Kentucky to be without wide receiver duo for Citrus Bowl

Kentucky will be without two offensive playmakers for its Citrus Bowl game against Iowa on New Year’s Day as senior wide receivers Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps were involved in a car accident during the team’s break and will be unavailable for the bowl game.

UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen announced the news while meeting with the media on Monday. While Ali and Epps will both miss the Citrus Bowl, Coen made it clear that both wideouts are not injured and are doing just fine after the accident.

“Just wanted to let you all know that Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps were involved in a car accident when traveling to and from over the break,” Coen said. “They are OK, all is well, but they will not be available for the game against Iowa. They are totally fine, they’re doing well, they’re here, they’ve been getting treatment – they’re doing all those things because they’ve been trying to get back to be able to play, but it just doesn’t look like they’ll be available for us in the Iowa game.”

Big news for @UKFootball… Liam Coen announces Josh Ali and Isaiah Epps were involved in a car accident and will NOT be available for the Citrus Bowl

Both guys are ok, but "probably not worth it for their futures" for them to play on Jan. 1st

More here from @LiamCoen ⬇ pic.twitter.com/8jzryWWTwF

— Maggie Davis (@MaggieDavisTV) December 20, 2021

While Ali has recorded 41 receptions for 601 yards and three touchdowns this season, Epps has made 11 catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.

Kentucky – which is 9-3 on the year and ranked No. 22 – and No. 15 Iowa are scheduled to kickoff at 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

ESPN analyst reveals who best program builder across college football is

ESPN college football analyst Tom Luginbill joined 440 Sports’ Fringe Element podcast and spoke highly of Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops and what he’s been able to accomplish as the Wildcats’ head man.

“I think with Kentucky, we’ve proven that it’s sustainable,” Luginbill said. “Because as the wins have come the facility upgrades have come, the resources, the investment on behalf of the university has come, and you’ve seen patience from the administration to build and then reinvest, build an then reinvest – and now look at what you have. What they’ve done in football is unbelievable. When you start to win, people start to care – all of a sudden your greatest revenue producer, you can invest in it and there’s a reason to do it.

“I think Mark Stoops is the best program builder in all of college football right now. I think he’s a great developer of talent, and they’ve built that thing into a program now where he’s sitting there on the cusp of a top-10 class – and it’s real, because when you get better and you get good, you’re going to get the attention of top-level players you didn’t have access to before. In that regard, I think he’s done as good a job as anybody.”

Stoops recently signed a contract extension with Kentucky that will keep him in Lexington through June 2028 and pay him $6.35 million annually starting Jan. 1 – a significant increase from his current salary of $4.85 million.