4 Former Kentucky Wildcats gear up for the Hall of Fame Game

Football is officially back. It may just be the NFL preseason, but we’ll take every little bit we can get until week zero arrives. Tonight the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game serves as the opening game of the football season.

The Cleveland Browns will serve as the de facto hosts against the New York Jets in nearby Canton, Oh. when the action kicks off at 8 pm EST at Tom Benson Stadium. Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth will be in the booth for NBC. Even if it isn’t the best football, the familiar sights and sounds of the broadcast provide some football comfort food. Lap it up.

For those who wish to scratch that gambling itch, the Jets are 1.5-point favorites. The total is 33.5. If I were to place a wager, which I may, it’s on the under hitting in a sloppy preseason opener.

You don’t need to be a degenerate to be interested in the action at the Hall of Fame Game. Four former Kentucky Wildcats will be in Canton Thursday night.

WR Randall Cobb, No. 18, New York Jets
CB Brandin Echols, No. 26, New York Jets
DE Za’Darius Smith, No. 99, Cleveland Browns
CB Chris Westry, No. 20, Cleveland Browns

How Much will the Former Wildcats Actually Play in the Hall of Fame Game?

The preseason isn’t built for long-time vets and starters, especially the Hall of Fame Game. That’s why you probably won’t even see Randall Cobb in pads. No. 18 will spend more time yucking it up on the sideline with Aaron Rodgers than running routes. The same can also probably be said for Za’Darius Smith. After a brief stint with the Vikings, the Browns brought Big Z to Cleveland to replace the aging Jadeveon Clowney.

As for the defensive backs, you could see both Wildcats playing well into the fourth quarter. Brandin Echols was outstanding as a rookie, starting in 14 games and picking off a pair of passes, but he’s slipping down the depth chart and must serve a one-game suspension to start the season. ESPN currently projects Echols as CB3.

Things are a bit more dire for Westry. Always on the fringe, he’s bounced between active rosters and practice squads throughout his four years in the NFL. He’s made a few splash plays during the first days of training camp with the Cleveland Browns, but one Browns insider told KSR he’s probably option No. 6 right now at the position. A few big plays during the preseason are needed for him to secure a spot on the 53-man roster.

come for the defense 🙅‍♂️ stay for the celebration 💸@The1stTheory | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/oDveGDAhEK

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 30, 2023

Kentucky Wildcats in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

How many former Wildcats are enshrined in Canton? There are seven Cats in the College Football Hall of Fame, none of which are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

George Blanda and Dermontti are the only two Cats permanently honored at the birthplace of football. As Freddie Maggard likes to remind folks, Dawson actually played guard at UK. He moved to center in Pittsburgh and was a staple for the Steel Curtain from 1988-00, earning six All-Pro honors during that time. The immortal George Blanda played in the NFL until he was 48, splitting time as a quarterback and a placekicker. Blanda was the NFL’s all-time scoring leader when he retired in 1975.