Our friends over at AthlonSports.com, who are always busting out rankings, team analysis, etc. before and after college football seasons has released their national rankings for the 2012 season and Kentucky comes in as the 75th ranked team in the country.

This number predicts that UK will come in dead last in the Southeastern Conference pre-season wise, as we all kind of expected with a possible tough year ahead. Here is some of what was said about Joker Phillip's team, including offensive thoughts and the overall outcome for this team.

OFFENSE

The Wildcats had one of the worst offenses in America last season, and it started at quarterback, where Morgan Newton was a disappointment. Then-freshman Max Smith took over for an injured Newton in the eighth game and provided a spark. He was even better this spring, completing 54-of-83 passes for 580 yards, six touchdowns and only two interceptions in the team’s final two scrimmages. Between Smith and incoming freshman Patrick Towles, a top-10 quarterback recruit nationally, Kentucky seems assured of an upgrade under center.

The quarterback will benefit from the return of each of last year’s top four tailbacks and career 1,000-yard receiver La’Rod King. The Cats, who had fewer plays of 20-plus yards than any team in the country last season, also believe they’ve finally found a couple of home run threats in young receivers Demarco Robinson and Daryl Collins. Robinson caught nine passes for 146 yards in the Blue-White Game, while UK’s tight ends, led by vertical threats Ronnie Shields and Anthony Kendrick, caught 13 passes.

The big question is up front, where three starters and 87 career starts are gone. The Cats’ completely rebuilt left side, consisting of sophomore tackle Darrian Miller and redshirt freshman guard Zach West, will be key. Kentucky will lean on seniors Matt Smith and Larry Warford at center and right guard, respectively.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Kentucky saw its streak of five consecutive bowl games snapped last season with a 5–7 record. Even if the Cats are better this fall, a tougher schedule that includes road games at Louisville, Florida, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee means that any improvement might not show up in the record. Season-ticket sales and attendance dipped last season, and only 4,500 fans showed up for the Spring Game.

Phillips’ message: “Just wait and see. Don’t give up on this football team. We’ll battle. We’ll fight. We’ll scratch. We’ll claw. Just don’t give up on this football team.”