Kentucky returns half of its 22 starters from 2011. There are key holes to fill on both sides of the ball, and many positions are up for grabs as the Wildcats try to find their way back to a bowl after missing out last season.
Here are the key position battles to watch as camp continues in Lexington:
1. Quarterback
Top contenders: Maxwell Smith, Morgan Newton, Patrick Towles
Smith and Newton bring the most experience to this battle, but Towles, a true freshman who was a consensus four-star recruit, hasn’t been shy about saying he belongs in the mix as well. Give the early edge to Smith, who filled in when Newton went down with multiple injuries in 2011. Smith completed 84 of 153 passes with four touchdowns last season. He also received all the work in the spring with Newton still out with his shoulder injury and Towles not on campus yet.
2. Linebacker
Top contenders: Avery Williamson, Alvin Dupree, Malcolm McDuffen, Kory Brown, Demarius Rancifer, Miles Simpson, Josh Forrest
There is a lot of production to replace here. Danny Trevathan -- who had almost 400 tackles in his career -- is gone. So is Winston Guy Jr., a hybrid safety/linebacker who regularly played in the box. Williamson is the most proven returning commodity with 25 career games to his credit. Expect him to become the tackling machine like Trevathan was last year. Simpson, Brown and Forrest will all try to step in at Guy’s spot. Finding four LBs out of this group who can be consistent SEC players will be a challenge for defensive coordinator Rick Minter.
3. Cornerback
Top contenders: Cartier Rice, Martavius Neloms, Eric Dixon, Mikie Benton, Eric Simmons
This spot took a huge hit with the recent news that projected starter Marcus Caffey will be academically ineligible for 2012. That immediately bumps Rice up as the most experienced CB, meaning the Wildcats will have to move Neloms from S to CB. They will need a third CB to emerge between Dixon, Benton and Simmons to add depth to a depleted position that already had to replace both starters from 2011.
For more up-to-the minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
