Veteran Kentucky DB Taj Dodson retiring from football following injury-laden career

Kentucky defensive back Taj Dodson will not return to the team in 2023, a UK spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. Dodson spent the past four seasons with the Wildcats, but struggled with injuries throughout that time.

The former three-star recruit and Fairburn, Georgia native ends his career with nine tackles and one pass defended. He has already graduated from Kentucky with a communications degree and was honored this past season on Senior Day against Louisville.

Dodson arrived in Lexington in 2019 as the No. 50 safety prospect in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He made an impact for the Wildcats as a true freshman, recording a fumble recovery against Florida and finishing with three tackles in three games before taking a redshirt.

Unfortunately, injuries forced him to miss six games the following year in 2020. That would end up being a trend for him across his career. Although he bounced back to play 11 games in 2021, injuries again plagued him in 2022 as he missed another four games.

Taj Dodson’s departure opens up an extra scholarship for Kentucky ahead of 2023. That will give the Wildcats a chance to add another player from the transfer portal coming off a 7-6 finish.

ESPN draft expert reveals NFL comparison for Will Levis

Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis is a controversial prospect. Expected to be a high first-round pick, some people think that Levis is a can’t-miss player. Still, others don’t understand the hype around him.

Now, ESPN draft expert Matt Miller has given an interesting comparison for Levis, saying that he’s a lot like Matthew Stafford, a former number-one overall pick who recently won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.

“Levis’ numbers at Kentucky — 2,406 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions — are not good enough for the first round, but scouts love his 6-3, 232-pound build, toughness, arm strength and mentality as a passer,” Miller explained.

“Levis is very boom or bust, and he has to improve his decision-making.”