Kentucky Ready To Take the Next Step Behind Determined Defense

Article courtesy of SEC Sports Hub.

After making—and winning—their third bowl game in as many years, Kentucky players are no longer content with just making a bowl.

They want a big bowl.  Despite the fact that this year marked only the second time in school history that Kentucky had made three consecutive bowl games, Wildcat players were not content.

The return of several superstars on defense this offseason reflected that.

Trevard Lindley, Jeremy Jarmon, and Micah Johnson all opted not to enter the 2009 NFL Draft for one reason.  They want a conference title.

It's a bold statement, considering their 63-5 loss to defending SEC East champion Florida earlier this year.  Not only that, but Florida also returns everyone on that defense and most of the star players on offense.

But Jarmon, an All-SEC defensive end for the Wildcats, reiterated that goal recently. "The next step for this program and what we're working toward right now is a chance to win the SEC East," Jarmon said.

"By winning the East, that gives us a chance to win the SEC and go to a BCS bowl game. That's why we're back. We're back to better ourselves individually as players, but also to better the program and take the program to the next step. That's something we want to do. That's something we want to give back to this program."

It's clear that head coach Rich Brooks is doing something right at Kentucky.  The last few years have been terrific for Kentucky, and perhaps no moment was more influential than their upset of No. 1 LSU in 2007.

After that game, Brooks said, "[F]or those people who didn't think we were a real contender, maybe they do tonight."

His team certainly seems to have taken the sentiment to heart.

With the key contributors all coming back on defense and an offense that should get its best playmaker back in running back Derrick Locke, maybe Jarmon isn't so crazy after all.

Only time will tell whether or not Kentucky can reach that goal...and make history in the process.

Visit SEC Sports Hub to find more articles like this.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?