What we learned about the Kentucky Football Depth Chart at SEC Media Days

There’s an order of operations each offseason for the Kentucky football program. SEC Media Days kicks things off and Talking Season begins by discussing big picture topics. Two weeks later we’ll get into more details at the local level when UK football media day opens preseason training camp. There’s a little bit of a lull in the middle of camp, followed by a new depth chart that’s unveiled on game week ahead of Mark Stoops’ first weekly press conference.

During this process the nature of the questions changes. Mark Stoops can’t comment on specific players’ progress until training camp, because he hasn’t seen them in action yet. Even then he might stray from specifics to keep them motivated during a position’s competition. The latest from SEC Media Days was vague in nature, but we can still glean something from what was said.

Courtland Ford isn’t being Handed the Keys

Kentucky is not in the business of openly guaranteeing starting spots to transfer portal players. From quarterback to kicker, it does not matter the position, the role of starter must be earned. Marques Cox accomplished that in the spring at left tackle. Stoops believes Courtland Ford will make an impact on the rebuilt offensive line, but the USC transfer must beat out Jeremy Flax to take the first snaps this September.

Opportunity in Kentucky Cornerback Competition

The Wildcats are replacing two starting cornerbacks. Andru Phillips is the only one that has logged significant snaps and is the clubhouse favorite to be on the field first against Ball State. After that, there are a TON of options. Maxwell Hairston showed off ball skills at spring practice. Jordan Robinson has a ton of size at the position coming off a redshirt season. JQ Hardaway logged significant snaps as a true freshman at Cincinnati. Ohio State Jantzen Dunn has four-star pedigree. The newcomers from the 2023 class, Avery Stuart and Nasir Addison, will also have a shot at playing time.

“There’s a lot of opportunities, that’s the big thing. We have so many practices and different phases of that practice. We’ll have a lot of opportunity to see their ability,” Stoops shared with the local media.

“Experience does matter a lot of times, but also talent does. We got to make sure we got guys out there that can cover. The game changes, teams within our league, certain games, you know what I mean? You’ve got to be able to handle some one-on-ones and they also got to be able to process things. We’ll see where it goes. I think there’s a lot to work with there and I like the nucleus of that group.”

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Mark Stoops: Big Ray Davis Fan

Although I’m not sure Stoops appreciated the way Bob Holt phrased the question in the main media room, reminding the Kentucky head coach how many yards Ray Davis racked up against the Cats last fall in a shocking upset at Kroger Field.

“When he got in the portal and we had an opportunity to visit with him, it didn’t take you five, ten minutes to spend with a young man like that that you knew he was the type of player you wanted on your team, both as a football player and with the character and being a graduate of Vanderbilt and just a great young man and very talented player. And very tough,” he said. “I felt like he fit our mold.”

Kentucky Flipped the Special Teams Room

Kentucky added so many specialists, Mark Stoops needed a reminder from the media members when listing the transfer portal additions. The head coach counted two kickers, a snapper and a punter, but even he may be short-changing the group in that estimate.

Mark Stoops likes his Wide Receivers

“Those guys, with Dane (Key) and Barion (Brown), both performed at a high level last year as true freshmen, so it will be very exciting to see them grow and continue to improve and get better, along with some other very talented players,” said the Kentucky head coach. “We feel good about that unit.”

Inside Linebacker Depth could be a Problem

One transfer portal addition that cannot go overlooked is Northern Illinois linebacker Daveren Rayner. D’Eryk Jackson and Trevin Wallace are replacing super senior starters, but those two started half of the games last year while those super seniors were sidelined with injury.

“We gotta stay healthy,” said Stoops.

Inside linebacker is a position that gets banged up. The development of Rayner and Martez Thrower is a storyline we will certainly be watching in fall camp.

As for the starters, Wallace looked the part of a former top 100 recruit at various points last fall. He creates havoc in the blitz, but the devil is in the details. Stoops is confident the more Wallace plays, the more polished he will become as a player.

“He’s a heck of a football player,” Stoops told KSR. “The more reps he’s getting under his belt, the better he’s going to become. Just with playing, he’s really doing some dynamic things. I’m excited to watch him.”