Kentucky Wildcats: Post-spring stock report

With spring football in the rear view mirror, it’s time to fully embrace the Head Ball Coach’s “talkin’ season.” 

The transfer portal carousel is still spinning, so rosters aren’t totally finalized just yet, but we at least have a sense of foundation for each SEC program. So let’s take a stock report of every team in the conference, examining their offense, defense and overall outlook heading into the 2022 season. 

Today we look at the Kentucky Wildcats.

KENTUCKY OFFENSE —  STOCK DOWN

After years of winning despite shaky quarterback play, the Wildcats found their thoroughbred in Will Levis in 2021 and plan to ride him for all he’s got this fall.

Under new OC Liam Coen, Kentucky’s offense saw a major uptick in explosiveness last season and became much more efficient on a down-to-down basis, too. The Kentucky Wildcats averaged 32.3 points per game — and 11-point improvement off 2020. The Cats’ 6.4 yards per play was their highest-mark in nine seasons of the Stoops Era. 

Coen went back to the NFL this offseason, but his replacement Rich Scangarello, another tentacle from the Sean McVay coaching tree, isn’t expected to alter the team’s scheme. 

Levis threw for 24 touchdowns last season, the most by a UK quarterback since Andre Woodson, but he also had too many hope-and-heave moments leading to a SEC-high 13 interceptions. He also averaged just 6.5 yards per attempt in SEC competition — third-worst among all starters. 

Still, NFL scouts are drooling over the 6-3, 235-pound quarterback’s physical traits, but if the Wildcats want to continue evolve and grow offensively, they need Levis to make a developmental jump. Better decision-making in the pocket. Improved accuracy on deep throws. Less YOLO plays (I.e. They love his toughness but want him to lose the recklessness).  

The Wildcats have some uncertainty at receiver where they don’t return a single wideout with at least 200 yards or 20 catches, but there’s talent in the room.Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson looks like a 1:1 replacement for Wan’Dale Robinson. The former Hokie was a do-it-all weapon in Blacksburg, leading the team in receptions and touchdowns and is expected to carry the same load for the ‘Cats. Chris Lewis is a sophomore to watch, while freshman Dane Key made some noise this spring. UK also was set to add former Alabama wideout Javon Baker out of the portal, too, but that move was squashed earlier this week.

At tailback, Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1,379 yards at 6.13 per carry) headlines the SEC’s All-Anonymous Team as one of the best players who routinely gets overlooked, while Kavosley Smoke is a really nice No. 2 option. Who is going to block for Levis, Rodriguez & Co., is a major question mark though.

Kentucky’s remade  ‘Big Blue Wall’ — the late John Schlarman’s nickname for his mauling OL units — could determine the ‘Cats ceiling this fall. They lost their OL coach to Alabama and three starters — including both tackles — are off to the NFL. This is a group that was a Top 20 unit in terms of tackle for loss allowed last season so it has so big shoes to fill.

Notably, UK has recruited really well along its offensive line, and the group has effusively praised the style and personality of new OL coach Zach Yenser all spring. 

Still, youth and inexperience will play a big factor for UK up front this fall. The interior is set with Eli Cox, a potential All-SEC center, Kenneth Horsey and Auburn guard transfer Tashawn Manning, but can JUCO signee Jeremy Flax hold down the right tackle spot? Is four-star recruit Deondre Buford up to the task of protecting Levis’ blindside or will heralded 5-star freshman Kiyaunta Goodwin get a look there?

KENTUCKY DEFENSE — STOCK HOLDING

While Kentucky’s OL features some uncertainty, the same can be said for its defensive line entering 2022, too. 

Kentucky had a Top 5 run defense in the SEC last season and Josh Paschal (15.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks) and nose tackle Marquan McCall are two big losses. 

And yet, the Wildcats do at least return a promising pool of former 5-and 4-star recruits set to slide into bigger roles. A trio of 2021 signees — Justin Rogers, Octavious Oxendine and Tre’vonn Rybka — should form a nice rotation up front, with guys like Ohio State transfer Darrion Henry-Young and Josiah Hayes battling for snaps as well. 

Edge rusher J.J. Weaver (team-high 6.0 sacks in 2021) could be in store for a breakout season after playing on a surgically-repaired knee last season. UK needs someone opposite Weaver to emerge this fall. Perhaps a guy like Sam Anaele?

Linebacker should remain a strength for UK, as its top two leading tacklers return in super-seniors Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square, but there’s concern about implementing so many new names in the secondary. Safety Yusuf Corker was really good for Kentucky for the last several seasons, and he’s one of three starters — and four of six DBs with at least 350+ snaps — that must be replaced. 

Tyrell Ajian is a cemented starter at strong safety, and redshirt sophomore Carrington Valentine started 12 games  at corner — but neither are big playmakers. Valentine had three pass breakups all season, per Pro Football Focus. The Wildcats recently hit the portal for Texas State defensive back Zion Childress and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they grabbed another corner (or two) to shore up the DB room that had just nine picks last season and allowed an SEC-worst 66.5 completion percentage. 

As a unit, the Kentucky Wildcats must create more negative plays after finishing last in the SEC in takeaways (12) and 11th in tackles for loss.

2022 OVERALL OUTLOOK — STOCK HOLDING

Mark Stoops has done a remarkable job in Lexington, delivering the Wildcats their lone two 10-win seasons — including a 10-3 mark in 2021 — in the last 44 years. Armed with his newest contract extension, Stoops has perhaps the greatest job security in all of college football. 

Kentucky is coming off an offseason where it signed a Top 15 recruiting class, added multiple impact players via the transfer portal and returns a starting quarterback who is generating early No. 1 overall pick buzz. Their player development is among the best nationally, and their roster, albeit young in some spots, is as deep and talented as it’s ever been under Stoops. 

Furthermore, they’re not brisling from expectations. The Kentucky Wildcats have openly pinned about taking another step up the ladder this offseason, believing they can truly compete against Georgia for the SEC East. 

Perhaps we should tap the breaks a bit before Kentucky swallows the whole banana though. 

Although the schedule is one of the softer slates in the SEC, and the Wildcats do host Georgia in late November, they must win must win at Florida in Week 2 and beat Tennessee if they want to truly compete for a spot in Atlanta — something they haven’t done in the same season since 1977.

Despite the ‘Cats having a better team than the Vols in recent years, they’re dropped three of the last four in the series and must play in Knoxville in 2022 — a place UK has won exactly once in the last 38 years. 

So we’ll see if Kentucky can streak-bust its way to a dream season. 

On3’s SEC Stock Report Series:

Auburn Tigers

Arkansas Razorbacks

Florida Gators

Georgia Bulldogs