We were able to speak with head coach Kliff Kingsbury, QB Pat Mahomes, WR Dylan Cantrell, and LB D'Vonta Hinton after practice today. I also took some pics at the beginning of practice when we were allowed in for a few minutes today, so a few notes from what I saw before we get into interviews.....
*First, holy cow Jett Duffey. He's been hitting the training table and the weight room. He's put on some real weight. I didn't even recognize it was him with the helmet on until someone told me it was.
*In general, I would say there are a number of guys who have been putting on some weight. Donta Thompson, Quan Shorts, Tony Brown, D'Vonta Hinton, Justin Stockton were all guys that looked noticeably bigger to me.
*We only got to see the first 20 minutes of practice, so that's about it. I definitely noticed both DeShaun Foster and Karl Scott coaching their guys up, though. Tons of energy there.
KLIFF KINGSBURY
*Tuesday was the first day of pads. Here's what Kliff thought:
"It was good. They were frisky. You could tell they had some animosity built up, so had a few fights. But, I like the energy. I thought they competed well, seemed to finish practice pretty strong, so that was encouraging."
*On what he likes about the team so far this spring:
"I think a lot of the young guys have just been chomping at the bit to get their opportunities, and they seem to be making the most of it. They've worked hard with Coach Whitt all offseason, and you can see all the gains they made in the weight room and in their speed, so that's encouraging to see them step up and not be afraid of it when you put the pads on. They're competing well."
*Kliff noted that they aren't doing a ton of install this spring because he feels they're pretty veteran across the board, even with the lack of experience. Just a lot of guys that have been around more than a year, on both sides of the ball.
*Kliff said he feels like Dylan Cantrell is "100 percent."
*When asked which receiver people might not be talking about could be flying under the radar, Kliff made sure to shout out Tony Brown.
"I think ya'll are gonna see a different version of him. He's gotten a lot bigger, has a lot more confidence. As a true freshman last year, had some good moments, had some bad, but I think he'll be a much more consistent player for us."
*He also had another outside wide receiver he wanted to talk about...
"I think Reggie Davis continues to come along. He had 9 touchdowns last year, finished the year strong, and hopefully he can continue to grow, and it looks like he is."
*Kliff talked a little bit about a few defensive players, having this to say about linebacker D'Vonta Hinton with a big grin:
"He has one speed. He has one speed, and when he gets tired, he is really tired. But, he's doing really good. I think he'll take that next step this year and really become a much more complete linebacker."
*Kliff noted that he thinks Malik Jenkins had a really strong finish to last season and is coming on this spring. Likes what he sees from both John Picone and Jamile Johnson so far, too.
*On the young pieces on the offensive line, how he feels they're doing:
"I think good. We'll find out. Our two big tackles that we're very high on, Madison and Terrence Steele, they've got to grow up quick. They've got to be able to protect the passer, and whether we move them inside or outside, we expect them to be in the rotation."
*Kliff also noted that inside receiver Ian Sadler won't be going through much of anything at all this spring. They're gonna pretty much keep him sidelined to let his knee continue to heal after he obviously injured it early on last fall.
*He's been very happy with how Jett Duffey has handled things so far, too. He's come in worked hard, and he's eager to sponge up as much as he can.
PAT MAHOMES
On the first day of pads:
"We get to get out here, get the pads on finally all together, O-line and D-line especially," he said. "It was pretty aggressive, but it was a good one."
*On what it's been like without baseball:
"Everything is a lot less hectic. Last year it was a lot of going back and forth, back and forth. Now, I'm solely focused on the football, the weight room, and everything that goes with it, so it's a lot less hectic, and it's a good thing where I can get a little more rest time at the same time."
*Pat noted that Zach Austin has the highlight catch of the spring so far: A one hand diving catch on a post for a TD from Duffey.
*Speaking of Duffey, here's what Mahomes has thought of him so far this spring:
"He's picked it up faster than I did, and that's a great thing. This offense, once you learn it, it gets a little bit easier, but getting to learn it on the go kind of like he is right now, it's tough. He has picked it up pretty fast, and he's making a lot of great plays out there. He still has a lot of things to work on, but he is making a lot of great plays."
*Two defensive players have really stuck out to Mahomes so far: DT Ondre Pipkens and LB D'Vonta Hinton.
"First couple of days, Pipkens. He's really been a run stopper. He's filling up the holes, and whenever he's going, he's a man that can't be stopped. Other than that, I would say Hitman. Hinton, he's flying to the ball today. When you put the pads on, you can tell he loves that stuff."
DYLAN CANTRELL
On going through things this spring after missing last fall:
"It's been a lot of fun. Last season was hard just not being out there. The biggest thing is just not being out there with my teammates, so having the opportunity to come back, being able to compete with them and get after it with them, it's been a lot of fun."
*Two newcomers have really stuck out to Cantrell so far this spring:
"Receiver-wise, I mean De'Quan (Bowman). I think he's got good hands, runs great routes, and I feel like he's very electric. He can make moves, make people miss, and then Jett (Duffey) has come in, and he's picking it up. He's still learning, and it's been fun watching him just figure things out. Today he's getting his confidence, starting to check stuff, and so it's been fun to watch him."
*He also loves the work ethic of Derrick Willies:
"He's one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. He's just come in, put in work this offseason, so he's going to help us out."
*Guys that have stuck out from the DBs for Cantrell: Justis Nelson, DJ Polite-Bray, Keenon Ward.
"Justis, he's getting after it. He's put some weight on I think, gotten stronger, more physical."
*Cantrell also noted that Houston transfer Luke Stice has stuck out to him as an energy guy through the first few days.
D'VONTA HINTON
*On the first day of pads:
"We've been competing out here each and every day just trying to get better," he said. "It always feels good to put back on the pads at the linebacker position. It was fun."
*On the biggest adjustment he had to go through as a freshman last fall:
"The biggest adjustment for me was just getting to know the defense better."
*On true freshman LB John Picone:
"He's good. He keeps me on my toes every day. He's learning, and he's going to be pretty good here."
*First, holy cow Jett Duffey. He's been hitting the training table and the weight room. He's put on some real weight. I didn't even recognize it was him with the helmet on until someone told me it was.
*In general, I would say there are a number of guys who have been putting on some weight. Donta Thompson, Quan Shorts, Tony Brown, D'Vonta Hinton, Justin Stockton were all guys that looked noticeably bigger to me.
*We only got to see the first 20 minutes of practice, so that's about it. I definitely noticed both DeShaun Foster and Karl Scott coaching their guys up, though. Tons of energy there.
KLIFF KINGSBURY
*Tuesday was the first day of pads. Here's what Kliff thought:
"It was good. They were frisky. You could tell they had some animosity built up, so had a few fights. But, I like the energy. I thought they competed well, seemed to finish practice pretty strong, so that was encouraging."
*On what he likes about the team so far this spring:
"I think a lot of the young guys have just been chomping at the bit to get their opportunities, and they seem to be making the most of it. They've worked hard with Coach Whitt all offseason, and you can see all the gains they made in the weight room and in their speed, so that's encouraging to see them step up and not be afraid of it when you put the pads on. They're competing well."
*Kliff noted that they aren't doing a ton of install this spring because he feels they're pretty veteran across the board, even with the lack of experience. Just a lot of guys that have been around more than a year, on both sides of the ball.
*Kliff said he feels like Dylan Cantrell is "100 percent."
*When asked which receiver people might not be talking about could be flying under the radar, Kliff made sure to shout out Tony Brown.
"I think ya'll are gonna see a different version of him. He's gotten a lot bigger, has a lot more confidence. As a true freshman last year, had some good moments, had some bad, but I think he'll be a much more consistent player for us."
*He also had another outside wide receiver he wanted to talk about...
"I think Reggie Davis continues to come along. He had 9 touchdowns last year, finished the year strong, and hopefully he can continue to grow, and it looks like he is."
*Kliff talked a little bit about a few defensive players, having this to say about linebacker D'Vonta Hinton with a big grin:
"He has one speed. He has one speed, and when he gets tired, he is really tired. But, he's doing really good. I think he'll take that next step this year and really become a much more complete linebacker."
*Kliff noted that he thinks Malik Jenkins had a really strong finish to last season and is coming on this spring. Likes what he sees from both John Picone and Jamile Johnson so far, too.
*On the young pieces on the offensive line, how he feels they're doing:
"I think good. We'll find out. Our two big tackles that we're very high on, Madison and Terrence Steele, they've got to grow up quick. They've got to be able to protect the passer, and whether we move them inside or outside, we expect them to be in the rotation."
*Kliff also noted that inside receiver Ian Sadler won't be going through much of anything at all this spring. They're gonna pretty much keep him sidelined to let his knee continue to heal after he obviously injured it early on last fall.
*He's been very happy with how Jett Duffey has handled things so far, too. He's come in worked hard, and he's eager to sponge up as much as he can.
PAT MAHOMES
On the first day of pads:
"We get to get out here, get the pads on finally all together, O-line and D-line especially," he said. "It was pretty aggressive, but it was a good one."
*On what it's been like without baseball:
"Everything is a lot less hectic. Last year it was a lot of going back and forth, back and forth. Now, I'm solely focused on the football, the weight room, and everything that goes with it, so it's a lot less hectic, and it's a good thing where I can get a little more rest time at the same time."
*Pat noted that Zach Austin has the highlight catch of the spring so far: A one hand diving catch on a post for a TD from Duffey.
*Speaking of Duffey, here's what Mahomes has thought of him so far this spring:
"He's picked it up faster than I did, and that's a great thing. This offense, once you learn it, it gets a little bit easier, but getting to learn it on the go kind of like he is right now, it's tough. He has picked it up pretty fast, and he's making a lot of great plays out there. He still has a lot of things to work on, but he is making a lot of great plays."
*Two defensive players have really stuck out to Mahomes so far: DT Ondre Pipkens and LB D'Vonta Hinton.
"First couple of days, Pipkens. He's really been a run stopper. He's filling up the holes, and whenever he's going, he's a man that can't be stopped. Other than that, I would say Hitman. Hinton, he's flying to the ball today. When you put the pads on, you can tell he loves that stuff."
DYLAN CANTRELL
On going through things this spring after missing last fall:
"It's been a lot of fun. Last season was hard just not being out there. The biggest thing is just not being out there with my teammates, so having the opportunity to come back, being able to compete with them and get after it with them, it's been a lot of fun."
*Two newcomers have really stuck out to Cantrell so far this spring:
"Receiver-wise, I mean De'Quan (Bowman). I think he's got good hands, runs great routes, and I feel like he's very electric. He can make moves, make people miss, and then Jett (Duffey) has come in, and he's picking it up. He's still learning, and it's been fun watching him just figure things out. Today he's getting his confidence, starting to check stuff, and so it's been fun to watch him."
*He also loves the work ethic of Derrick Willies:
"He's one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. He's just come in, put in work this offseason, so he's going to help us out."
*Guys that have stuck out from the DBs for Cantrell: Justis Nelson, DJ Polite-Bray, Keenon Ward.
"Justis, he's getting after it. He's put some weight on I think, gotten stronger, more physical."
*Cantrell also noted that Houston transfer Luke Stice has stuck out to him as an energy guy through the first few days.
D'VONTA HINTON
*On the first day of pads:
"We've been competing out here each and every day just trying to get better," he said. "It always feels good to put back on the pads at the linebacker position. It was fun."
*On the biggest adjustment he had to go through as a freshman last fall:
"The biggest adjustment for me was just getting to know the defense better."
*On true freshman LB John Picone:
"He's good. He keeps me on my toes every day. He's learning, and he's going to be pretty good here."
