Defense looks the part at Kentucky's open spring practice

The standard is the standard. That remains true for Kentucky’s defense as Brad White enters year six on staff and year five as the defensive play-caller.

Last season, the Wildcats had their best performance since 2018 allowing only 19.2 points per game (No. 11 overall), 6.4 yards per pass attempt (No. 19 overall), 33.3 percent third down conversions (No. 21 overall), and finished No. 4 overall in SP+’s tempo and opponent-adjusted efficiency rankings.

Kentucky had a no-doubt top-15 defense in college football last season. The Wildcats won at Florida, beat a nine-win Mississippi State squad, and pulled away from Louisville thanks to the production of this unit while the offense rode the struggle bus.

Kentucky should find itself in position to be a top-15 defense again in 2023.

On Tuesday morning, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops opened the doors allowing the media in to view a full practice. Despite this being the first on-field football workout since pausing for spring break, the defense absolutely looked the part.

As with anything in football, it all starts in the trenches as Kentucky’s recent recruiting success immediately stands out. At boundary tackle, Deone Walker is a potential superstar who seems unblockable during multiple practice periods. At nose, there is healthy competition between senior Josaih Hayes and North Carolina transfer Keeshawn Silver. The latter brings a huge frame (6-4, 322) and the potential is obvious. Octavious Oxendine, Tre’vonn Rybka, and Kahlil Saunders will each play a big role in the defense.

From there you move to the outside and the two-way ability of Kentucky’s EDGE defenders can make a big difference. The adaptability of this defense depends on the outside linebackers being able to rush the passer and drop in coverage. We all know it’s a big season for redshirt senior J.J. Weaver but two other players stood out. Alex Afari Jr. got a ton of work at Sam linebacker and recorded an anticipatory pass break-up on a short pass. Look for the former four-star recruit to be Kentucky’s hybrid Sam/Nickel player this season. Keaten Wade is an impressive looking athlete, but Tyreese Fearbry looks much improved making a diving interception during team period. This group will go as far as Weaver takes them, but there is some clear young talent waiting in the wings with havoc playmaking potential.

At the second level, it’s the D’Eryk Jackson and Trevin Wallace show at off-ball linebacker. Both are proven players and Wallace brings an extra level of juice. The junior looked a bit more comfortable in the box and did a good job fitting the run. If that becomes consistent this season, No. 32 can be an All-SEC player. Depth is still a concern here as the drop-off was real when Kentucky’s second unit took the field.

In the secondary, there are big questions at cornerback and multiple answers at safety. Andru Phillips is a lock to start at one of the cornerback spots and spent some time playing slot corner as that will be an option the coaching staff has in their back pocket when getting into subpackages. Both Maxwell Hairston and Jordan Robinson received reps with the ones. The former had a solid interception versus Devin Leary in zone coverage while the other got burnt by Barion Brown on a go-ball. Hairston has the current inside track to start, but do not sleep on Cincinnati transfer JQ Hardaway. The sophomore has some real length that will be valuable and moves differently than Kentucky’s other corners. Expect the former four-star recruit to make a move for playing time at some point.

At safety, Kentucky was without Jalen Geiger but this group did not miss a beat. Zion Childress and Jordan Lovett work well together and each moves with assertiveness in the backend. Kentucky is in good hands at safety as this group has real depth.

White has proven pieces at all three levels. There are some depth concerns — most notably at linebacker — but there are tools to tinker with in the secondary and a plethora of proven commodities on the defensive line. Kentucky knows its identity and plays to it. That is showing up in spring practice.

“First and foremost is just the toughness. Our defense is very hard-nosed,” Leary told KSR about what stands out to him about the Kentucky defense. “They’re going to make sure that you earn it on offense. Coach White does a great job of scheming. I’ve seen a ton of defenses, a ton of drop eight and four down, odd fronts, and we really do it all. When you have guys like J.J. Weaver that can rush the edge but then drop into coverage and be really good at both of them that makes my job a lot harder.”

Kentucky is a coverage-over-pressure defense that asks its defensive front to two-gap and create free runners in the second level. Therefore, the Wildcats are never going to be havoc-producing machines. The Wildcats want to limit explosive plays (three consecutive top-20 finishes in plays over 20 yards allowed) and be stout when the field shrinks. The Wildcats know who they are.

Kentucky has recruited to this established identity by adding length on the defensive line and perimeter to minimize windows in zone coverage. Meanwhile, the defense is very strong up the middle moving from Deone Walker to Trevin Wallace to Jordan Lovett.

All that adds up to a potential top-15 defense in 2023. Kentucky certainly played to their established standard in spring practice No. 4 on Tuesday.