Kentucky PFF Grades and Snap Counts versus Ohio

Kentucky football got a much-needed win on Saturday in the form of a dominant performance over Ohio. It was exactly the type of get-right game Big Blue Nation needed following the Cats’ pitiful showing against South Carolina and the coulda-shoulda-woulda been an upset over Georgia.

There is always room for nitpicking a lack of perfection, but it is hard to find many reasons to be upset after the 41-6 win. The lopsided score also provided Mark Stoops the ability to play a lot of the young guys, especially on defense. Overall, 35 different defensive players saw action on Saturday, and 24 different offensive guys got on the field.

The team’s individual player grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF) paint a similar story as the one told by the thousands upon thousands of eye tests watching the game.

Let’s break it all down.

Gavin Wimsatt’s PFF grade led the team in just 16 snaps

Those of you in the “Gavin Wimsatt should play more” camp just got some more fodder for your argument. In just 16 snaps, Wimsatt led the team with a PFF grade of 92.4. For comparison, this ranked third overall in the SEC in Week 4 behind Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss and Robby Ashford of South Carolina.

Oh, and Brock Vandagriff was the next highest-rated QB in the SEC over the weekend at 84.9. He achieved that rating in 61 snaps.

While a few eyebrows rightfully rose at the sight of the quarterbacks’ grades, it should be no surprise to anyone to see Dane Key coming out with a whopping 91.7 grade of his own. Key unlocked the door to the best statistical day in his Wildcat career, hauling in seven of his 10 targets for 145 yards.

As for the offensive line, there was some improvement, especially in the pass-blocking category, but it continues to be an area wanting for improvement. Amongst the starters, Marques Cox and Eli Cox led the way in the pass-blocking grades with very strong ratings of 79.4 and 79.9. Dylan Ray also posted an above-average grade while Gerland Mincy and Jalen Farmer were much lower on the scale.

Bush Hamdan instituted more roll-outs for Brock Vandagriff this game, limiting the straight dropback in the pocket passes in an effort to give him some time. With its success, look for a similar strategy throughout the SEC schedule.

Kentucky Offensive PFF Grades and Snap Counts versus Ohio

Maxwell Hairston returns to the top on defensive grades

Last season, Maxwell Hairston (along with New York Giants star rookie, Andru Phillips) typically ranked in the top three players on the defense in every game according to PFF. Through the first few games of the season this year, however, Hairston has still been looking for his footing, struggling to follow up such a tremendous year with performances that met equally high expectations. Against, Ohio, his school-high third pick-six changed that. Hairston graded out with a phenomenal 91.8 score.

After Hairston, Kentucky’s stout defensive line reigned supreme. Tre’Vonn Rybka, Octavious Oxendine, and Deone Walker, all posted grades in the mid-70s, while rookie Steven Soles Jr. flashed tremendous potential with a 72.5 grade in just nine snaps.

It was an overall incredible outing for the defense, as 25 out of the 34 players who saw action on Saturday finished with an above-average individual grade. It is that type of defense that will keep games competitive all season…so long as the offense scores enough points.

Kentucky Defensive PFF Grades and Snap Counts versus Ohio