Kentucky Post-Spring Depth Chart: Offense

The Kentucky offense underwent significant offseason changes while maintaining continuity at many key positions. Following spring practice, the latest depth chart projection for the 2024 season shows a unit with multiple options at almost every position.

The Wildcats have new leadership at the top as Bush Hamdan was recruited from Boise State to succeed Liam Coen. Eric Wolford made a surprising return to Lexington, tasked to bring the Big Blue Wall back to prominence. The Kentucky wide receivers were stuck in a rut for most of 2023. A former standout at West Virginia, Daikiel Shorts, has been tasked to unlock the potential of the talented pass-catchers.

Kentucky is sticking to its pro-style offensive roots, albeit with a play-caller who’s spent most of his career at the college ranks. That experience is bringing more tempo to an offense that operated at a snail’s pace over the last two seasons. Trending in the right direction at the end of spring practice, here’s what the offense will look like when training camp begins in August.

Quarterback

1. Brock Vandagriff (6-3, 210, Redshirt Junior)
2. Beau Allen (6-2, 215, Redshirt Senior)
3. Cutter Boley (6-5, 205, Freshman)

Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff not only brings five-star arm talent to Lexington, but the physically impressive athlete also has some wheels. We saw a little bit of both in the spring game as Bush Hamdan prepares to re-implement elements of the QB run game into the Kentucky offense. Vandagriff has a high floor, just as his backup does too. Beau Allen looks like someone who’s played a lot of college football. Unlike previous years, if Kentucky needs to start its backup in a pinch, the Cats should be able to weather the storm without drastically altering the gameplan. Cutter Boley has plenty of raw tools, ones that must be refined in the coming months.

Running Back

1. Chip Trayanum (5-11, 233, Redshirt Senior)
2. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Senior)
3. Jason Patterson (5-10, 207, Freshman)

The most pleasant surprise of spring practice was the emergence of Jason Patterson. Chip Traynum is bringing physicality from Ohio State as the go-to option and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye provides a nice change of pace as a proven pass-catcher. You cannot succeed in the SEC with only two options at running back. Patterson stepped up and showed the coaches that he can seamlessly make the transition and provide depth without needing to add reinforcements from the transfer portal.

Wide Receiver

1. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Junior)
2. Dane Key (6-3, 195, Junior)
3. Ja’Mori Maclin (5-11, 183, Redshirt Senior)
4. Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Sophomore)

An injury prevented us from seeing what North Texas transfer Ja’Mori Maclin is bringing to the BBN this fall, but that doesn’t mean the explosive playmaker will not play a factor in the offensive equation. Anthony Brown-Stephens will play a role in this offense. How big will that role be? It’s tough to say stacked up alongside talented receivers and tight ends, but Bush Hamdan believes he will become a leader in Daikiel Shorts’ room. Another name to keep an eye on is Hardley Gilmore. The freshman flashed and is a viable option to keep the top guys on their toes throughout the 2024 Kentucky football season.

Tight End

1. Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, Redshirt Junior)
2. Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, Junior)
3. Khamari Anderson (6-5, 238, Sophomore)

This is one position where you could argue Kentucky has three starters. All three will receive significant snaps this fall, especially when you consider that position usually must endure an injury or two. Expect former high school All-American Khamari Anderson to have a breakout redshirt freshman season, similar to what we saw from Dingle when he earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2022.

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Left Tackle

1. Marques Cox (6-5, 311, Super)
2. Malachi Wood (6-8, 283, Redshirt Freshman)
3. Anfernee Crease (6-8, 310, Redshirt Freshman)

Marques Cox is arguably the most consistent player on the Big Blue Wall. There is zero experience behind him, which is why Kentucky went to the JUCO ranks to add a commitment from Anfernee Crease, who flipped from SMU and was being recruited by a handful of other Power Five programs.

Left Guard

1. Jager Burton (6-4, 307, Redshirt Junior)
2. Dylan Ray (6-6, 305, Redshirt Junior)

Burton has played every interior offensive line position at Kentucky. After starting at right guard, Kentucky tried to transition him to center last offseason in an experiment that failed a few games into the season. He received the first reps at left guard in the spring game, a position Ray primarily played last fall during Kenneth Horsey’s prolonged absence.

Center

1. Eli Cox (6-4, 311, Super)
2. Koby Keenum (6-4, 295, Redshirt Freshman)

Kentucky has a four-year starter at center. That’s a recipe for success. Even though Koby Keenum is not expected to play much at all this fall, his development this fall is crucial in order to seamlessly transition into the position in 2025.

Right Guard

1. Jalen Farmer (6-5, 310, Redshirt Sophomore)
2. Ben Christman (6-6, 321, Redshirt Junior)

Jalen Farmer was the most noteworthy riser on the offensive line depth chart this spring. He entered the roster without much fanfare after two unremarkable seasons at Florida. His size stood out in the trenches, using brute force to open running lanes. Ben Christman was lost for the season last summer, but the Ohio State transfer has the chops to start in the SEC. He was not cleared for 11-on-11 contact but was able to participate in spring practice.

The two guard positions are pretty interchangeable. Most importantly, Eric Wolford will have competition at each position during preseason training camp.

Right Tackle

1. Gerald Mincey (6-6, 337, Redshirt Senior)
2. Courtland Ford (6-6, 315, Redshirt Senior)

Courtland Ford did not participate in spring practice after undergoing offseason wrist surgery. It paved the way for Gerald Mincey to step into the starting role at right tackle. The Tennessee transfer has extensive experience in the SEC and is one of the larger players we’ve ever seen on the Big Blue Wall. Even if Ford cannot beat out Mincey, the former has experience at left and right tackle, making him an ideal fit as the “swing tackle” who can spell each player throughout a game.

Kentucky Offense Added Depth in the Offseason

Eric Wolford inherited an offensive line with three returning starters. Kentucky hit the portal and added two pieces that could fill those remaining holes. That’s not a given. Unlike previous years, there’s legitimate competition at the guard spots and Kentucky may feel comfortable with all four taking significant snaps.

That’s the name of the game for almost every position group on the offense. While there are some clear No. 1s — Vandagriff, Key, Trayanum — there is not a drastic drop-off between the third and fourth-best receivers. Injuries happen. That is a part of football. The depth chart has been assembled to withstand typical attrition. The Kentucky offense has the players to succeed in the SEC. Their success this fall is all about execution.