by LARRY VAUGHT
First-year receivers coach L’Damian Washington has been able to help persuade four receivers — Denarius Gray, Dallas Dickerson, Prince Jean and Davis McCray — to verbally commit to Kentucky despite UK’s 4-8 finish in 2024.
He’s been able to do that by convincing them that the culture of Kentucky football really has changed from last year and will continue to be better.
“I think you have to be transparent and honest (with recruits), and I think you have to just make sure that the leaders in your locker room continue to uphold the values of the head coach,” Washington said. “When you get that, everybody’s going all in together. In a sense that’s easier said than done. But when the common goal is team first and if you take the selfishness out of it, that’s what you get.”
Players being paid can create splits in the locker room/culture but Washington said the “money piece” has not been a problem during his short time at Kentucky.
“I haven’t heard one problem about money since I’ve been here. Now my previous place (South Florida), we heard it early on. We got those guys out of the program that were disturbing the locker room, and then we went on to have success,” Washington said.
“But here, I haven’t heard that one time, so it’s a good culture and good leadership in the locker room. I always tell people hard work doesn’t always mean great results. It just gives you a fighting chance, in my opinion, but what I see is a team that’s coming together. Now, I wasn’t here last year, so I don’t know what the off season looked like. I saw the spring, and I saw what it looks like now, two completely different teams.”
Washington said it has been easy to see players taking more accountability and coming into the coaches’ offices more and more.
“Those guys are in the office to get coached. They’re volunteering their own personal free time to come into the office and meet with us. When that happens and the camaraderie is built, it matters,” Washington said. “They want to be around each other and they like each other. It’s completely different on Saturdays, and they go into battle with each other.”
Washington has another observation that should make UK fans feel better about the upcoming season.
“I see a coaching staff that’s putting in more hours than ever. You got the players buying in and they have come together and that’s how you have a winning season. If you have to ask me, it’s going to be a great fall just based on everything that I’ve seen,” Washington said. “I’ve been around some really good teams and I really like the spirit and teamwork we have. We also have a lot of people willing to do the dirt work and don’t mind doing it.”
