DJ Waller Jr. misses Kentucky's first fall camp scrimmage
Michigan cornerback DJ Waller Jr. was a surprise spring transfer portal entry. Kentucky quickly made a move on the Youngstown native and landed a commitment from Waller once the Big Ten transfer was a free agent. The expectation was that the former three-star recruit who played 120-plus defensive snaps as a true freshman for Michigan’s national championship team in 2023 would immediately compete for a starting position opposite Maxwell Hairston.
Winning that starting position by Week 1 could prove to be difficult now. DJ Waller Jr. was a surprise absence in Kentucky’s first fall camp scrimmage on Saturday at Kroger Field.
“Waller wasn’t able to play today,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said on Saturday. “He has a slight injury, should be back early this week. Got hurt yesterday after practice doing some extra work, but nothing major.”
Everything sounds good for Waller long-term, but that did present another opportunity for some veterans in Kentucky’s cornerback room. Jantzen Dunn was running with the first unit during open practices and JQ Hardaway was with the twos. Those two cornerbacks likely got most of the CB2 and CB3 snaps on Saturday. Nasir Addison is another player making a push for playing time. Some momentum is also building for true freshman Terhyon Nichols.
DJ Waller Jr. will likely have a big role in this defense but might not be the starter in Week 1. Last season, Jeremy Flax was able to hold off spring transfer Courtland Ford. Keidron Smith did not start in Week 1 in 2022 after being a late addition to the roster. Waller is following a similar path. Regardless of who wins the job, we should probably expect a healthy rotation early in the year as Kentucky tries to find the best player to play opposite Hairston at cornerback.
Kentucky’s Class of 2025
| Player | High School | Position | Ranking |
| Cedric Works | Clayton (Ohio) Northmont | EDGE (6-5, 230) | 4-star (No. 147 overall) |
| Marquise Davis | Cleveland (Ohio) Heights | RB (5-11, 200) | 4-star (No. 160 overall) |
| Javeon Campbell | Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills | DL (6-5, 260) | 4-star (No. 165 overall) |
| Martels Carter | Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman | S (6-1, 185) | 4-star (No. 172 overall) |
| Quintin Simmons | Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow | WR (6-0, 170) | 4-star (No. 327 overall) |
| Kalen Edwards | Dyersburg (Tenn.) High | iDL (6-4, 325) | 4-star (No. 357 overall) |
| Darrin Strey | Paw Paw (Mich.) High | T (6-6, 295) | High 3-star (No. 401 overall) |
| Ja’Kayden Ferguson | Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall | WR (6-2, 175) | High 3-star (No. 430 overall) |
| Andrew Purcell | Enterprise (Ala.) High | CB (5-10, 185) | High 3-star (No. 479 overall) |
| Stone Saunders | Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt | QB (6-0, 205) | 3-star (No. 664 overall) |
| Demarcus Gardner | Cedartown (Ga.) High | CB (6-0, 165) | 3-star (No. 689 overall) |
| Brennen Ward | Gahanna (Ohio) Lincoln | QB (6-2, 205) | 3-star (No. 759 overall) |
| Jermiel Atkins | Trotwood (Ohio) Madison | T (6-8, 270) | 3-star (No. 868 overall) |
| Preston Bowman | Pickerington (Ohio) North | WR (6-0, 196) | 3-star (No. 1,033 overall) |
| Bryan Auguste | Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch | T (6-6, 285) | 3-star (No. 1,077 overall) |
| Tucker Kattus | Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier | OL (6-5, 300) | 3-star (No. 1,130 overall) |
| Nicholas Smith | Loganville (Ga.) Walnut Grove | DL (6-7, 255) | 3-star (No. 1,396 overall) |
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