Coach Rich Brooks is pleased with the depth that is developing in the University of Kentucky offensive line.

The second-team O-Line played well against UK 's young second-team defensive line in Saturday's scrimmage. That prompted Brooks to give the second offensive line a look against the starting D-Line is Monday morning's practice.

"We rotated the first and second offensive line en masse today, just to get different matchups and get them on film against more experienced defensive linemen," Brooks said. "There's a lot of shuffling yet to be done. Just because somebody's lined up first right now doesn't mean they're going to end up there in the fall.

"This is the best competition, particularly in the offensive line, since I've been here. We have better overall depth, it's a good group."

Monday's practice, a two-hour workout in beautiful weather, marked the halfway point of spring football as UK had the eighth of 15 practices allotted in the spring. The Wildcats return to practice Wednesday morning.

Jarmon Making the Play, On and Off the Field: A highlight of Monday's practice was the return of junior defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, who missed the first two weeks of the spring session while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

"It felt good to be out there," said the smiling Jarmon, who was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick last season by Rivals.com and a second-team all-league pick by SEC coaches. "The big challenge is getting back into shape."

Jarmon also is making the play off the field, literally. He has the lead role in the UK Theatre production of "Weak/Side/Help," a play that focuses on the issues of performance-enhancing drugs and race in sports.

The play will be held April 10-12 and April 17-20 at the Guignol Theatre in the UK Fine Arts Building on Rose Street . The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. for each show, with the exception of a 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 20. Tickets cost $5 for UK students, $10 for UK faculty, staff, and senior citizens, and $15 for the general public. For more information, call (859) 257-4929.

Jarmon is looking forward to the upcoming show, and said it is quite comparable to waiting for a football game.

"It's exactly the same," Jarmon said of the anticipation of both events. "You're anxious before a play and before a game. Then, after you say that first line or have the first play (in a game), everything is fine."

Jarmon played a lead role in two theatrical productions in high school, including Colonel Jessup (the Jack Nicholson role) in "A Few Good Men." Coach Rich Brooks is proud of Jarmon's multiple abilities.

"I knew he'd been a thespian in high school," Brooks said. "He has outstanding ability in that regard. He was concerned about playing the role of a guy using steroids and that kind of thing. I told him that it is a play, I don't have any problem with him doing that.

"I appreciate the talent of young men on my team that have the ability to do more than just play football, whether it's the academic side, the community service side, or playing two sports. This is like having another sport for him. I‘m excited to see it."

Spring Football Calendar: Practices are open to media and fans. Practices held at Nutter Training Facility unless noted otherwise. For practices at Nutter, fans should stand behind the ropes in the porch area. Fans may sit in the stands for practices at Commonwealth Stadium.
Practices might be moved indoors to the Nutter Field House in case of bad weather.
Wed. Apr. 9 9 to 11:20 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 11 9 to 11:20 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 12 TBA
Mon. Apr. 14 9 to 11:20 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 16 9 to 11:20 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 18 9 to 11:20 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 19 Blue/White Spring Game, 1 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium

[More at www.ukathletics.com]