Chris Oats among 28 Kentucky Football Senior Day Participants

Saturday is Senior Day at Kroger Field. Before the Cats host Louisville for the 34th edition of the Governor’s Cup, Kentucky will honor 28 seniors who could be playing in their last home game. The key word there is could.

This will be the second time Jacquez Jones has participated in Senior Day. He opted to use his COVID-19 waiver to play a fifth college football season. Others will have decisions to make this offseason, most notably, J.J. Weaver. The redshirt junior will walk alongside other upperclassmen with two years of eligibility remaining.

“Much like last year, there’s guys that are on the list that already went through Senior Day that won’t go again, that went through Senior Day and came back. I think there’s six (players),” Mark Stoops said. “He’ll have an option, a decision to make and things to look at.”

Statistically, Weaver has not produced like an early NFL Draft entry. In nine games he has 37 tackles, 5 for loss, and only 2.0 sacks. He did force a fumble and has recovered two. However, he’s had the NFL on his mind since before the start of the 2022 season.

“I’m trying to make this my last year, so I’m trying to have fun with it,” Weaver said at media day.

Two other players will participate in Senior Day with eligibility remaining, DB Taj Dodson and WR DeMarcus Harris. There’s also one important player left off the list: running back Ramon Jefferson. The FCS All-American suffered a season-ending injury on his first carry at Kentucky. Mark Stoops confirmed he will likely pursue a medical waiver to play one more season at Kentucky.

Oats Strong

Calculating who will be on next year’s roster will feel insignificant when Chris Oats participates in Senior Day activities. The former four-star linebacker was on his way to stardom when he suffered a stroke in the summer of 2020. There will not be a dry eye in the house when Oats returns to Kroger Field.

“We’re really looking forward to honoring the seniors here. On Senior Day we’re going to be recognizing 28 seniors, including Chris Oats,” Stoops said. “We all know and appreciate the support that the BBN has given Chris. Our fanbase, our university, our players care deeply about Chris.”

Chris Oats continues rehabilitation, but at a great cost. You can help the Wildcat by visiting 22OatsStrong.org.

Kentucky Football 2022 Senior Day Participants

• Ajian, Tyrell (DB)
• Bascom, Alex (DL)
• Bascom, Richard (DL)
• Bates, Brendan (TE)
• DeGraw, Cade (LS)
• Dodson, Taj (DB)
• Eiserman, Braxton (ILB)
• Goodfellow, Colin (P)
• Harris, DeMarcus (WR)
• Horsey, Kenneth (OL)
• Jones, Jacquez (LB)
• Levis, Will (QB)
• Lewis, Rahsaan (WR)
• Manning, Tashawn (OL)
• Morrow, Jordan (LS)
• Nalty, William (ILB)
• Oats, Chris (LB)
• Poore, Chance (K/P)
• Robinson, Tayvion (WR)
• Rodriguez Jr., Chris (RB)
• Ruffolo, Matt (K)
• Smith, Keidron (DB)
• Smoke, Kavosiey (RB)
• Square, DeAndre (ILB)
• Weaver, J.J. (OLB)
• Wheatley, Dillon (FB)
• Wilson, Quintin (OL)
• Wright, Jordan (OLB)