UK and Nike introduced a new line of uniforms Thursday for the Cats’ upcoming football season, designed to enhance performance and highlight the history surrounding the program and the Commonwealth.

Aesthetically, changes to the Cats’ look were minor. The uniforms will almost exclusively employ blue and white; wide receiver Brian Adams modeled the all-white look Thursday and cornerback Anthony Mosley modeled the all-blues (Phillips said those two were chosen to model because the new helmets were only available in one size each, and they both fit the mold). One significant addition to the Cats’ wardrobe was a white helmet — in recent years, only a blue helmet has been in use.

Head coach Joker Phillips said they will mix-and-match looks instead of exclusively relying on all-white or all-blue outfits. Those choices will be made at the discretion of Phillips and a group of seniors he will select at some point prior to the season.

Another prominent aesthetic change is the addition of a checkerboard pattern on the shoulders; this is a nod to Secretariat and Lexington’s deep roots in horse racing, said Dee Scott, Nike’s global licensing director.

Phillips said establishing a new look has been a priority for him since his first day as head coach, but as things piled up on his desk last season, designing new uniforms took a back seat.

Though Kentucky’s changes are not as extreme, Phillips pointed to Oregon as an example for what a new look can do for a team.

“Who would have thought 10 years ago that Oregon would have played for a national championship? It’s important because you and I are talking about them right now,” Phillips said about Oregon’s uniforms. “They established that all-out look and they were able to get in a different level of recruits’ homes because of that buzz. We want people to talk about our uniforms, too.”

Scott introduced the technology behind the uniforms, which are part of Nike’s Pro Combat “system of dress,” she said. The uniforms are 30 percent lighter than last year’s model, which Mosley said was immediately noticeable even when he first picked up the new jersey and held it in his hand.

“You can really tell,” Mosley said. “These are things you never think about until you put on something lighter and something better, and we take it as a big boost mentally.”

The uniforms are also more breathable, Scott said, especially in the shoulders. Lightweight stretch material will boost the uniform’s low profile in low-impact areas, and heavier stretch material make up higher-impact parts of the body to help the players endure hits throughout the entire game.

As much as he appreciates the technology behind the uniforms, Phillips is most appreciative of the new look and the new opportunity to catch the eyes of recruits. Both Adams and Mosley said they want to look good when they play, and both said their team’s look was important to them in recruiting.

“We’re looking forward to changing up looks from week to week. We can go from all-blue to all-white or any combination we want,” Phillips said. “Our players are happy with them. I was backstage when (Adams and Mosley) were getting dressed, and they were giving great comments. That’s what matters most.”