This is not good.

No, no, no, no.

Stalking, terroristic threatening and more, according to the Herald-Leader, is not something you do, Ashton Cobb.

The promising junior strong safety has really messed up, if what everyone is reporting is true. Using “why so serious,” a reference to the Joker in the Dark Knight for those not in the know, is not funny in the context used. It’s sadistic, just like the Joker was.

Threatening to rape and kill your ex-girlfriend, which the H-L said Cobb did through a plethora of calls and text messages, is not cool. Especially when those types of topics are touchy on UK’s campus anyway. Seriously Ashton? Why so stupid?

At first, we thought Matt Lentz had won the job fairly. Maybe he did. But Cobb just gift-wrapped the job to Lentz for the rest of the year. Head coach Rich Brooks said Cobb was suspended from the University, not just the team. Good.

If all this is true, Cobb should be off the team. This is just sad. Who does such a thing. Ashton, you’re an athlete on the football team at a SEC school. Move on to the next hot girl who shakes her ass at you. Don’t threaten the old one.

Why so serious, Ashton? Because you messed up. Now it is serious.

Earlier, we made a list of the top 10 impact freshmen this season. Guys who thought were going to see significant playing time or do something important. Now, we bring you the top 10 returning players. These guys are upperclassmen who should know it’s their time to shine, possibly after playing second fiddle.

1. Dicky Lyons Jr.
There’s no doubt that Lyons is essential this year. If Lyons shows his 2006 form, the wide receiver position will be solid. If he hides like he did last year, the offense could be in trouble.

2. Braxton Kelley
Kelley has big shoes to fill since Wesley Woodyard left, but has shown that he can do a good job after sliding over.

3. Alfonso Smith
Tony Dixon is the current starter and everyone knows about Derrick Locke, but Smith will be the key to the running backs. Forgotten by the fans, Smith is hungry as the spring game showed. Smith was the speedster before Locke came on the team and he’ll remind everyone of that.

4. Jeremy Jarmon
The dude is a beast. If he can disrupt half of the line and create pressure, things get easier for everyone.

5. Micah Johnson
After two years it’s Micah’s time. His success at middle linebacker could really made UK’s linebacking corps really really good.

6. Garry Williams
This tackle protects Mike Hartline’s blindslide. And Williams needs to make sure Hartline doesn’t end up on his backside often.

7. Trevard Lindley
If Mr. Lindley continues to improve and virtually lock down half the field, both on the run and the pass, it makes things a whole lot easier to scheme your defense. Would be higher, but we know Trevard will bring his A-game.

8. Kyrus Lanxter
Coming off injury, Lanxter is a tall WR with potential. If he can lock down the No. 2 spot, that allows UK to send all of it’s talent freshmen into the slot and no. 4 receiver roles, creating havoc for opposing secondaries. Lanxter is the second part of the WR puzzle.

9. Ashton Cobb
The strong safety could play an important role if Marcus Clinton shows lingering effects of his injury last year. A hard-hitter in the defensive backfield, the more he makes a TE or WR think about coming over the middle, the better.

10. Mike Hartline
C’mon, you knew I had to put the QB on the list. Although I will say this, if Hartline is less than stellar, it won’t kill the offense. Give it the old SEC QB approach son: just don’t cost your team the game.

The news out of spring practice today didn’t change much besides the Tony Dixon injury, which is being evaluated to see what the extent of the sprain is. That being said, let’s take the time to breakdown another position this spring–defensive backs.

The stars of the secondary are junior corner Trevard Lindley and senior free safety Marcus McClinton.

McClinton is a big hitter who also finds ways to grab interceptions if a quarterback underthrows a pass. Last year, McClinton fought injuries for most of the season, limiting his playing time. Barring a similiar experience, McClinton is ready to patrol the defensive backfield for the Cats’ defense this fall. McClinton did have one interception during last Saturday’s scrimmage.

The other star is shutdown corner Trevard Lindley. Lindley broke out his freshman year, emerging as the number two corner and grabbing key interceptions in upsets of Georgia and Clemson that year. Last year, Lindley was thrown at less, a tribute to his new shutdown corner status in the SEC. This fall, offense coordinators will try to break Lindley (if so, expect a lot of pick-sixes) or will avoid him again, leading to the team’s No. 1 reciever either being shutdown or switching spots (like Louisville did last year with both of their receviers).

The other safety spot will be filled by either Calvin Harrison or Ashton Cobb. Cobb is a monster like McClinton, a hard-hitter. Both players would be a compliment to McClinton and will likely split time at the position.

On the opposite side of Lindley should be Paul Warford. Warford was picked on early on in the season, as his coverage is less than ideal. But Warford can tackle, with probably sustains his playing time. If Warford can improve on his coverage like he did at the end of the season, this secondary will be one of the scariest in the SEC.

And if you pay attention to the last two SEC and national champions, both relied on great ball-hawking safeties with good corners. If the chips fall just right, UK will have the same secondary mold.