Kentucky unveils new football uniforms for 2023 season

Goodbye, checkerboard. On Thursday, Kentucky football released its new uniforms. The unfamiliar look left fans wondering where UK’s classic checkered sleeves had gone.

Did someone say to drop the new unis? pic.twitter.com/66xovbcCy2

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) August 3, 2023

Kentucky will be a threat this season, no matter what uniforms the Wildcats wear. The program added former NC State QB Devin Leary in the transfer portal after losing standout Will Levis in the NFL Draft this offseason.

Kentucky will bring more than just a talented quarterback to opposing stadiums. The ‘Cats return 64% of their production from last season, the 55th most in the nation. UK will kick off its 2023 campaign on Sept. 2 against Ball State.

Kentucky looks for improvement

After going 7-6, Kentucky is hungry for more. With head coach Mark Stoops at the helm of the program, seven wins has become less than satisfactory. Along with Leary, linebacker JJ Weaver will be key to the Wildcats delivering a satisfying season.

Weaver recently outlined what it will take for Kentucky to reach another level.

“Being consistent, going back to that. Being consistent with everything we do. We can’t take no days off, no relax day. We just got to be consistent, hit everything hard,” Weaver said at SEC Media Days.

Weaver knows about consistency. The 6-foot-5 linebacker was a standout on Kentucky’s defense last season, boasting career highs in total tackles (47), solo tackles (27), and forced fumbles (3). While Weaver wants his beloved program to reach new highs, he also is keeping expectations realistic.

“Going to a straight eighth bowl game. We’ve been to seven bowl games straight. If we go to eight bowl games straight, it’s a success for us,” Weaver said.

In the past seven bowl game appearances, Kentucky 4-3 under Stoops. In fact, before their grueling loss in last year’s Music City Bowl against Iowa, the Wildcats were on a four-game bowl winning streak. Although Weaver isn’t quick to get his hopes to high, Stoops is setting lofty goals for his ‘Cats.

“I want to be efficient at what we are,” Mark Stoops said. “I think that we’ve never gotten away from that — I think sometimes we’ve been more successful than others, and I know you’re not gonna compete for a championship unless you’re that.

“But, then you’ve got to put all the other pieces together. So, when there’s times where we’ve been extremely physical, great at running the ball, great at defense, everything. Maybe not having the dynamic playmakers at quarterback or putting it all the pieces together. That’s what it takes to win at the highest level.”

On3’s Justin Rudolph also contributed to this article.