Ja'Mori Maclin is now playing more of his 'natural position' for Kentucky

by:Adam Luckett•about 9 hours•

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Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Ja'Mori Maclin (9) pulls the ball in for a first down in the second quarter but was called back for a holding penalty against Texas Longhorns during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov 24, 2024.

Expectations were high for North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin at Kentucky in 2024. The former Missouri receiver and class of 2020 recruit became a highly productive big-play wideout in the American Athletic Conference and was a big portal recruiting win for the Wildcats.

But a position switch led to a rough start.

Over 72 percent of Maclin’s offensive snaps came in the slot in 2024. However, injuries to Barion Brown and Dane Key late in the season presented opportunities for Maclin to get some snaps outside at X and Z. The veteran receiver responded by reeling in seven receptions (10 targets) for 224 yards and four touchdowns over the last four games. According to PFF data, Maclin was 3-for-3 in contested catch situations over the last month.

.@GavinWimsatt DOT ➡️ @routerunner9 TD

📺 – SEC Network pic.twitter.com/kkuOGp4STL
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 30, 2024

“Opportunities. That’s all it is for me. All I need is opportunities and I know I’ll make it. Staying ready throughout the whole season even though I know it didn’t go the way how I wanted it,” Ja’Mori Maclin told KSR on Wednesday. “Just staying ready in practice and stay working hard and opportunities came.”

“I think Dane and Barion went down on a few of those games that I played outside and that’s really my natural position. I played outside at North Texas the year I went for a thousand (yards) so that was kind of natural for me. It wasn’t a hard switch for me but I can do both.”

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Ja’Mori Maclin says the plan is for him to play more outside in 2025. With Alabama transfer Kendrick Law and potentially Clemson transfer Troy Stellato taking over in the slot, Maclin can shift outside and be a consistent vertical target for the Wildcats. The super senior is coming into this season with a chip on his shoulder just like the rest of the wide receiver room at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.

“I had plans to go to the NFL after last season but it didn’t go the way that I wanted. God got different plans for all of us and I’m just trusting his plans. I’ve got a chip on my shoulder to be the best receiver in the nation. That’s just all of our mindsets in the receiving room,” Maclin explained. “Coach (L’Damian) Washington definitely harps on that as well. We all come from different schools. The year before it all didn’t go the way we wanted it so we all got a chip on our shoulder to show that we’re the best.”

Mark Stoops has talked about Kentucky getting back to their roots and many believe that means a ground-and-pound approach on offense but creating explosive plays remains critical. Ja’Mori Maclin can be a factor for Kentucky in the splash play department at outside receiver.