Kentucky football releases official Week 1 depth chart

It’s the Monday prior to Week 1, which means it’s Official Depth Chart Day for most FBS programs, including Kentucky, who posted their official Week 1 chart at noontime.

With the battle at QB straightened out long before fall camp ever began, the Wildcats’ depth chart provides a couple of surprises and takeaways. But for the most part, it simply gives a detailed look at who will start and what the rotations will look like at every single position on the football field.

So take a look and get to know the Wildcats whose names you’ll cheer on this coming Saturday:

Offense

Quarterback

1. Devin Leary (6-1, 217, Super Senior)

2. Kaiya Sheron (6-3, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)

OR Destin Wade (6-3, 223, Redshirt Freshman)

Halfback

1. Ray Davis (5-10, 216, Redshirt Senior)

2. JuTahn McClain (5-9, 198, Senior)

OR Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210, Super)

OR Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)

X Receiver

1. Dane Key (6-3, 195, Sophomore)

2. Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 171, Redshirt Sophomore)

Z Receiver

1. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)

2. Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Freshman)

Slot Receiver

1. Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, Super Senior)

2. Brandon White (5-9, 167, Redshirt Freshman)

Y Tight End

1. Brendan Bates (6-5, 251, Super Senior)

OR Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, Sophomore)

3. Khamari Anderson (6-5, 240, Freshman)

H Tight End

1. Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, Redshirt Sophomore)

OR Izayah Cummings (6-3, 232, Senior)

3. Justice Dingle (6-3, 261, Super Senior)

Left Tackle

1. Marques Cox (6-5, 311, Super Senior)

2. Dylan Ray (6-6, 305, Sophomore)

Left Guard

1. Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 311, Super Senior)

2. Paul Rodriguez (6-5, 324, Sophomore)

Center

1. Jager Burton (6-4, 307, Redshirt Sophomore)

2. Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Redshirt Senior)

Right Guard

1. Eli Cox (6-4, 311, Redshirt Senior)

2. Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Redshirt Senior)

Right Tackle

1. Courtland Ford (6-6, 305, Redshirt Junior)

OR Jeremy Flax (6-6, 325, Senior)

As mentioned, not much drama at quarterback. It’s the veteran NC State import Devin Leary followed by unproven reserves. The real fun is at tight end and running back, where the ‘Cats have depth and no established No. 1’s in either room.

The running backs have Ray Davis, a 1,000-yard back from Vanderbilt who is likely to lead in yards, but he won’t carry the load that Benny Snell or Chris Rodriguez did. Instead, it will be much more of an RB-by-committee attack with several experienced and versatile options.

Over at tight end… this may be Kentucky’s best position on the depth chart. They have super-senior experience in Brendan Bates and Izayah Cummings, but also a pair of rising true sophomores who were absolute studs as freshmen in Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus — the former a monster receiver and the latter a menace as a blocker.

Appropriately, all four of those guys are listed as either No. 1’s or No. 2’s with an “OR” next to their name on the chart, essentially meaning that they’ll play just as much as the starters.

Now, let’s move on to defense.

Defense

Defensive End

1. Octavious Oxendine (6-1, 285, Redshirt Junior)

OR Tre’vonn Rybka (6-4, 275, Junior)

Nose Guard

1. Josaih Hayes (6-3, 309, Senior)

OR Keeshawn Silver (6-4, 315, Redshirt Sophomore)

Defensive Tackle

1. Deone Walker (6-6, 348, Sophomore)

2. Kahlil Saunders (6-5, 285, Redshirt Sophomore)

Jack Linebacker

1. J.J. Weaver (6-5, 245, Senior)

2. Noah Matthews (6-5, 240, Redshirt Freshman)

OR Tyreese Fearbry (6-5, 230, Redshirt Freshman)

Mike Linebacker

1. D’Eryk Jackson (6-1, 241, Redshirt Junior)

2. Daveren Rayner ( 6-3, 205, Senior)

Will Linebacker

1. Trevin Wallace (6-2, 240, Junior)

2. Martez Thrower (6-2, 224, Junior)

Sam/Nickel

1. Alex Afari (6-2, 203, Sophomore)

2. Keaten Wade (6-5, 240, Sophomore)

Free Safety

1. Jordan Lovett (6-2, 202, Redshirt Sophomore)

2. Ty Bryant (6-0, 287, Freshman)

Strong Safety

1. Zion Childress (6-0, 191, Junior)

OR Jalen Geiger (6-1, 197, Redshirt Junior)

Field Cornerback

1. Maxwell Hairston (6-1, 185, Redshirt Sophomore)

2. JQ Hardaway (6-3, 190, Sophomore)

Field Cornerback

1. Andru Phillips (6-0, 190, Junior)

2. Jordan Robinson (6-4, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)

After a stellar defensive season last year, Brad White’s group returns a lot of starters but must blend in some talented new pieces.

The big departures came at LB, where stalwart starters DeAndre Square (a program legend), Jacquez Jones and Jordan Wright all leave. However, Trevin Wallace and D’Eryk Jackson had to sub in quite a bit last year thanks to injury and now are juniors who you feel good about. There may not even be a drop-off.

There’s also never been more talent on the DL in Lexington than right now. Deone Walker was a true freshman All-American last season and the reports from camp suggest he’s only grown into more of a game-wrecker on the defensive front. Plus, the ‘Cats are two-deep at every DL spot with guys who’ve logged high-quality power conference snaps.

This unit will be strong once again.

Specialists

Kicker

1. Alex Raynor (6-0, 178, Senior)

2. Chance Poore (6-2, 213, Super Senior)

Punter

1. Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, Sophomore)

2. Jackson Smith (5-11, 204, Redshirt Freshman)

Long Snapper

1. Ron Gaines (6-5, 250, Senior)

2. Walker Himmebauch (6-0, 230, Freshman)

Short Snapper

1. Walker Himmebauch (6-0, 230, Freshman)

2. Ron Gaines (6-5, 250, Senior)

Punt Returner

1. Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, Super Senior)

2. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)

OR Brandon White (5-9, 167, Redshirt Freshman)

Kickoff Return

1. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)

2. Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Freshman)

Holder

1. Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, Sophomore)

2. Chance Poore (6-2, 213, Super Senior)

After longtime kicker Matt Ruffolo finally ran out of eligibility, Kentucky went to the transfer portal for their new starting PK in Alex Raynor, a reliable leg at Georgia Southern prior to leaving.

Elsewhere, the return room is dangerous, as Barion Brown is in line to catch kickoffs again after he was a superstar in that department and earned second-team All-SEC as a specialist in 2022. Meanwhile, Tavion Robinson is a terrific punt returner in his own right.

Now that we have the official depth chart, you can already start to smell the burger grease wafting over from Saturday’s first tailgate. We’re almost there, folks!