Spring Briefing: Kentucky's rebuild at linebacker starts now

Preparations for the 2024 college football season are already underway at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. In a few short weeks, cleats will be hitting the grass practice fields and/or the turf at the Nutter Field House as Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops oversees his 13th team at Kentucky.

The Wildcats are fresh off some notable roster-building in the transfer portal. That is no different at off-ball linebacker but high school recruiting has been valued at this position as defensive coordinator Brad White and linebackers coach Mike Stoops looks to replace both full-time starters from last season.

D’Eryk Jackson is gone after playing 1,767 snaps and recording 216 tackles during his career in Lexington. Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson also leaves behind a big hole after recording 67 tackles and seven tackles for loss last season. There is a ton of production to replace at the second level of the defense.

How will Kentucky replace that production? With experience and in-house talent development.

In KSR’s Spring Briefing series, we will cover every position on Kentucky’s roster before spring practice begins. Now we shift to linebacker where the program should have some interesting position battles in both spring and fall camp.

KSR’s Spring Preview Series: Quarterbacks, Tailbacks, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, EDGE

The Room

Daveren Rayner (6-2, 217, Super Senior)

The former Northern Illinois transfer is now in year three at Kentucky after preserving his redshirt by playing in only four game last season. Rayner has played over 1,300 career snaps with 150 tackles and 15 tackles for loss during his career. The Indianapolis native has been a highly productive LB3 for UK and will now get a chance to start in 2025.

Landyn Watson (6-1, 245, Redshirt Senior)

After beginning his career at TCU, Watson spent the last two seasons at Marshall. The former high three-star recruit recorded 69 tackles and four tackles for loss playing in the Sun Belt last fall. Watson gives Kentucky’s linebackers room some much needed size and is currently projected to open the season as the starting Mike.

Had to turn that money blue..
COMMITTED !!!!#BigBlueNation 🔵 pic.twitter.com/6DSvW5fHhq

— Landyn Watson (@landynwatson) December 15, 2024

Alex Afari Jr. (6-2, 222, Senior)

The former four-star recruiting win out of West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West made the position switch from standup Sam linebacker to inside linebacker last fall. Afari started four games for the Wildcats at off-ball linebacker and finished the season with 62 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. The veteran brings playmaking to the table but must become a more well-rounded player in the box. Afari will compete for a starting gig but is expected to have a big role on the defense regardless.

Grant Godfrey (6-3, 233, Redshirt Sophomore)

The former four-star recruiting win for Kentucky out of Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett is now in year three in the program and got some playing time last year when injuries started to pile up at linebacker. Godfrey brings good size and athleticism to the position and will have a chance to carve out a role this spring.

Antwan Smith (6-3, 211, Sophomore)

The Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake product played primarily on special teams in year one where his track speed showed up in kick coverage. Smith is still growing at the position, but will look to find a more permanent role on the field in year two.

Quintavion Norman (6-3, 224, Redshirt Freshman)

The late addition to the 2024 high school recruiting class was redshirted in year one. Norman is yet another Georgia native in this linebacker room and brings very good size to the position with the potential to play both Mike and Will.

Devin Smith (6-0, 226, Redshirt Freshman)

Kentucky beat LSU out for this linebacker out of Brunswick (Ga.) High. Smith took a redshirt in year one but there were high expectations for this three-star prospect. The second-year player could be the biggest wild card at the position in 2025.

Top Storyline: Who starts?

Kentucky has some big production to replace after a strong run of stability at off-ball linebacker. Things will look new for the first time in a few seasons at that position. Who becomes the starting unit will generate much of the conversation around this position.

The answer will probably end up being a top-three.

Daveren Rayner, Landyn Watson, and Alex Afari Jr. are Kentucky’s top guys at linebacker. Each is in their senior season and brings a ton of experience to the table. All will play a high volume of snaps.

The starting conversation will go on but the reality is that Kentucky has a defined top group with three guys. This position will sink or swim based on how these players perform.

What to Watch: Does a young player emerge to become a factor?

Grant Godfrey is now in year three with the Kentucky football program and is still looking for a way to get on the field consistently. There is an avenue to find his way into the rotation and it includes a strong spring practice.

Could anyone else emerge? One of the young linebackers from the 2024 high school signing class could make a splash this spring.

Quintavion Norman, Antwan Smith, and Devin Smith will each be given extended looks this spring. If any makes a big jump it could change Kentucky’s depth outlook for this position both in the short and long-term.

Bold Prediction: Kentucky sits tight at position in transfer portal

Mark Stoops stated that Kentucky could be a little thin at linebacker during the spring but the numbers are there in that position room. The Wildcats enter the season with three players with extensive experience and four young former high school recruits.

The young talent in the program will show enough this spring to prevent another trip to the portal in the spring.

Kentucky added Landyn Watson to start but will will see enough from Grant Godfrey and the 2024 class to believe that this room has enough depth for the 2025 season. A strong spring locks in Kentucky’s linebackers room in for the year.