Micah Johnson

LEXINGTON (AP) - Kentucky star linebacker Micah Johnson is among three Wildcat players who have been suspended indefinitely for academic reasons, the school announced Thursday. Johnson's brother, starting offensive guard Christian Johnson, and starting offensive tackle Garry Williams were also suspended, coach Rich Brooks said in a news release. Brooks said all three could return to the team once they satisfy their academic obligations but didn't indicate whether he expected them back when spring practice begins on March 28. Micah Johnson was voted to the Southeastern Conference's All-Freshman team after collecting 29 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 13 games.

At this time last year, Micah Johnson was being counted on to bolster a Kentucky defense that desperately needed to improve if the Wildcats were going to have a winning season and save Rich Brooks' job. Johnson came to Kentucky from Fort Campbell as UK's marquee recruit, much like in-state players Tim Couch and Dennis Johnson had been when they signed with the Wildcats. He was a linebacker with size, speed and strength. He had offers from almost every major college program in the nation.

LEXINGTON - For as long as he can remember, Micah Johnson says his father has been both his "biggest critic as well as my biggest fan" after every game he's played. "After a game, even if we win, he grades me just like a coach would. He will tell me the truth about what I did right, but especially about what I did wrong," said the Kentucky freshman linebacker. Still, Johnson and his brother, sophomore offensive lineman Christian Johnson, will be happy no matter what their father says after Saturday's game here against Mississippi because it will be the first time he's seen either one play in college.

If there is one thing that should be obvious to elite offensive players about Kentucky football, it's that the Wildcats will have plenty of chances for playmakers to shine. “Over the last three years Texas Tech, we were the number one team in plays per game,” said new UK offensive coordinator Neal Brown. “We will play faster (than UK did last year). We are a pass-oriented team, but we will run.” One of those running starting in 2014 could be Georgia's Stanley “Boom” Williams.

LEXINGTON - Micah Johnson says it was not hard for Dennis Johnson to persuade him to speak at a recent camp at the University of Kentucky put on by Dennis Johnson and his brother, Derrick, both former players at UK. “I knew Dennis from way back,” said Micah Johnson, a three-time all-Southeastern Conference linebacker who is in Lexington training during the NFL lockout. “It's kind of funny because that is who people compared me to coming out of high school. “I¿knew about him because I wanted to find out who he was and we kept in contact.

LEXINGTON - For as long as he can remember, Micah Johnson says his father has been both his "biggest critic as well as my biggest fan" after every game he's played. "After a game, even if we win, he grades me just like a coach would. He will tell me the truth about what I did right, but especially about what I did wrong," said the Kentucky freshman linebacker. Still, Johnson and his brother, sophomore offensive lineman Christian Johnson, will be happy no matter what their father says after Saturday's game here against Mississippi because it will be the first time he's seen either one play in college.

LEXINGTON ? Kentucky could be without middle linebacker Micah Johnson and fullback John Conner Saturday when it opens the season against Miami at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Johnson has a sprained foot and did not finish practice Wednesday. He missed Saturday's scrimmage before returning to workouts Tuesday. Johnson is on the preseason watch lists for several national awards and is UK's top returning tackler. Head coach Rich Brooks says Johnson's injury is now in the area of the foot where plantar fasciitis generally occurs.

LEXINGTON ? Patrick Patterson, who is already projected as a first-round pick in the 2010 NBA draft, has again been named to the Top 20 watch list for the John R. Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year trophy. The Kentucky junior averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore and shot 60.3 percent from the field, the 11th best mark in the nation. Patterson, who had 15 double-doubles last year, was the only Southeastern Conference player to rank in the top five in scoring and rebounding.

LEXINGTON - It's hard for Kentucky coach Rich Brooks to know how much middle linebacker Micah Johnson might be able to play Saturday against South Carolina. However, Brooks is just glad to know that Johnson will be able to play at all after missing the last two games with a sprained ankle. "Practice is different from games, but he looks fine," Brooks said Wednesday. "We'll just have to see if he does okay in the game. He'll probably be limited somewhat, so we'll just have to kind of play it as we go to see what happens.

If there is one thing that should be obvious to elite offensive players about Kentucky football, it's that the Wildcats will have plenty of chances for playmakers to shine. “Over the last three years Texas Tech, we were the number one team in plays per game,” said new UK offensive coordinator Neal Brown. “We will play faster (than UK did last year). We are a pass-oriented team, but we will run.” One of those running starting in 2014 could be Georgia's Stanley “Boom” Williams.

For the last six years, Kentucky has had at least one linebacker named to a postseason all-Southeastern Conference team, an accomplishment that UK¿linebacker Chuck Smith is proud of as he gets set to start his eighth season with the Wildcats. He's seen Wesley Woodyard, Braxton Kelley, Sam Maxwell, Micah Johnson, Danny Trevathan and Winston Guy all earn postseason honors. “We have Wesley playing with the Broncos and so is Danny. Micah is still on the Bengals' roster. Winston was a sixth-round draft pick of Seattle.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky defensive coordinator Rick Minter says he's been around plenty of talented linebackers during his long coaching career. However, he feels lucky to have senior Danny Trevathan playing linebacker for the Wildcats this season. “Not many play harder or better than him. He's really as fine a linebacker as I have been around. He is a hard player, a hard playing guy,” Minter said. “He runs relentlessly. He's a good tackler when he gets there. He has a great feel evidenced by the interception before the half (against Mississippi State)

As the NFL lockout drags on, Micah Johnson surprisingly says it has not been all that stressful for him - yet. The former University of Kentucky linebacker was undrafted following his 2009 senior season when he made 105 tackles and earned all-Southeastern Conference honors. He was signed as a free agent by New York, released, landed a roster spot in Miami, played in one game and then was cut again after time on the practice squad. However, Kansas City signed him to a two-year contract long before the lockout began.

LEXINGTON - Micah Johnson says it was not hard for Dennis Johnson to persuade him to speak at a recent camp at the University of Kentucky put on by Dennis Johnson and his brother, Derrick, both former players at UK. “I knew Dennis from way back,” said Micah Johnson, a three-time all-Southeastern Conference linebacker who is in Lexington training during the NFL lockout. “It's kind of funny because that is who people compared me to coming out of high school. “I¿knew about him because I wanted to find out who he was and we kept in contact.

Former Kentucky standouts Jeremy Jarmon and Micah Johnson feel they will be well prepared to resume their NFL careers when the lockout ends because of the offseason training they have been doing at UK under strength coach Ray “Rock” Oliver and assistant strength coach Ted Lambrinides, both former NFL trainers. “I have trained with the guys since I¿have been here. It has just been good,” said Jarmon, a former all-Southeastern Conference defensive end who has spent the last two years with the Washington Redskins.

LEXINGTON - Dennis and Derrick Johnson said kids want a “wow” factor with their football these days, and the former Harrodsburg and University of Kentucky players tried to give them that this week with their camp and showing off the University of Kentucky facilties. “There’s a lot of camps. They want to see it all. They watch TV and see Oregon and they like all that big-time fancy stuff. That’s a good selling point,”¿said Dennis Johnson, who brought his sixth annual camp to the Nutter Center here Thursday.

If there is a better way to cap his high school football career, Lamar Dawson doesn’t know what it would be. The Boyle County senior helped the Rebels go 30-0 the last two seasons and win back-to-back state titles. He’s been a first-team all-state player the last two years. He won the Gatorade Player of the Year and shared the Paul Hornung Award with Ballard’s DeVante Parker. He’s been recruited by many of the nation’s elite programs, including No. 2 Oregon and Florida, along with Kentucky and Louisville.

LEXINGTON ? Kentucky loses starting linebackers Sam Maxwell and Micah Johnson to graduation this year, but UK assistant coach Chuck Smith thinks he'll be able to replace them just as the Wildcats did when Braxton Kelley and Johnny Williams left after the 2008 season. Maxwell had never been a full-time starter before getting a chance his senior season and he turned into one of the team's best players. He had a team-high six interceptions and was second in tackles with 61. Junior Ronnie Sneed might be the player to emerge next season after backing up Johnson, who led the Wildcats with 73 tackles, at middle linebacker this year.

LEXINGTON ? Being named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week was "flattering" for Micah Johnson. However, he insisted Monday that beating Auburn 21-14 meant a lot more to him than the 14 tackles he made. "I did not expect the award, but the win is what really counts," said Johnson, a senior linebacker. "It was huge for us to go down there and get a win. We have been so close and got no breaks. This time we made our breaks and got a win that we really needed.