Defense has big challenge in Kentucky

CLAY CHANDLER
DM Senior Staff Writer

He weighed 13 pounds, 3 ounces at birth.

He's been an oversized quarterback since he started playing football at age five.

The spin doctors at UK's sports information department claim he might be the heaviest starting quarterback in NCAA history.

At 275 pounds, he outweighs every member of the Ole Miss starting defense.

Obviously, Jared Lorenzen is big -- and always has been.

Lorenzen and the explosive Kentucky offense were a prominent topic Monday at David Cutcliffe's weekly press conference.

"He's playing anything but like a freshman," Cutcliffe said. "He's making great decisions and he's very accurate with the ball."

Lorenzen's considerable girth doesn't limit his production, either. He leads the NCAA in passing yards per game and is first in the SEC in total offense.

"I don't think we could add up all the quarterbacks we've played and get his weight," said linebacker Amzie Williams, laughing. "You just treat him like any other drop-back passer. He doesn't want to run it, but he will run it."

In three games, Lorenzen has rushed for 51 yards. But his size, arm strength and accuracy have been his trademarks so far.

"He's got good, subtle movement in the pocket and does a lot of things that you like to see your quarterback do well," Cutcliffe said. "He's got good vision. He's a big guy and he sees down the field well."

Perhaps this is the player Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme had in mind when he decided to bench last year's starter, Dusty Bonner, and tab Lorenzen as the guy who slings the football around the field over 60 times a game. Upon the switch, which led to Bonner's leaving for Valdosta State in Valdosta, Ga., Mumme said Lorenzen gave Kentucky a better chance to stretch the field vertically.

"I think they're throwing the ball down the field a little more," Cutcliffe said.

The Ole Miss defense has been prone to giving up big plays so far this season, and defensive coordinator Art Kaufman says the key to containing the Kentucky offense is "being in position where you can tackle. You want to try to make (Lorenzen) hold the ball, and when you get to him, you've got to make sure you get your arms around him and snatch him to the ground.

"You can't arm-tackle him."