Kentucky Football Countdown: 92 days till Kickoff

KSR is counting down the days until football returns to Kroger Field. We cannot profile a player on each day, so this will allow us time to shed light on some of the best to wear No. 92. But first, this year’s No. 92 on the Kentucky football team.

Kahlil Saunders

Saunders made some noise last summer during his first preseason camp with the Cats. A three-star prospect from Huntsville, he attended Grissom High School, the alma mater of his primary recruiter, Jon Sumrall. A big body that plays the three-technique defensive tackle, the 6-foot-5 270-pounder moved bodies as soon as he got on campus. Saunders performed so well early on, he received snaps in the first two games of the season. After a “Welcome to the SEC” moment or two, Saunders got back into the rotation at the end of the year, recording tackles for loss against Louisville and New Mexico State.

Saunders is expected to play regularly for the Cats this fall, serving as a run-stuffer in the trenches to spell Octavious Oxendine. Saunders may never pile up stats in the box score, but he can eat gaps in the middle of the Kentucky defense.

Phil Hoskins

Phil Hoskins was the rare four-year SEC football player after starting his career in junior college. A pass-rushing specialist, he recorded three sacks in 2018, setting up for a breakout year in 2019. Unfortunately, Big Snacc was sidelined for the season before ever taking the field after he suffered an injury during pregame warm-ups. He came back in 2020, made a handful of tackles for loss, picked off a pass and caught the eyes of NFL scouts. One of 21 NFL Draft picks in the Mark Stoops era, Hoskins was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2021 draft. He threw Tua into the turf to record his first career sack as a rookie.

Former Cat Phil Hoskins got a sack today pic.twitter.com/RATLWlMSyH

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 28, 2021

Vic Adams

Middlesboro native Vic Adams was a brute on the Kentucky football defensive line in the late 80s. If opponents weren’t intimidated by his neck roll, the outstanding mustache did the trick. His best work happened after football. Currently the president of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, Adams has spent more than 25 years investing his effort and energy into improving higher education in Southeast Kentucky.