Kentucky is 'Definitely Not Short of Weapons at the Wide Receiver Position'
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Kentucky Football has a wide range of players in this year’s wide receiver room. That’s working to their advantage.
Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Anthony Brown-Stephens are leading the way as three key returnees. Then, there’s Ja’Mori Maclin and Fred Farrier making an impact as transfers. Even the freshmen, namely Hardley Gilmore and David Washington, are standing out.
“We’re definitely not short of weapons at the wide receiver position,” freshman quarterback Cutter Boley said. “That’s for sure.”
Kentucky Can Have ‘One of the Top Receiver Groups in the Nation’
Ja’Mori Maclin has high hopes for this Kentucky receiver room. He’s not looking for them just to be a top receiving core in the SEC, but one of the best in the nation.
“This is about to be a solid year,” Maclin said. “That’s all I can say, man. A lot of people probably don’t put us as one of the top receiver groups in the nation, but we know what we can do. We’re ready to show that this year.”
Maclin spent a lot of this spring and summer working his way back from a sports hernia injury and groin issues. After a long process, he’s been able to get back to 100 percent.
“That probably took me a good three months to heal from that. They said it was supposed to be eight weeks, but they were being very optimistic about that,” he said. “It was three months and a long process for me, but I thank God that I’m able to come back and play with the guys.”
Maclin is a player that can be used in a lot of different ways in this Kentucky offense. He likes playing outside, but says “slot is probably a little easier because you get more space.”
“The reason I like outside is because it really shows my skill set with releases and those types of things,” he said.
Playing alongside guys like Barion Brown and Dane Key allows Maclin to get freed up in the secondary.
“They can take care of those guys and hopefully, I can bring a lot of attention towards me to get those guys open,” Maclin said. “I’m an older guy, so I’m able to help them out in a lot of ways. That’s all I’m here to do is help.”
It also helps that Maclin is being reunited with his former wide receiver coach at Missouri, Bush Hamdan, who is now Kentucky’s OC. The two have kept in touch over the years.
“When I hit the portal, I think he was still at Boise [State],” Maclin said. “He was helping me figure out some places as well. It’s good to have him here. Our relationship continues to grow.”
Hardley Gilmore ‘Fell in Love’ with Kentucky
Hardley Gilmore came to Kentucky from the Florida town of Belle Glade, a population of just under 17,000 people. The transition to Lexington has been eye-opening for him.
“I’m from a small town, so Lexington is kind of big,” Gilmore said. “Kentucky loved on me since day one, so it’s been a big moment.”
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound wideout committed to Kentucky when Liam Coen was the offensive coordinator and Scott Woodward was the wide receiver coach. When they left and were replaced by Bush Hamdan and Daikiel Shorts, Gilmore never even considered wavering.
“I fell in love with the school,” he said. “It was a genuine feeling from the school, [Mark] Stoops, and even our GA Coach Verb [Andrew Verboys]. It was a genuine feeling from everyone from the staff to the assistants. It’s been a great feeling.”
It’s not only the coaches. Gilmore has also bonded strongly with his fellow wideouts. They all rely on each other to hold everyone accountable.
“If anything goes down, I know they have my back,” Gilmore said. “The older guys are leaders. All of them are leading me the right way, telling me the little things are more important than talent. The little things are major. Make sure you focus on the little things and take it day by day.”
Gilmore is also bonding with the quarterbacks. Brock Vandagriff has been giving him tips to make him a better receiver.
“Brock is really nice,” Gilmore said. “He’s very humble and makes sure I’m on the right track. He makes sure I know every key detail, telling me the little stuff I need to work on every day after practice. He stays on top of everything to make sure the receiver core is on the same page with the quarterbacks.”
Barion Brown Sees the Whole Wide Reciever Room ‘Buying In’
Barion Brown is one of the most productive returning players for this Kentucky football team as a whole, not just the wide receiver room. He has 13 total touchdowns over the past two seasons and knows what it takes to be successful at the college level. He’s seeing the drive from this wide receiver group in 2024.
“As a receiver group, we’re buying in and know where we want to get to,” Brown said. “We know where we’re at right now and it’s nowhere near where we want to get to. That’s the extra work that we’re putting in. We’re going hard every day.”
Brown’s message to the incoming freshmen and transfers has been similar: just buy in.
“Sometimes, as a younger guy, you don’t buy in all the way because you feel like it’s not your time,” Brown said. “I’m just staying on the younger guys because if god forbid, one of us goes down, they’ll be next up. We’re making sure the younger guys are staying focused and staying on track.”
Brown has experience with multiple different offensive coordinators, wide receiver coaches, and quarterbacks in his college tenure. Both Daikiel Shorts and Brock Vandagriff have made an impact in their respective positions.
“Man, Coach Shorts, is a wonderful coach. When he sees me doing something wrong on the football field, he’s quick to coach me up and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Brown said. “Brock is just Brock. There’s not really too much to say. He’s a great quarterback and a great leader, which is good. Brock can get the ball wherever we need to get it. He can run, which I love about him. He’s just himself, man.”
Dane Key Calls UK ‘The Closest Receiver Room We’ve Had’
Kentucky’s quarterback room is brand new. Four new quarterbacks who have been able to quickly build bonds with the team.
“They made a big emphasis to learn everybody on the team and they’ve done a really good job of that,” Dane Key said.
However, the wide receiver room is experienced. They’re not feeling any of the pressure and they’re learning the offense quickly.
“I don’t feel any pressure. Pressure makes diamonds, so let’s go out there and make diamonds,” Key said. “Throughout the years, I’ve learned that all offenses are the same. It’s just about how you call it. Learning the different names for what we used to call it is pretty much all we’ve had to do, learning different terminology.”
Like Brown, Key has worked with several different offensive coordinators and wide receiver coaches. He’s been a part of plenty of wide receiver rooms as well.
“This is the closest room that we’ve had,” Key said. “That connection can go a long way. We’re celebrating each other. When one of us makes a play, everybody is celebrating with them. I’m super excited. It’s an experienced room now, instead of us just being the young guys. I’m super happy to be a part of that room.”
The biggest change from last season is just the demand from the coaches. Daikiel Shorts is expecting a lot from Key and the rest of the wideouts.
“Rather than the demand to do everything right, it’s about the demand to do everything at 100 percent with no questions asked about your effort,” Key said. “My biggest message towards the younger guys in our room is just to come to work every day and come ready to work. It doesn’t matter if you get the ball that practice. Just come the next day with a new mindset that day is over, it’s a new day, and it’s time to keep improving.”
The Quarterbacks are Relying on their Playmakers
Brock Vandagriff came to Kentucky after spending the last three seasons coming off the bench at Georgia with a loaded offense. In his first opportunity as a program starter, he’s emphasizing the pass catchers.
“I rely on my playmakers,” Vandagriff said. “I’m making sure that I distribute the ball to those skill guys when need be. Those guys are going to do their job of getting open. Just making sure we’re smiling at the end of the day because that’s what it’s all about.”
Vandagriff’s effort is also being noticed by the wide receivers. Dane Key said he’s working tirelessly.
“I think [Brock] might sleep in the building,” Key said. “I just like to see that Brock has bought in as much as everybody else.”
Vandagriff knew about a lot of the wide receivers Kentucky now has. He even played a role in recruiting Ja’Mori Maclin to UK.
“He’s a veteran wideout guy, a really savvy dude, smart dude, fast guy, and he’s popped and flashed the first couple of days,” Vandagriff said.
Meanwhile, Gavin Wimsatt, who transferred to Kentucky from Rutgers this offseason, has found the wide receiver room to be “very impressive.” From their ability to run routes and catch the ball, Wimsatt said “they’re willing to do whatever to help us win.”
“Most of them have experience in that room,” Wimsatt said. “That helps a lot with communicating what we like, what we don’t like, and what would be better for some stuff. That helps a ton. A couple of these guys have played with a couple of quarterbacks, so they know how to operate when it comes to working with different guys.”
Boley, coming in as a freshman, is excited about his fellow freshmen playmakers. Hardley Gilmore and David Washington Jr. have caught his eye.
“Every skill position guy we have in this class is doing a fantastic job right now,” Boley said.
Boley has built a strong bond with Gilmore in particular. He played a role in Gilmore’s commitment to Kentucky.
“You can’t keep him off the field because he just makes plays,” Boley said. “When a guy makes plays like he does over and over again, you just have to keep him on the field. He makes catches and he makes crazy plays. He’s going to be a star. He looks really good. I’m super excited about our connection in the future.”
