LaRosa's Kentucky Football Preseason Position Previews: Safeties

The Kentucky defense is replacing six starters in the fall of 2021. One position group untouched by attrition is safety. Filled with seniors who have played a ton of football in Lexington, their experience is the strength of UK’s defense, allowing Brad White to roll out exotic alignments and schemes previously unseen by SEC opponents.

Corker on the Edge of Greatness

Yusuf Corker took his game to a new level in 2020. The Georgia native increased his run grade more than 20 points last season according to PFF. Combining his first two seasons as a starter, his coverage grade is the best among SEC safeties.

The senior has averaged more than 75 tackles a season as a starter. Last year he tallied 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass deflections and a forced fumble. A beacon of reliability for White’s defense, now the defensive coordinator wants to see him take one more step by creating more havoc plays in 2021.

“He has been really, really, really — I don’t know how many ‘reallys’ I can make until it hits great, but he’s right on the cusp of being a great, great player,” White said this week.

“He’s one that people need not forget. He’s been Mr. Reliable for us over the last two years, made a ton of plays, makes all of the checks on the backend. Now it’s, hey, go make those difference-making plays, game-changing type plays. I’ve put him in some positions to let him go do that. We’ve seen in the past a Mike Edwards that makes a game-saving interception, makes a game-saving strip sack or forced fumble, something like that. It’s been awesome that he’s been incredibly solid, reliable, you name a positive adjective, that’s Yusuf. But now we need to attach greatness to it. If he can play at that level, then this defense can do something really special.”

Unsung Seniors

Corker’s success often casts a shadow over his productive running mates at the backend of UK’s defense. Tyrell Ajian was a four-star prospect that made an immediate impact as a redshirt freshman, picking off a crucial pass in Kentucky’s thrilling 2018 victory over Mississippi State. He moved into a starting role in 2020 and did not disappoint. Ajian totaled 48 tackles, picked off a pass and recorded a PBU. In the Gator Bowl he had a career-high seven tackles and blocked an N.C. State field goal attempt.

Davonte Robinson has been forgotten by too many across the BBN. A four-star recruit from Lexington’s Henry Clay High School, he served as the Wildcats’ nickel in the historic 10-win 2018 season. Destined to become a breakout star in 2019, he suffered a freak season-ending injury over the summer. D-Rob recently admitted he was not 100% mentally recuperated in time for the 2020 campaign. Now the super senior is ready to shine as the Wildcats’ nickel this fall.

Supporting Cast

Taj Dodson — Entering his third year in the program, he enrolled early in 2019 and made plays as a true freshman, recovering a fumble against Florida. Limited to just four games to retain his redshirt, the following season he was sidelined by an injury for six games. Dodson jumped out at UK’s most recent open practice, picking off a pass in the two-minute drill to end the practice.

Jalen Geiger — Another member of the class of 2019, the Columbia, South Carolina native recorded a pass break up as a true freshmen, then charted three tackles in six games during the truncated 2020 season.

Moses Douglass — A four-star prospect in the class of ’19, he played in seven games last season. He is the son of former Wildcat and Chicago Bear, Maurice “Mo” Douglass.

Rickey Hyatt Jr. — A high school track star from Columbus, Hyatt attended Benny Snell’s alma mater, Westerville Central. He redshirted in 2020.

Jordan Lovett — The young gun in the group, Lovett is a ball-hawk that led the nation in interceptions at North Hardin High School in 2019.

Exotic Looks

Knowledge is power for Kentucky’s safeties. This year Kentucky’s base look will be in its medium package, primarily playing three safeties at once, with one slotted in at nickel. The three seniors that will receive the bulk of the snaps know the defense well, allowing them to move freely between positions and line up in different spots on the field, making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

“Even our backups, we know the whole defense,” said Yusuf Corker. “I feel comfortable if Jalen Geiger’s out there, Taj Dodson, Rickey Hyatt, Jordan (Lovett), Moses (Douglass) is out there, I feel like we really know the playbook. We can switch guys around, not just one guy staying at free or one guy staying at strong. If we really wanted to, you may see me at nickel one play, D-Rob at free and Ty at strong, and we may just rotate. I feel very confident in our knowledge of the playbook this upcoming season.”

One Big Question

Can Kentucky’s pass defense continue to stay atop the SEC?

The Wildcats lost two potential day one NFL starters at cornerback, Brandin Echols and Kelvin Joseph, who combined for five of Kentucky’s league-high 16 interceptions in 2020. You cannot expect UK’s secondary to replicate that kind of production this fall. However, Kentucky has the talent and experience to keep the Wildcats atop the SEC in pass defense for the third straight season. It’s a task easier said than done, but this group is up for the challenge.

One Bold Prediction

Yusuf Corker will play his way into a first round NFL Draft choice.

After Jamin Davis’ unexpected rise up draft boards, SEC analysts are now asking, “Who will be the next Wildcat that will surprise us in April?” Instead of pointing to linebacker, folks need to pay attention to Yusuf Corker. Wise beyond his years, he has what it takes in-between the ears and the physical tools to become the best safety in the SEC.