Just by arriving on campus as a true freshman defensive lineman, the odds are not great for Farrington Huguenin or Christian Coleman to see playing time in 2011.

Freshman defensive lineman Christian Coleman said he wants to practice and prepare himself just like junior Collins Ukwu.

A total of 12 different men played at least one snap on Kentucky’s defensive line last season, and only one was a true freshman: Nermin Delic.

So both Huguenin and Coleman said they’re not going to focus on moving up the depth chart at this point. They both said they have the same goal to kick off their first camp as collegians.

They want to practice like Collins Ukwu.

“I’ve seen the way he practices and the way he prepares himself, and I want to be able to do that myself,” said Coleman, a 6-3, 268-pound native of Milan, Tenn.

Ukwu said he makes a conscious effort every day to practice as hard as he can. When he first arrived at UK and was redshirted his first year, he said he’d wake up and would be able to tell his body was dragging. “Those were lazy days,” Ukwu said.

He quickly learned that lazy days weren’t an option at an SEC school where you’re being asked to push yourself harder than ever before. Once Ukwu taught himself to push through the “lazy days,” he told himself he’d preemptively teach all of the newcomers.

Not only does Ukwu work to prevent any less-than-average days, he said he tries to be the fastest, hardest-working player at every practice.

“Right now, Collins Ukwu is practicing at a completely different speed,” defensive line coach David Turner said. “He has bought into everything we’re preaching and saying. Every rep counts for him. He comes out here with a daily plan to get better.

Freshman defensive lineman Farrington Huguenin said he isn't worried about playing right away. "I just want to get better," he said.

“He’s a guy that I point to the younger guys as a leader and say, ‘If you want to pick out anyone here to follow, that’s the guy I’d pick,’” he said. said.

Ukwu said it was difficult to push 100 percent upon arrival not knowing when he’d ever see playing time. Coleman said he doesn’t have any idea if he’ll see playing time in 2011; Huguenin, a 6-4, 238-pound Columbia, S.C. native, doesn’t know either. Huguenin arrived in Lexington on June 21 and has been working since with strength and conditioning Rock Oliver and wrapping his mind around co-defensive coordinator Rick Minter’s schemes.

Coleman said he arrived in early June.

“Right now I’m just building myself up and trying to learn the playbook as best as I can,” Coleman said. “I don’t really have an impression of the depth chart or anything. I’m just going to work hard and show the coaches what I’ve got. I’m just going to see where hard work takes me.”
Turner said he doesn’t yet know what they’ll do with the two freshmen. Redshirt decisions are still to be determined but the defensive line seems to have enough depth to last without the two. All four positions on the line are at least two deep with game-experienced players. Redshirt freshmen Alvin Davis and Mike Douglas are also in the mix.

So far, the freshman have been hot and cold.

“You might see a play where you say, ‘Oh my gracious, he looks pretty good,’ and the next play he looks bad,” Turner said. “It’s up and down, still adjusting to the speed of the game. They has no idea of the strength levels. You’re playing against grown men now. You’re not going to be able to get by on athletic ability alone.”

Whether they’re able to beat the odds and play this year is yet to be determined, and perhaps it shouldn’t be their top priority—Ukwu said his redshirt year was “truly a blessing” because it taught him the speed of the game without the burn of a trial by fire.

Huguenin said he’ll continue to work hard and if playing time comes out as a byproduct, so be it.

“There might be some openings but everybody just has to go through camp and show what we have,” he said. “That’s what’s going to determine the depth chart more than anything. It’s ain’t easy but it ain’t supposed to be. I just want to get better and whatever the coaches decide, I trust them.”