2025-08-01- KSR - Hour 2

Summary

Podcast Summary: KSR - Hour 2 (August 1, 2025)

Hosted by Matt Jones, Ryan Lemon, and Chias Pete, “Kentucky Sports Radio” (KSR) delivers an in-depth look into the University of Kentucky’s (UK) football team dynamics, featuring exclusive interviews with key players as the team gears up for the upcoming season.

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1. UK Football Media Day Highlights

The episode kicks off with Matt Jones discussing the recent UK Football Media Day, where the team took a group photo. There was noticeable absenteeism among key players, particularly from the offensive line.

Matt Jones [01:31]:
“We will be joined at some point here with players. They're talking to the print and TV media right now after having just taken the team picture. Although it didn't look like that wasn't the full team, was it? Because I feel like we have a lot more players than that.”

Ryan Lemon [01:54]:
“I still haven't seen like the big offensive line group like Jagger, Burton and those guys have not come out yet.”

The hosts express their observations about the incomplete team picture, noting the absence of several offensive linemen essential to the team’s structure.

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2. Coach Mark Stoops’ Leadership and Team Morale

Matt Jones and Ryan Lemon delve into their growing confidence in Coach Mark Stoops' leadership, highlighting his emotional transparency and its positive impact on the team.

Ryan Lemon [02:27]:
“Absolutely. Every time I hear Mark Stoops talk, I get more and more sucked in. I'm not gonna lie. I mean, a couple of months ago, I was thinking they're gonna struggle to get four wins. Now I'm almost up to Shannon. Why can't they put together a...”

Matt Jones [03:00]:
“One of the things I like about Mark is that he wears his emotions honestly.”

They discuss how Stoops’ genuine emotional expression fosters trust and motivation among players, leading to elevated expectations for the season.

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3. Interview with Chias Pete: Strengthening the Offensive Line

Chias Pete, a formidable addition to the UK offensive line, shares his journey from Montana to the Navajo Nation and ultimately to Lexington.

Chias Pete [06:21]:
“I’m originally from Montana. Grew up there. I'm in a military family, so dad had to move around a bit. Ended up getting stationed in Colorado, Fort Carson. Spent some time there and, you know, eventually, worked my way down to New Mexico onto the Navajo Nation and went to high school there. Did football there myself.”

Chias discusses the cultural transitions he experienced, moving from Montana’s Salish community to a structured military environment, and then to a rural reservation in New Mexico. He emphasizes how these experiences shaped his resilience and adaptability on the field.

Chias Pete [12:41]:
“We have a lot of new guys, inexperienced ones, and we also have a bunch of experienced guys coming in from a different... We’re beasts of no nation.”

In a light-hearted exchange, Chias introduces the offensive line’s nickname, “Beasts of No Nation,” highlighting the group’s diverse and formidable nature.

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4. Interview with Zach Calzada: Quarterback Leadership and Vision

Zach Calzada, UK’s quarterback, discusses his decision to return to Kentucky, his leadership role, and his aspirations for the team’s success.

Zach Calzada [17:33]:
“It’s been a great experience since I’ve been back. You know, the players, the coaches, I feel like everybody has a great mentality. So that’s what was really refreshing coming in, and everybody’s just ready to work.”

Zach reflects on his journey through various programs, including Auburn and Incarnate Word, and how these experiences have honed his leadership skills. He expresses confidence in the team’s talent and mentality, aiming for a competitive edge in the SEC.

Zach Calzada [21:06]:
“That was the same quarterback before me, Cam Ward. He showed me through for 4, 600 yards the year before. I was like, no question. Let me come do the same thing and...gain back my love for the game.”

Zach credits former quarterbacks like Cam Ward for inspiring his commitment to excel and lead the team to victory.

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5. Interview with Jamari Macklin: Punter Breaking New Ground

Jamari Macklin, UK’s punter from South Africa, brings a unique international perspective to the team. He shares his transition from rugby to American football and his goals within the UK program.

Jamari Macklin [27:04]:
“My family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2017 through high school and I joined the football team to make friends. I played rugby. Rugby was my main sport. I wanted to play for the USA Eagles.”

Jamari recounts his journey from South Africa to college football in the United States, highlighting his determination to excel despite challenges.

Jamari Macklin [33:15]:
“The people are really nice, man. And being able to fish, too. A lot of fishing.”

Outside of football, Jamari enjoys outdoor activities like fishing and appreciates the community vibe in Lexington.

Jamari Macklin [38:32]:
“We are ready to run through a brick wall. We are ready to do it. We know what last year looked like. We understand that. We are trying to grow from there.”

Jamari underscores the team’s improved culture and collective determination to overcome past shortcomings, fostering a united front for the upcoming season.

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6. Season Outlook and Team Dynamics

The hosts and guests discuss the team's schedule, rivalries, and potential standout players to watch. They emphasize the importance of teamwork, competition, and maintaining a positive culture within the locker room.

Chias Pete [44:35]:
“If we want to play for each other and run through a wall for Kentucky, we don't know what the final product will be, but I'm excited to see how it pans out.”

Jamari Macklin [40:43]:
“We are ready to run through a brick wall. We are ready to do it. We know what last year looked like. We are trying to grow from there.”

Both statements reflect the team’s readiness to overcome challenges and strive for excellence, setting an optimistic tone for the season.

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7. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with a round of light-hearted banter among the hosts and guests, celebrating the team’s solidarity and the exciting journey ahead for UK’s football program.

Matt Jones [44:39]:
"These are my UK shoes. They only come out for special occasions. These were specifically big shoe day."

Ryan Lemon [42:07]:
“Jagger lives on Lake Harrington. Down here. Get him. He’ll take you out fishing all the time.”

The camaraderie among the team members and hosts showcases the strong community spirit that KSR fosters, leaving listeners engaged and looking forward to the team's progress.

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Notable Quotes:

• Matt Jones [03:00]:
  “One of the things I like about Mark is that he wears his emotions honestly.”

• Chias Pete [12:41]:
  “We’re beasts of no nation.”

• Zach Calzada [21:06]:
  “Let me come do the same thing and...gain back my love for the game.”

• Jamari Macklin [38:32]:
  “We are ready to run through a brick wall. We are ready to do it.”

---

This episode of KSR provides a comprehensive look into the University of Kentucky's football team, highlighting the diverse backgrounds and unified goals of its players, and setting the stage for an inspiring and competitive season.

Transcript

[Matt Jones]

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[Ryan Lemon]

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[Matt Jones]

Sports Radio presented by Stockton Mortgage. Now here's Matt Jones. Welcome back hour number two, Kentucky Sports Radio. We will here at UK Football Media Day. We will be joined at some point here with players. They're talking to the print and TV media right now after having just taken the team picture. Although it didn't look like that wasn't the full team, was it? Because I feel like we have a lot more players than that.

[Ryan Lemon]

I still haven't seen like the big offensive line group like Jagger, Burton and those guys have not come out yet.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I don't know who these people are.

[Chias Pete]

Maybe that was the team photo though.

[Matt Jones]

They wouldn't do it without their offensive line. Yeah. It's only like 5 rows of people, isn't it? Usually go up like 20? I wouldn't pay that close attention. Okay, well anyway, yes. So we've had fun here first hour, a lot going on, a lot of news made and now we are. We'll kind of wait for the players and everybody here. Let me ask you. Now, you. You. You were already on the. The ship before all of this. Are you more on the ship now?

[Ryan Lemon]

Absolutely. Every time I hear Mark Stoops talk, I get. I get more and more sucked in. I'm not. I'm not gonna lie. I mean, a couple months ago, I was thinking they. They're gonna struggle to get four wins. Now I'm almost up to Shannon. Why can't they put together a.

[Matt Jones]

You're gonna have a good team. By the time.

[Ryan Lemon]

By the time the kickoff, I'll be going 8 and 4. Yeah, I'm sure.

[Matt Jones]

I enjoyed the interview. It didn't change any.

[Chias Pete]

Well, I mean, I've already bet over.

[Matt Jones]

Four and a half, so it's not like I'm. Yeah. Naysayer over here, but those two conversations didn't have me ready to run through a wall.

[Chias Pete]

I enjoyed them, but I'm still right.

[Matt Jones]

Where I was as far as my expectations for wins. But I did like them.

[Chias Pete]

Clearing up a lot of things.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, I did, too. I. I like. I do. I. One of the things I like about Mark is that he wears his emotions honestly.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yes, he does.

[Matt Jones]

For good or bad. As someone over the years who has been the recipient of happy, sad, and mad phone calls from him, I know his emotions pretty well. I actually don't know him really well, but I know his emotions. And I can tell, generally speaking, when I think he's in a good frame of mind and when he's not. And he is in a good frame of mind. He looks good. He's lost weight. He looked happy. He had that. You know, we've done interviews with him. We know. We know. You can tell when he walks up here, like, you know what I mean? You can tell what. Where he is. And I thought that was. That was very good.

[Ryan Lemon]

You were dead on when you said, you just look like you're a different person like the guy you used to be. And you remember he did a interview with us one time here at Media Day. We leaned back and put his feet up on the table. I feel like he's getting close to that guy.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, when he came in. I'm glad he came in during the spring, but. But he was very defensive, and it was clear. Very.

[Ryan Lemon]

He was. He was.

[Matt Jones]

And that wasn't the same guy here. Right. I mean, I think that was much more what we're used to when things have been good with Mark.

[Ryan Lemon]

Right.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. So. All right. So now we have. My goodness. Yeah, we have this. All right, so how do I say his first name? She. Oz. Pete. She. Oz. Pete, you are a big person. How are you doing? Matt, nice to see you. Come on and join us. We are already on the air. So, Ryan. Okay, first I got to stand next to you. Nice to meet you. Let's turn over here. I want you to look. Stand right here next to me. This is the biggest person I've ever seen. She is Pete. She has joined us here on the air. Thank you very much for walking, for coming with us. She has. You are from New Mexico, am I right?

[Chias Pete]

Thank you for inviting me. I am.

[Matt Jones]

And you are the. Are you six, eight? I feel like you are six, eight.

[Chias Pete]

324 pounds.

[Matt Jones]

324 pounds of. Now you look how big he is. Look at him next to Drew. That is amazing. Chias. Thank you very much. You played last year for. For New Mexico State, came to Kentucky. What made you become a Wildcat?

[Chias Pete]

Wildcat. The competition, for sure. The food.

[Matt Jones]

The food. Food, really?

[Chias Pete]

On my official visit, Coach Wolf took me to Tony's, I believe, the steakhouse.

[Matt Jones]

Ah.

[Chias Pete]

Incredible. Incredible cuisine.

[Matt Jones]

Good. It is very good food. We've been to or I have been to. Was it Las Cruces?

[Chias Pete]

Is that cr.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. Not a lot going on there, is there?

[Chias Pete]

Well, it's. It's laid back. It's. It's a good community.

[Matt Jones]

It's close to Roswell.

[Ryan Lemon]

Okay.

[Matt Jones]

Where are we there? Yes, isn't it?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah. If. If you do take a trip out there, I highly recommend you visit White Sands.

[Matt Jones]

I've been there. We went through there to Roswell, and I've been to White. It's beautiful.

[Chias Pete]

Yes. Incredible. The sunsets are gorgeous out there. It's a different kind of heat and good community that kind of developed me into the.

[Matt Jones]

Well, tell me about your background, because I saw an interview with you that I thought was fascinating. I think that's probably the easiest way for you to start. Just tell me about your background, where you grew up, all that.

[Chias Pete]

Okay. Well, I'm originally from Montana. Grew up there. I'm in a military family, so dad had to move around a bit. Ended up getting stationed in Colorado, Fort Carson. Spent some time there and, you know, eventually, you know, worked my way down to New Mexico onto the Navajo Nation and went to high school there. Did football there myself.

[Matt Jones]

When you say Navajo Nation, like the. In on a reservation. So you played football at a reservation in New Mexico?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yes. And tell me about what life is like there. A lot of people listening would have no idea.

[Chias Pete]

Well, it's. It's a very. It's humble beginnings. I'll Tell you that it's a very small town, and I played football there for two years. Not a lot of exposure there. Not a lot of, I guess, media attention or whatnot. Very small football. And there were times where I only had to play. We only played with 11 guys, and I had to play both sides. So, I mean, football wise, you know, that happened. But, you know, I enjoyed the school, if anything, being around the teachers and.

[Matt Jones]

How many people were in your school?

[Chias Pete]

600.

[Matt Jones]

Okay.

[Chias Pete]

When I first got there.

[Matt Jones]

All Navajo.

[Chias Pete]

All Navajo majority. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Chias Pete]

I did all sorts of sports there. I did cross country for a bit.

[Matt Jones]

You did cross country. Nice. I guess everybody plays most things. Right.

[Chias Pete]

Got into shape there. But within the Navajo Nation, it's a lot of rural communities, you know, spread out throughout. So the commuting is a big, big part of it. You got to drive a long ways to see. To see family, to get groceries, so.

[Matt Jones]

But that wasn't where you were when you were a little kid. So what? But that feels like that would have been a big change, was it?

[Chias Pete]

Oh, yeah, big change. Big change. Culture shock. Of course.

[Matt Jones]

What was the culture shock? Tell me about it.

[Chias Pete]

Okay. Well, coming from Montana, I was. I was within the Salish community, that tribe of people there. And those individuals move differently, communicate differently. Of course, that's their community. You come out of that community, you go onto a military base, per se, it's entirely different. People are more. There's a lot more structure and people are. It's more militant.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. Could say that militant military base would make sense.

[Chias Pete]

Then you go from being one of the only Native American people in Colorado to being surrounded by a bunch of, you know, being back in. In your community, the community that my mother's from.

[Matt Jones]

Did you enjoy that?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah. A good change. It's perspective, Right. I didn't know it at the time, you know, being in it, but, you know, looking back in my life. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

And now you're in Lexington. What is. What. What has that, like, been like?

[Chias Pete]

It's fun, different again. Another. Another angle to look at life from.

[Matt Jones]

Now, you've played not against SEC football. You all beat Auburn last year, right?

[Chias Pete]

We marched in there.

[Matt Jones]

So tell me what that was like. I mean, I remember, like, Mexico State goes into Auburn win. That had to be unbelievable.

[Chias Pete]

Oh, man, it would. Felt so good to be an Aggie that day, to wear crimson, to have our entire team rally together and just. I mean, just stare down our opponent like that. There were times, man, like the stadium. I mean, it was one of the first SEC games. I'd ever really been a part of. So, like, the fireworks, the roar of the crowd, I mean, it was captivating, but we were so focused on our objective there. Coach Kill, our head coach at the time got us going. You know, Coach Mitchell, my former offensive line coach, you know, rallied us together, kept the objective. The objective.

[Matt Jones]

Did you play with Diego Pavia, is that right?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah, Pavia.

[Matt Jones]

So now you got to beat him this year, though, right? Like, I mean, you can't. You can't. Now you're going to be playing against him. I mean, you're not going to be going up against him, but you got to, like, you used to protect him. Now you got to make sure we get at him. Right?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah, that's. It's.

[Matt Jones]

He beat us last year. You can't let that happen again.

[Chias Pete]

I understand that.

[Ryan Lemon]

He knows the mission.

[Matt Jones]

I love it. And we go to Auburn again, so you're going to get another chance at that.

[Chias Pete]

Yeah, yeah. Huge opportunity with this new group of guys here, too, so I'm looking forward to it.

[Matt Jones]

Did you. I mean, you. Did you ever dream you would get a chance to play football at an SEC school?

[Chias Pete]

I mean, you know, if I were to tell myself my. At a younger age that I'm doing this, I don't think I'd believe myself. So it's incredibly fulfilling. I'm extremely grateful and I'm. I'm cherishing each and every single day, hour, every interaction I have, like this one. So I'm extremely grateful.

[Matt Jones]

That's. That's awesome. Mark Stoops was saying when he was here a minute ago, he looked at me and said, you would really like him. He's a dude who's very, like. He thinks deeply. Would you agree about that? About yourself?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah. I try to see, like, I always remain curious about your people, opinions, life, events, you know, just. It helps me.

[Matt Jones]

What are your interests, like, away from football?

[Chias Pete]

My interests away from football? Well, I like history. I like reading about the past. It helps me determine the future. But, you know, it gets a bit confusing, so I try my best to stay in the present.

[Matt Jones]

What are your favorite parts of history? What? Say, like, if I were to. If you were to sit there and read a history book or listen to a history podcast, what are you choosing? I'm listening right now about the Mexica and the Cortez in 1519 and all that. I've been listening to a podcast. What do you listen to during those?

[Chias Pete]

Well, I was for a bit of time reading about Napoleon. I watched some videos about some of his recent Battles, some of them within the Middle east, some of other, like, ancient battles or whatnot. Just seeing how these leaders command and maneuver their troops. It's pretty cool.

[Matt Jones]

And now you are the head of or one of the members, but I think most people think gonna be the core strength of this offensive line. That was a weakness on this team last year. What do you think it's gonna be like this year? New set of guys, for the most part, except Jagger.

[Chias Pete]

Yeah, Jagger's done a good job, you know, getting us together, you know, keeping our objective. The objective. We got a lot of new guys, inexperienced ones, and we also have a bunch of experienced guys coming in from a different. We're beasts of no nations.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I love that.

[Chias Pete]

What do you think of that?

[Ryan Lemon]

Love it.

[Matt Jones]

Have the shirts yet? We need to get the shirts. Beasts of no nations. I. Well, first of all, that's what I'm calling it.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yes.

[Chias Pete]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

Our offensive line. Beasts of no nation. And it will be you that. How do I. I want to get your name, pronoun, pronunciation right. How do I say it?

[Chias Pete]

Shias.

[Matt Jones]

Shias. Okay.

[Chias Pete]

No, no, no, no. Shias. Like massage.

[Matt Jones]

Like massage. I got that. Yash. All right. Zach. Zach Cazado. We've never seen him play. Tell me about him. He's coming over here after you?

[Chias Pete]

Well, sure. Yeah. He gets us going. You know, I don't really see him throw the ball when I'm.

[Matt Jones]

That's good. We don't.

[Chias Pete]

That is a good thing. I don't want to have my eyes on him.

[Matt Jones]

You don't want to be falling into it.

[Chias Pete]

That means a sack. Yeah. So he's good. He gets the ball out. He tells us to play. You know, he leads us. You know, he gets our huddle. Right? He's good. He's a good man to block for.

[Matt Jones]

Well, I've really enjoyed getting to meet you. I always have Ryan Lemon here. He gets to ask one question to each player. So, Ryan, you're up to bat.

[Ryan Lemon]

So you said you went to Tony's on your visit. What do you eat now that you're here? Like what? I mean, now you get. In Kentucky, we're kind of known for hot browns. And have you tried to sample a lot of our different kind of food?

[Matt Jones]

Do you even know what a hot brownie is?

[Chias Pete]

I'm not.

[Matt Jones]

Don't worry. No one eats hot browns.

[Chias Pete]

What is a hot brown?

[Ryan Lemon]

It's a Kentucky staple.

[Matt Jones]

But tell me what's in it.

[Ryan Lemon]

Ham, cheese, bacon, biscuits. It's awesome.

[Chias Pete]

You know what I have had? Dads.

[Matt Jones]

Dads. Is good.

[Chias Pete]

The Rushmores. Yes, I love them.

[Ryan Lemon]

That's what I need to hear.

[Matt Jones]

Dad's is very good.

[Ryan Lemon]

Very good.

[Matt Jones]

Dad's is very. Football players go there a lot, right?

[Chias Pete]

Yeah. Our whole line throughout the year would, would stop in and yeah, they, they'd serve us up really good.

[Matt Jones]

Well, we, we, we have a sports bar when we open it back up. I want you to bring your offensive line out one day and we'll get let you have our. We'll have wings and burgers after a big game. How's that?

[Chias Pete]

Sounds good.

[Matt Jones]

All right.

[Chias Pete]

Thanks for the invite.

[Matt Jones]

I've really enjoyed getting to meet you. Good luck. You are. We were saying Dionne Walker who was last year. You two are the biggest guys I can remember playing at Kentucky. So looking forward to watch you play this year.

[Chias Pete]

Thanks. Thanks for having me on, guys.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, we will take a break and be right back. This is Kentucky Sports Radio.

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[Ryan Lemon]

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[Matt Jones]

Yearly plan with this exclusive [e-mail] audio8592 well, why am I giving the Number we're not going to take any calls. He's walking up right now. Here comes Zach Calzada, the UK quarterback this year. This will be my first chance to get to speak to the young. Well, yeah, you're the quarterback closest to my age of all time. Yeah. Zach. Thank you very much, sir. So tell me, what are we excited? This is. This is. You're good. You're the guy here for a team ready for a rejuvenation. What's it got? What's it like?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, it's awesome, man. It's been a great experience since I've been back. You know, the players, the coaches, I feel like everybody has a great mentality. So that's what was really refreshing coming in, and everybody's just ready to work. You know, you can feel the sense of urgency since January, and now that we're camp and we're rolling, I think it's awesome. And we've had a really good start, and we just got to keep stacking days.

[Matt Jones]

How'd you end up deciding to come to Kentucky? I mean, you. You had a number of choices. What made you end up here?

[Zach Calzada]

Yeah, man. Number of choices for sure. You know, wasn't sure if I wanted to take my shot at the league or if I wanted to come back to school. And, you know, when I decided I wanted to come back to school, Kentucky really stood out to me. You know, being back in the SEC was something that I've wanted for a long time. I've been eager to get back and, you know, just meeting with Coach Bush and Coach Stoops and, you know, getting a good feel for their mentality and how they feel going into the season. And, you know, Coach Bush does a really good job with the offense. He's a great mind, and we've got some good weapons, so everything felt good about it.

[Matt Jones]

You've been. You've played on a number of different levels, so, you know, when you have a team that, you know, very talented when. When something's missing. How do you feel about this group?

[Zach Calzada]

I feel really good about it. From talent perspective, you know, we're in a really, really good spot. And I think even more importantly, from a mentality perspective, we're. We're in a. We're in a great spot, I think, you know, from our skill position guys all summer, you know, I could text.

[Matt Jones]

Them, what do you mean, mentality? Because that was an issue for this program for the last couple years. What makes this this good?

[Zach Calzada]

Right? It's just been everybody's approach for me, you Know, skilled guys, you know, I text them on a Sunday, hey, we're going to throw in an hour. And I got, you know, 10, 11, 12 guys out there ready to work, running full speed. You know, our offensive line, you know, we'll be in lift sometimes and you know, you can see, you can see them out there in the sand getting extra work in. They're the last group to leave. And our running backs, too. I think Dowdell and the addition of Seth and those other guys, Wilcox and jp, you know, they do a really, really good job.

[Matt Jones]

Do you. I mean, you played at A and M, you played at Auburn, so you've played in the sec. Does this team have the makeup to be competitive in the league?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, yeah, I feel good about it. I feel really good about it. Like, I tell guys, we got a chance, and I think that's all you need. And now it's just a matter of putting our best foot forward every day. I think, you know, offensively, we've had a really good start to camp, but we got to keep stacking, we got to keep improving. We know it's going to be a long, tough season with some tough opponents, but, you know, we're built. We're built for it and we're getting ready for it.

[Matt Jones]

Your journey's an amazing one. I mean, you. You've been all over the place and you've been on different levels. You're. You're doing Auburn, you're doing A and M, you're doing that. And then you end up at Incarnate Word, which is a completely different thing. Tell me about what that transition is like. How do you get yourself? Because it's a completely different. It's like a different sport in some ways.

[Zach Calzada]

Yeah, it was, it was awesome. I think, you know, I've said it was a blessing that I, that I needed more than I knew. And, you know, getting there and looking around at, you know, the facilities and the, you know, the 3, 400 person stadium, it was different. It was a lot different. But, you know, it was kind of. It was a great reset for me, you know, coming off of, you know, being out for a year.

[Matt Jones]

Did it humble you a little bit?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And, you know, I think it's funny, I tell people we had a home, we had a field advantage because it felt like a scrimmage. You know, you had a hunch, you had. It was, it was parents and friends in the crowd. But, you know, I think as a team, we embraced that. And as a player, I embraced that. And, you know, just didn't have the facilities, we didn't have the resources, but it was just all about football. You know, we said, you know, everybody on this team, two things. Everybody's been told no, and everybody loves football, and we embrace that.

[Matt Jones]

Forgive me. Forgive. Is it Cam Ward?

[Chias Pete]

Cam War.

[Matt Jones]

Who was at that same place? So you've seen the path?

[Zach Calzada]

Yes, sir. Absolutely.

[Matt Jones]

Right. And then is that what you're hoping to follow?

[Zach Calzada]

Yes, sir, absolutely. And the quarterback before me, Lindsey Scott, you know, they. They showed me through for 4, 600 yards the year before. I was like, no question. You know, let me come do the same thing and. And just reset and, you know, gain back my love for the game and. And go back.

[Matt Jones]

So have you gotten your love back?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, absolutely. I love the sport. And, you know, just being here every day, I'm extremely grateful.

[Matt Jones]

All right, Now, I look at that schedule.

[Chias Pete]

Mm.

[Matt Jones]

I mean, we go to Auburn, so, like, it's right there. I mean, I know y' all first game. Salido, I get it. But there's got to be a part of you that just sees that right there, and it's kind of exciting, right?

[Zach Calzada]

No, it's definitely exciting to be able to go back there. And, you know, for me, I know I'm gonna have to tell myself, like, look, this is another game. I have to prepare for this game. And I think the way I approach every other game, you know, with. With the mentality that I have, I think it's going to be the same. There's going to be that part of me that, you know, it's Auburn, it's my old school, but at the end of the day, it's a football team. And, you know, as somebody that a lot of these guys look to, I got to treat it the same and. And go in the game.

[Matt Jones]

What. You know, what. What's the. Are you. Are you consider yourself a leader? Like, are you. Do you. Because there's so many guys. I mean, what was. He said. What was it? No, is that the pate said? Pete, he said, what was the name of all nations? What was it, the phrase?

[Chias Pete]

Beast of no nation.

[Matt Jones]

Beast of no nations. Like, there's 50 different new players. How do you make a leadership role with that?

[Zach Calzada]

Right? I mean, I think for me coming in, I just wanted to be the best teammate I could be and be somebody that could be trusted. You know, that. That's something that I think has to be established first before your voice has any weight to it. So, you know, in the spring, January, just wanted to be some. Somebody that, you know, is here doing. Doing what I need to do. Somebody that the teammates know I can. They can count on. And, you know, as. As we get rolling into camp, just somebody who's. Whose voice. And that comes from a lot of conversations with, you know, a lot of the other leaders on the team and just making sure that, you know, we're all on the same page and we're moving in the right direction.

[Matt Jones]

What. What do you do off the field? Like, what are your interests away from football?

[Zach Calzada]

Well, shoes. I've been in Kentucky. I joke with people. I'm either in my apartment or I'm at the facility.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, well, we got to get you out. Well, actually, after the season.

[Zach Calzada]

After the season, I've dabbled. I've dabbled. I went to Keeneland. You know, I've gotten to see some. Some cool parts of Kentucky and Lexington with.

[Matt Jones]

But you're. You're here for. In some ways, here for business, right?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, absolutely. Is it. I know. I mean, at the end of the day, it's one and done for me, and that's how I'm treating it.

[Matt Jones]

Do you. And you still obviously have goals and aspirations of the next level? What's it like working with Mark Stoops and Busch every week?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, it's awesome. I mean, they were a big reason that I came here, conversations that I had with them. So just to be around those. Those coaches and. And be with guys with the same mentality as me and. And just keep preparing and. And whatever we can do every day to get better and get ready for this.

[Matt Jones]

Have you gotten a feel yet for how much we hate Louisville in Tennessee? Have you gotten that yet?

[Zach Calzada]

I've seen it around a little bit.

[Jamari Macklin]

I was.

[Zach Calzada]

Man, I was at a restaurant the other day, and they had a. Like, some Louisville made a volleyball game on or something. I was like, why do we have that on the tv?

[Matt Jones]

But you should. Did you demand they turn it off?

[Chias Pete]

I was like, why is this on the tv?

[Matt Jones]

Tv?

[Zach Calzada]

They would have changed the channel, so that was funny, but yeah, no, absolutely. You know, I love a good rivalry.

[Matt Jones]

It's all, give me a player. I always think players know this better than anybody. Give me a player that maybe the fans don't know, that they will know at the end of the year. Is there a receiver or something that you would say, hey, just keep an eye out, man?

[Zach Calzada]

Really? Just all of our skill guys, you know, Willie Rodriguez. Willie Rodriguez, Josh Cattus. Two receivers.

[Matt Jones]

Tell me about the law kid, because we don't know him.

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, Kendrick. Yeah, he's explosive. Man, he's ready.

[Chias Pete]

He's.

[Zach Calzada]

He's one of. He's a weapon like I haven't had in a while, so I'm excited.

[Matt Jones]

He's tiny, so he's got to be fast, right?

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, he's big. Have you seen him up close?

[Matt Jones]

I haven't. Just from afar. No, I mean, like, he. Well, maybe he is big.

[Zach Calzada]

Maybe I just can't get the six foot.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, well, then a lot bigger than rock.

[Zach Calzada]

He's big, too, man. You know him. Jamori Macklin, D.J. miller, J.J. hester.

[Chias Pete]

Still good group.

[Matt Jones]

All right. Hey, good luck to you. Thank you very much. And let's get some W's.

[Zach Calzada]

Yes, sir. Thank you, guys.

[Matt Jones]

All right, we'll take a break. Be right back. Ksr.

[Ryan Lemon]

Good stuff, man.

[Aiden LaRaus]

TJ Smith, personal injury attorney.

[Ryan Lemon]

Call tj.

[Matt Jones]

He'll make him pay. Now more of Kentucky Sports Radio, presented by Stockton Mortgage. Here's Matt Jones. All right, welcome back. We are now joined by UK's Punter, who's already been a guest on this show, Brian Lemon.

[Ryan Lemon]

We had him on when you were off that week. Yeah. Talk about his toughness.

[Matt Jones]

Right. In person. Did you?

[Ryan Lemon]

On the phone.

[Matt Jones]

On the phone. So this is the first time seeing Aiden LaRoss, our punter from South Africa. Where did you play last. Last year?

[Jamari Macklin]

Last year I was here with the. With the uk.

[Matt Jones]

No, before that.

[Jamari Macklin]

UT Martin.

[Matt Jones]

UT Martin. Okay, gotcha. Because you. Yeah, my. My. You know, I'm good friends with Max.

[Jamari Macklin]

Right, right.

[Matt Jones]

Duffy. And he was. He was. When you came, he was like, this is the dude. So you know Max, obviously. Yeah. So tell me a little bit your journey here. What? You've been here a year, but now the job looks to be. To be yours. Are you excited?

[Jamari Macklin]

Super excited. I've obviously received some preseason awards. To me, that doesn't mean much, but I want to obviously exceed what they've given me. I think that's my goal. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

You are taking a job that has some good history with Max and our success with punters from overseas. Are you ready to follow in the footsteps?

[Jamari Macklin]

Of course. Yeah. I think putting South Africa on the map as a punter would be amazing. I don't know if it's been done. I know there are a few Division one South African players, d linemen, offensive linemen that have gone through and played in the NFL. But I'd like to be a punter.

[Matt Jones]

Well, tell me about your. I mean, how did you end up playing college football? Because you're right, I don't know of any other South African player.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah. So my family moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2017 through high school and I joined the football team to make friends. I played rugby. Rugby was my main sport. I wanted to play for the USA Eagles. And I had a coach in high school that punted a little bit in the NFL and took me under his wing. And because of COVID and how it worked out, I didn't get recruited. But he knew somebody at UNC Charlotte that pretty much gave me a true walk on spot. First day of practice, didn't even go to full camp and I kind of made my way up, I believe.

[Matt Jones]

Am I right? Wasn't there a Kentucky guy that was an assistant or a volunteer assistant at UNC Charlotte? He was Max's friend. I can't remember which player it was. Do you remember?

[Ryan Lemon]

No.

[Matt Jones]

But we had their guy for there for a year or two. But then you went from Charlotte to UT Martin, is that right?

[Jamari Macklin]

Yes. So I walked. I. I walked on the Charlotte. I did the kickoff my second year. Had some good film being the backup field goal kicker and backup punter. And at that time I was actually more of a field goal kicker. Got the scholarship to UT Modern to do all three and yeah, the rest is history. I got a. Didn't do as well as I wanted on field goals. It excelled on punts. So I took that under my wing. I was like, let's go, let's get it done.

[Matt Jones]

Now I have to tell you, I asked specifically for you because I'm going to South Africa here in, in six weeks. I'm going to. Well, I'm going all over, but I'm going to Cape Town, Johannesburg and then going to Kruger.

[Jamari Macklin]

You're gonna go to the bush?

[Matt Jones]

Yes. So. So tell me about it. What am I, what am I in for?

[Jamari Macklin]

I mean my parents are there right now. They just took four weeks there and they started off in the bush in the Kruger. They went straight from there to Cape Town. And I mean they've just sent me loads and loads of pictures. They can't wait to come back.

[Matt Jones]

Where did you live there?

[Jamari Macklin]

Cape Town.

[Matt Jones]

Cape Town. So I, I hear like the most.

[Jamari Macklin]

Beautiful city in the world.

[Matt Jones]

Tell how. Explain to people.

[Jamari Macklin]

I mean the, just the.

[Matt Jones]

How it.

[Jamari Macklin]

We've got the ocean and the mountains right in the same spot. I mean it looks like San Diego, but the culture is way better. I mean I love it, I love it there.

[Matt Jones]

Like what? Like what, what am I in for?

[Jamari Macklin]

Great food, good food, great people. People are just going to be surround you, everybody's happy and the ocean so they have.

[Matt Jones]

Am I. Tell me. I think they, they have me. Is there a mountain? White Mountain?

[Jamari Macklin]

Table Mountain?

[Matt Jones]

Table Mountain. Tell me about. I'm supposed to, I, I'm supposed to like, go to the top of it or something.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah. I mean you could do two ways. Is it like a gondola that takes you up there? Probably the better option. Or you can hike it.

[Matt Jones]

I probably won't hike it. I'll probably take the gondola.

[Jamari Macklin]

Views up there are beautiful. And then right next to it's the lion's head that you can go up to too. I mean, the mountain. There's regions you can, you can hike.

[Matt Jones]

I think we're going to see is, are there some sort of octopus or is that, am I wrong?

[Jamari Macklin]

Maybe there's, there's an aquarium there.

[Matt Jones]

Okay. I think they have me out in the water for some. Oh, boy. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemon]

Are you ready for that?

[Matt Jones]

No. And there's not a penguin, is there?

[Jamari Macklin]

Yes. This is a boulders beach.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. We're going there. What's that?

[Jamari Macklin]

So it's a beach that has penguins and it's like regular penguins. They, they live there and you're able to go there and if you can go for a swim too.

[Matt Jones]

I'm gonna go say hi to the people. And when you say the bush, I'm spending like four, three or four nights. And I, I, I, they said Kruger National Park. I can I call it. Do I sound like a logo if I say in the bush?

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, if you go to the bush. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

So what's, what am I going to see in the bush? I hear they have all of the things.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, I mean, you'll see, see it all. It's, it's probably the most beautiful experience you'll ever see. It's like you get to see the nature for what it is and the true wild. It's, it's really cool. And the people there will treat you, treat you like, like, like one of them. And they're amazing.

[Matt Jones]

But we're talking like elephant, giraffe.

[Zach Calzada]

Oh, yeah.

[Jamari Macklin]

Lions. Zebra. You'll see it all.

[Matt Jones]

Zebra. I want to see a zebra.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah, Zebra.

[Matt Jones]

I want to say. I want to see, I want to see a zebra. Do you. You did say. I think we do you still, even though you live here, feel the connection with, with South Africa.

[Jamari Macklin]

100. I've only gone there once since, since we, yeah, it's, it's still a family there. My, my dad's side's still there. We're all, my uncles, my aunts are all there and obviously I Haven't seen my friends there for a while, but nothing changes when you haven't seen somebody for that long with their.

[Matt Jones]

So tell me about this team and the guys on it. I mean, you. You're a little bit older than most of them, but there's, like you. Like you. There's people from everywhere, and this is a team full of transfers and new faces. What's it been like?

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, it's been. It's been amazing. I pride myself on getting to know everybody. I'm friends with a lot of the guys in the team, and I think the culture is amazing this year. I think we've come along together really quickly.

[Matt Jones]

Tell me about the difference between the culture last year and this year, because there is a difference.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, yeah, of course. There's obviously a difference. Look last year's past. But, I mean, I think this year we've got a tight group of guys that are all together in the same mission. We know. We know last year didn't go well. The guys who weren't there don't care. We like the people who there who were there. It's over us. So we're all together on this.

[Ryan Lemon]

You were on air earlier talking about your toughness rating.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ryan Lemon]

You said you're a former rugby player. You thought that was a kind of disrespectful.

[Matt Jones]

How did that happen? Have you. Has anyone from EA reached out and said it was a mistake or anything? Because there's no way, first of all, you could beat me up. There's no way that you have a zero toughness rating.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Chias Pete]

We.

[Jamari Macklin]

I obviously grew up. Like I said, a South African rugby player doesn't often get told that they're not tough. I haven't heard that one before, but, yeah, I've. I don't think if they want to change it, I hope it's higher. I don't want to. If they put it to 50 or 60, I don't think that's almost worse. Rather just be zero, you know?

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, but it did get you a lot of attention. I mean, we're friends with the guys on. Pardon my take. They talked about you. I mean, is there part of you that's like, hey, I'm the zero toughness guy, let's go.

[Jamari Macklin]

I've obviously taken it. You know, it's. Any publicity is good. Obviously, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the zero toughness. So, yeah, I think it's.

[Zach Calzada]

It's.

[Matt Jones]

Well, you would have been here because I had to learn About South. Right. To be honest with you, I mean I'm. Because I'm, I'm excited about it. I, I, it's, but it also will mean as the year goes on you're gonna get attention like it is. I think it actually is going to be kind of a blessing in disguise for you.

[Jamari Macklin]

Definitely. I think people aren't going to be going to the bathrooms on fourth down as much. This would be good. It'll be good.

[Ryan Lemon]

You got to just decleet somebody one time.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you do after that, well, they'll get a penalty. But otherwise you gotta, you gotta show it at some point.

[Jamari Macklin]

Obviously if it comes down to it, I'll do it. But obviously as a good punter, doesn't want to have to make a tackle.

[Matt Jones]

That's exactly right. Well, I appreciate what's your been your favorite thing about being in Lexington? I mean you were in Chapel Hill, so you were in a college town before.

[Jamari Macklin]

But I love, I think I love, I like the vibe here. I like the horse racing. I like that it's a, a big, it's a bigger city but not too big for an SEC school. It's great and the things to do. But also I like, I just like the, the culture here. It's a good, it's a good spot.

[Matt Jones]

Well, good luck this year. We are looking forward to it and I, I'm going to be watching I do the postgame show I'm going to have once I get back from South Africa. My Aiden Laros play of the game. So, so just be ready in the post game show I, and I hope one of them is you just knock. Well what about running a fake?

[Chias Pete]

Lowering his head, running.

[Matt Jones]

Oh yeah, that's true. Dude. Do you want to get a chance to do that in one?

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, that, that's up to the coaches. You know, I mean obviously we, but.

[Matt Jones]

You got, I mean you played rugby so you got to be fast for a punter.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, no, I think I'm, I'm quite athletic compared to most and I, I like to pride myself on that too, you know. So hopefully we'll see.

[Matt Jones]

That's what he call your own number.

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

He can call you bowl somebody over. Right. Because you remember in that Missouri game Max called his own number and, and that was coaches when it works, that's the whole problem.

[Jamari Macklin]

You know, if it works, they, they won't say anything. But if it doesn't, you're stuffed.

[Matt Jones]

Aiden, thank you very much and good luck.

[Jamari Macklin]

Yeah, enjoy it.

[Matt Jones]

Tell me about Stockton Mortgage.

[Ryan Lemon]

Stockton mortgage. You know, it's a good time to buy spring, summer building season. But the best thing you want to look at. You may have a lot of equity built up in your home. You can use that equity to work on your new home instead. If you buy a new home, you can maybe build a new deck, new pool, finish your basement, things like that. That's where Stockton Mortgage can hold your hand through the process and get you to the closing table. You can get that home of your dream. So give them a call. Go online stockton.com nmls8259/equal housing lender we.

[Matt Jones]

Will take a break, come back. Final segment here at UK Football Media.

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[Matt Jones]

Welcome back Kentucky Sports Radio. It's time for our DraftKings pick of the day. Well, even though my heart got broken last night in that game, we still got the. Let's not do the game today. There's a game at 12:40 between the Reds and the Braves. But let's do the game tomorrow night. Speedway classic. Chase Burns versus what? Stringer. His name Strider. Strider. Two Tennessee guys to 85,000 people will be at the stadium. Who you got?

[Ryan Lemon]

You know, Braves are a lot of redneck NASCAR fans on a NASCAR track. Yeah, you guys are kind of country bumping redneck fans. So I'm going to Braves because we a lot of Braves fans there.

[Matt Jones]

You're a Cardinals fan? I'm going Reds. In fact, I didn't even really want to win last night. We're tanking so please beat us the next. We need it. We got to win the next two or the Summer Valley's over. That's. I'm just gonna go ahead. Summer Valley might be over at 3:30, 3:30 today, but I'm gonna take the ring. Last night we ended it, so it might have. Give me the Braves. If we win the next two, I think the summer's still going. If we lose, we're not.

[Jamari Macklin]

All right.

[Matt Jones]

Jamari Macklin is joining us as our final guest here on a action packed ksr. Jamari, you, you, you're. You're one of the, the first faces come over here I've seen before. So it's, it's nice to have you back.

[Jacore Macklin]

Yeah, definitely. I'm happy to be here.

[Matt Jones]

You know, you are kind of. You've gone from a wide receiver that we were saying, man, we need to get that guy the ball more. So you're gonna probably be option one this year. How excited are you?

[Jacore Macklin]

I'm very excited, man. I'm very blessed to be in this position, man, to be able to lead the guys, man, and I'm just happy that, that to be back, you know, I'm saying to help Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

Some people were a little surprised that you came back because, you know, you didn't get the ball probably as much as you thought last year. What made you decide to come back?

[Jacore Macklin]

Man, I just had a good conversation with Coach Deuce and Coach Hampton after the season. Man, I just wanted to come back and be able to lead, lead the guys and make an impact on.

[Matt Jones]

What'd they say to you when you said you had a conversation?

[Jacore Macklin]

I think it was just like we just laid it all out on the table and how things went and you know, they, they were sorry for their faults and I of course claim my faults as well.

[Matt Jones]

You started to get the ball more as the year went on.

[Jacore Macklin]

Oh, yeah, definitely shoot. The target started to come. So I started to make them, you know. So I just had to be ready, you know, I'm saying, and not shrinkle down and just, you know, be all in my head. I just have to keep working.

[Matt Jones]

There's been been a big conversation over the off season about the transition, you know, I mean, in the culture of the program from last year to this year, you don't have to worry about going over everything last year. But what do you think are the big differences that have improved around here? Because we keep hearing culture better. Culture better.

[Jacore Macklin]

I think the intentionality of all the guys, man, I think everybody's very intentional on what we need to get done. Nobody's like, I heard, just being selfish, thinking about themselves. I think everybody just connected very well and just wanting to run through a brick wall for the coaches in Kentucky.

[Matt Jones]

That's important, though, and especially in a locker room this big, because it. Because, you know, when John, Cal, Peri was here, he would say, one knucklehead is okay, but if you have two, it can ruin the book. It can ruin a team in football. You got. You have to be careful about you.

[Jacore Macklin]

You really do, man. So I think that we need to. We continue to have conversations about that. Just making sure everybody's on the same page, man, and just. Just continue to work. You know, I'm saying go in and work.

[Matt Jones]

So tell me about the room there. A lot of new guys, a lot of young talent. But I. I know what I'm gonna get from you. So what am I gonna get from the rest of these guys?

[Jacore Macklin]

They bought them boys, all of them. Nice. All the young guys, even the guys that we had transferred in, man, Troy Stadto, Kendrick Law, those guys, man, and J.J. hester, and a bunch of those young guys, man, they all plug and play guys, so they can plug and play at any position. They bring a lot of juice to the team, man.

[Matt Jones]

Mark was saying, you know, look, I got eight or nine guys that could play. It's going to be a big competition throughout camp. Do you agree with that?

[Jacore Macklin]

Yeah, it definitely will. Definitely will. And a lot of guys understand that, too. So they just got to go out there and approach like they're trying to win a starting job. That's just how football is, is competition.

[Matt Jones]

You know, Zach Calzada, you know, been through the wars. You. A receiver's only as good as his quarterback. So what are you. What are you seeing with him?

[Jacore Macklin]

Man, I've been connecting with him very well over the past couple days of camping throughout summer. OTAs as well, man, he's been doing a really good job of just, you know, being patient with me and. And all the other receivers, and we've been patient with him because the connection takes time.

[Matt Jones]

He said, you. He said he'll call you guys and say, hey, I'm throwing on the field in an hour and 11 guys will show up.

[Jacore Macklin]

He would definitely. All the time. He usually did it on Sundays. I don't work on Sundays. That's my days where I spend time, my relationship with God in church, and then I go home and rest on Sundays. But, man, he would always do that, you know what I'm saying? And a lot of the guys did show up for him, and I appreciate him for even doing that.

[Matt Jones]

You know, part of this. Part of this off season, you know, is. Is fans trying to be energetic for this year. What would you say? Because you are a optimistic, positive guy, if you're sitting here talking to the UK fans listening, give me. Tell them what. Why they should be excited about what's coming in the next few.

[Jacore Macklin]

We are ready to run through a brick wall. We are ready to do it. You know, I'm saying we. We know what last year looked like. We. We understand that. We are trying to grow from there. We're not honing in and. And just focus on last year, but we. We know what we got to do.

[Matt Jones]

And you have the same. A lot. The same opponents. So, like a lot of these teams, you're going to get a second crack.

[Jacore Macklin]

Yeah, that's fine. We need our lick back. You know what I'm saying? I need my look back from last year. I don't like that because a lot of those teams we could have beat, you know what I'm saying? It was just few mistakes on our end. It wasn't that they just beat us, but we're ready to run through a brick wall, man. We ready to do it.

[Matt Jones]

Do you like. I mean, we look at this schedule and we go, all right, Georgia, you know, Florida, Tennessee, Texas. This year, Auburn, Ole Miss. Like you, I would think as a player, you got to be like, I love it. I love playing teams like, yeah, if.

[Jacore Macklin]

You don't, you ain't you in the wrong spot. You should love going against teams like that. I'm ready to play. I don't care who we playing.

[Matt Jones]

For real.

[Jacore Macklin]

Let's do it.

[Matt Jones]

Ready to go?

[Jacore Macklin]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Matt Jones]

What's been your favorite part about being in Lexington, man?

[Jacore Macklin]

The people. I feel like the people are really nice, man. And being able to fish, too. A lot of fishing.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you're a fisher?

[Jacore Macklin]

I love to fish.

[Matt Jones]

Fisherman. Where do. Where do you like to fish?

[Jacore Macklin]

Coach White house. Coach Brad White's house.

[Matt Jones]

He has at his house.

[Jacore Macklin]

Yeah, he has like a little pond or. I don't really know what to call it, but he has that in the backyard, and I love fishing there.

[Matt Jones]

Has anybody ever taken you, like, have you gone out in the state? You know, we got some amazing.

[Jacore Macklin]

Man, I need to. You got a little boat or something?

[Matt Jones]

Well, I don't know. I don't. I'm not. Believe me. I. I wouldn't do that. But there are people who do. Like, what are some of the places.

[Ryan Lemon]

Jagger lives on Lake Harrington. Down here. Yeah, get him. He'll take you out fishing all the time.

[Matt Jones]

Jagger's a big fisher.

[Jacore Macklin]

Okay. Yeah, I'll definitely. I'll definitely talk with Jagger.

[Matt Jones]

I didn't realize Brad White had a place to fish at his house.

[Ryan Lemon]

Oh, yeah, well, we've not been invited.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, well, I mean, look at you. But. All right, Brian gets one question. What is it?

[Ryan Lemon]

Dude, receivers are cocky, arrogant bunch of guys.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah.

[Ryan Lemon]

So who's the fastest guy? Who's your fastest receiver we're going to see on the field this year?

[Matt Jones]

Freaking Kendrick, right?

[Jacore Macklin]

He too fast, man. Sometimes I'm just like, oh, my gosh, slow down. He's stupid fast.

[Matt Jones]

Him.

[Jacore Macklin]

Quincenberry is really fast, and Troy Stellato is really. Man. We got a bunch of the fast guys. Like, they're just out there just running, man. I'm just looking like. I guess I must be too old.

[Matt Jones]

To be right after that.

[Jacore Macklin]

I can't do it.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. So I'm getting old. I can't host this forever. Probably only got a few more years left in me. When I go, which person on the team do you think could host a radio or TV show?

[Jacore Macklin]

Best take your spot.

[Matt Jones]

Me, brother. You? Yeah.

[Ryan Lemon]

There we go.

[Matt Jones]

Really?

[Zach Calzada]

Come on, now.

[Jacore Macklin]

I get everybody on here to listen. Let's do it.

[Matt Jones]

All right. I'll tell you what then. All right? I'm gonna test you if you're gonna be. If you're coming for my job. Give me the Jacore Macklin Intro to the 2025 season. You are host of the show. Your job. You're hosting the pregame show for Kentucky and Toledo. Get everybody ready for this game.

[Jacore Macklin]

Oh, you put me on the spot. I ain't got it.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, I thought you were radio.

[Jacore Macklin]

I'm ready. I gotta think. I gotta think.

[Matt Jones]

You said a few years.

[Jacore Macklin]

I got a few years.

[Matt Jones]

Okay, you have a few years to get it. Jabari, thank you very much.

[Jacore Macklin]

Good luck.

[Matt Jones]

Have a great year.

[Jacore Macklin]

I appreciate that.

[Matt Jones]

Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Go get them. There you go. Nice to see you.

[Ryan Lemon]

Good stuff, brother.

[Matt Jones]

All right, so there you go. We. That has been a fun show. I mean, I don't. I don't know if we've ever had a show where we did some seven interviews through the course of it, but I actually thought. I'm not just. I think they all were good. I think that was one of the better Stoops appearances. That is the best Mitch Barnhart appearance ever on the show. Love, Pete, Zach, Aiden, and now Jamari. I thought it was great.

[Ryan Lemon]

The players were all different, too. You know, Pete's, like, kind of really.

[Matt Jones]

Philosophical, but, man, when he talks, I'm like, holding on every word. Exactly. He even gets me to shut up, which I can't, which nobody does.

[Ryan Lemon]

Comes on you. He's all business. Then you got Aiden, who comes on. He's got something to prove. And then Macklin's like the cocky, arrogant, let's go, let's go play right now kind of guy. I loved every minute of those interviews.

[Chias Pete]

Yeah, it's a great day out here. I was already excited for the season.

[Matt Jones]

Before we pulled up today, but just being in the stadium talking to the.

[Chias Pete]

Guys, they all have that same message.

[Matt Jones]

If we want to play for each other and run through a wall for Kentucky, we don't know what the final.

[Chias Pete]

Product will be, but I'm excited to.

[Matt Jones]

See how it pans out. Yeah. And I see. I got my uk. These are. These are custom. These are my UK shoes.

[Ryan Lemon]

Oh, you only break those out for special occasions.

[Matt Jones]

These only come out for. These were. These are specifically big shoe day. Right?

[Ryan Lemon]

Yeah.

[Chias Pete]

Ksrs.

[Matt Jones]

Oh, you got your Air Monarch. Ksrs. When you got your KSR shoes.

[Ryan Lemon]

See your name on there.

[Matt Jones]

But why did you choose Air Monarch?

[Ryan Lemon]

I didn't choose them. They were made for me dad shoes.

[Chias Pete]

Air Monarchs.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, they do have red in them. Why did you get red in them?

[Chias Pete]

Them.

[Ryan Lemon]

Red, white, blue. Very patriotic.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah, it's a good point, Tony. And it does say bound. Chicka. Bound. Bound.

[Ryan Lemon]

It does say that. Yeah.

[Matt Jones]

Yeah. Well, all right. Hey, thank you very much. The folks here at uk, this is one of the better ones it really was ever had. So I very much appreciate them setting it up. Everyone enjoyed the weekend and we will be back on Monday and hopefully. I don't think I'm gonna go to the NASCAR game. Had we won last night after that comeback, they were probably gonna get me to go. But I think now probably, you know, I don't want to see the summer of LA end in person. You're gonna miss the Pitbull concert. That was part of the reason I didn't go. When I heard Pitbull was gonna be there, that was pretty much it. Shannon, I'm glad you enjoyed the game last night.

[Ryan Lemon]

Thanks for the tickets.

[Matt Jones]

I appreciate it. No problem. We will see you later. This has been Kentucky Sports Radio.