started the change of direction and putting a lot of pressure on that (leg), maybe for a week or two. It’s just not worth the risk at this point.”
Baker’s injury during the second scrimmage of fall camp was unfortunate last season but the impact he can make on the 2018 Wildcats might be greater than what he could’ve done last season.
In all, Stoops is having to replace Juice Johnson, Blake Bone, Charles Walker, and Kayaune Ross in the passing game. The Wildcats also hired a new wide receivers coach, as Michael Smith was hired to take over for Lamar Thomas after he and Stoops parted ways in January.
Despite losing so much production, the Wildcats will return junior Tavin Richardson and sophomores Lynn Bowden Jr., Josh Ali, Isaiah Epps, and Clevan Thomas.
As for Baker, Stoops says he is going to continue to get stronger and he also provided an update on tight end CJ Conrad, who will miss spring practice after undergoing surgery for an injury to his left foot that he suffered during a game at Georgia on November 18th. Conrad led the Wildcats in touchdowns receptions with four in 2017.
He’s (Baker) going to continue to rehab so he can get stronger and get better, and he looks good, and C.J. is really doing some good things, as well. He’s back running. He’s coming off the foot and the shoulder, so he’s got some things going on but he’s been out there running and getting closer, so he should be just fine.
Cornerback Derrick Baity will also miss spring practice as he works his way back from a shoulder injury.
“He’s about half and half right now, as well. He’s coming back. He can do a lot of indiviual. He can move around and run and do plenty of rehab and get some looks but the shoulder is just not quite ready to get any contact.
