(WR Barion Brown – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
WR/RS Barion Brown, WR Dane Key, OC Eli Cox, OG Jager Burton, OG Dylan Ray, OT Marques Cox, DE Octavious Oxendine, DE Tre’vonn Rybka, DE Deone Walker, NT Josaih Hayes, LB D’Eryk Jackson, LB JJ Weaver, CB Jonquis Hardaway, CB Maxwell Hairston, NB Alex Afari Jr., FS Jordan Lovett, FS Ty Bryant, SS Zion Childress, PK Alex Raynor, and PT Wilson Berry.
Key Players Departing:
QB Devin Leary (Ravens R6), RB Ray Davis (Bills R4), WR/PR Tayvion Robinson, OT Jeremy Flax, LB Trevin Wallace (Panthers R3), and CB Andru Phillips (Giants R3).
(DE Jerod Smith – @Jerodsmith)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DE Jerod Smith (Corbin, Kentucky), EDGE Brian Robinson (Westerville, Ohio), LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Georgia transfer), QB Brock Vandagriff (Georgia transfer), DS Cam Dooley (Valley, Alabama), EDGE Jacob Smith (Corbin, Kentucky), WR Raymond Cottrell (Texas A&M transfer), RB Chip Trayanum (Ohio State transfer), and CB Terhyon Nichols (Cincinnati, Ohio).
3 Star Recruits: DS Kristian Story (Alabama transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 BALL STATE W 44-14
G02 EASTERN KENTUCKY W 28-17
G03 AKRON W 35-3
G04 @ Vanderbilt W 45-28
G05 #22 FLORIDA W 33-14
G06 @ #1 Georgia L 13-51
G07 MISSOURI L 21-38
G08 #21 TENNESSEE L 27-33
G09 @ Mississippi State W 24-3
G10 #8 ALABAMA L 21-49
G11 @ South Carolina L 14-17
G12 @ #10 Louisville W 38-31
BOWL vs. #22 Clemson L 35-38
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 7-6 (4th in SEC East)
Home: 4-3
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 0-1
SEC: 3-5
Non-SEC: 4-1
Head Coach: Mark Stoops
Kentucky: 73-65
Career: 73-65
Bowls: 4-4
(DE Deone Walker – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Barion Brown (12 car., 147 yards, 12.3 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Barion Brown (43 rec., 539 yards, 12.5 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Barion Brown (8)
Sacks: Deone Walker (7.5)
Tackles: D’Eryk Jackson (89)
Interceptions: Maxwell Hairston (5)
Pass Deflections: Maxwell Hairston (6)
Tackles For Loss: Deone Walker (12.5)
Forced Fumbles: 6 Tied (1)
Kick Returns: Barion Brown (16 ret., 576 yards, 36.0 avg., 3 TD)
Punt Returns: Barion Brown (3 ret., 51 yards, 17.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Alex Raynor (10-11 fg/fga., 91%, 48-49 xp/xpa., 78 pts.)
Punting: Wilson Berry (56 punts, 2222 yards, 39.7 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 12 Brock Vandagriff (RS JR/TR)
RB: 0 Dernie Sumo-Kamgbaye (SR/TR)
WR: 7 Barion Brown (JR)
WR: 6 Dane Key (JR)
WR: 9 Ja’Mori Maclin (RS SR/TR)
TE: 84 Josh Kattus (JR)
LT: 69 Marques Cox (RS SR/TR)
LG: 62 Jager Burton (S JR)
OC: 75 Eli Cox (RS SR)
RG: 52 Jalen Farmer (RS SO/TR)
RT: 54 Gerald Mincey (RS SR/TR)
KR: 7 Barion Brown (JR)
PK: 16 Alex Raynor (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 90 Tre’vonn Rybka (RS SR)
NT: 9 Keeshawn Silver (RS JR/TR)
DE: 0 Deone Walker (JR)
LB: 13 JJ Weaver (RS SR)
LB: 54 D’Eryk Jackson (SR)
LB: 2 Jamon Dumas-Johnson (SR/TR)
LB: 3 Alex Afari Jr. (JR)
CB: 6 Jonquis Hardaway (JR/TR)
CB: 31 Maxwell Hairston (RS JR)
FS: 25 Jordan Lovett (RS JR)
SS: 11 Zion Childress (RS SR/TR)
PR: 9 Ja’Mori Maclin (RS SR/TR)
PT: 93 Wilson Berry (RS JR)
(CB Maxwell Hairston – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES | Kentucky leads the series 3-1. The Wildcats won (24-17) the last meeting between schools in 2017, and their only series loss (35-44) was at the prior meeting in 2016.
09/07 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS | Kentucky trails the series 14-20-1. The Wildcats are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series win (16-10) was in 2021.
09/14 GEORGIA BULLDOGS | Kentucky trails the series 12-63-2. The Wildcats are 0-10 since 2014, and their last series win (34-27) dates back to 2009.
09/21 OHIO BOBCATS | Kentucky leads the series 4-2. The Wildcats won (20-3) the last meeting between schools in 2014, and they lost (16-28) the prior meeting in 2004.
09/28 @ Ole Mis Rebels | Kentucky trails the series 14-29-1. The Wildcats lost (19-22) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/12 VANDERBILT COMMODORES | Kentucky leads the series 49-43-4. The Wildcats are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2022.
10/19 @ Florida Gators | Kentucky trails the series 21-53. The Wildcats are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (10-34) was in 2020.
10/26 AUBURN TIGERS | Kentucky trails the series 6-27-1. The Wildcats lost (13-29) the last meeting between schools in 2020, and their last series win (21-14) dates back to 2009.
11/02 @ Tennessee Volunteers | Kentucky trails the series 26-84-9. The Wildcats are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (34-7) was in 2020.
11/16 MURRAY STATE RACERS | Kentucky leads the series 2-0. The Wildcats won (48-10) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and they won (37-6) the inaugural meeting in 2003.
11/23 @ Texas Longhorns | Kentucky lost (6-7) the only prior meeting between schools in 1951.
11/30 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS | Kentucky leads the series 20-15. The Wildcats are 6-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (17-44) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 6-2
Away: 2-2
Neutral: 0-0
SEC: 5-3
Non-SEC: 3-1
Overall: 8-4 (5th in SEC)
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