Kentucky Practice Report: Defensive Line must continue to push

Kentucky’s defensive line has high expectations in 2023. The Wildcats return seven players that logged snaps last season and added a Power Five transfer to provide depth. On paper, this is the most well-rounded defensive line that the Wildcats have had in recent memory. Now this group must play to a high standard established.

Defensive coordinator Brad White and defensive line coach Anwar Stewart are pushing this unit every day during fall camp.

“I think it’s a daily battle with those guys. I think we still need to get a little bit off the rollercoaster,” White told the media on Thursday. “We have some days where we’re really good, and some days I don’t feel the energy, and you have to get after it a little bit.”

“You’re going to have those ebbs and flows in camp, but from that group, I’m really trying to demand and Coach Stewart is demanding those guys to just meet that level every day because we’re going to need it every week.”

The expectations are extremely high for this unit, and Kentucky needs its front to produce. White is setting the bar high: “They gotta play elite all the time.”

Things won’t always be easy in the trenches, and players must play through injuries. The standard has been established in Lexington, and this group must play to it.

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Josaih Hayes is getting pushed

Josaih Hayes was a significant recruiting win for Kentucky in the 2020 recruiting cycle. The Horn Lake (Miss.) High product was an Ole Miss commit that the Cats were able to surprisingly land. The four-star prospect carved out a role in the rotation as a true freshman but has yet to make a big splash on the field.

Following the offseason departure of Justin Rogers, UK has a hole to fill at nose tackle. There are numerous quality candidates to play the position, but a starter needs to emerge. Hayes figures to be the favorite to be that guy, but Kentucky’s coaching staff is working on pushing the senior in fall camp.

“It’s that fine line of trying to tell him ‘hey, you’re doing a good job’ versus just continue to push,” White told KSR. “We’re at that moment right now.”

Kentucky is focused on pushing Hayes and creating competition at the nose tackle position. For now, Hayes won’t be showered with praise. UK needs to see results on the field when the season begins.

“We just need to continue to push,” White said. “At the end of the season, I’ll tell him you did a great job.”

D’Eryk Jackson needs to cut loose

South Georgia native D’Eryk Jackson is back on campus for his redshirt junior season and will enter the 2022 campaign as Kentucky’s starting Mike linebacker. The Wildcats feel very comfortable with the class of 2020 signee that has 89 career tackles, but now is the time for Jackson to take the next step in his development.

The Cats need Jackson to cut it loose.

He’s such a smart player that sometimes he’s just gotta cut loose and play,” White said. “Not overthink the downs. But he’s made a lot of plays this fall camp. He looks ready to take that next step.”

For now, White wants to see Jackson finish tackles to the ground with his feet and not give up “leaky yardage”. Finishing is a focus area, but there is comfortability with the veteran.

Keaten Wade can be ‘dominant’

Keaten Wade was another significant recruiting win. The 2022 signee out of Middle Tennessee was a top 250 recruit that received a lot of heavy interest from SEC schools. The Wildcats were able to land a commitment and signature. Wade would play sparingly as a freshman in 2022 and is stepping into a bigger role in 2023. But there is no hiding from his potential as a player.

“He is a guy that can be dominant,” Brad White told the media.

The sophomore is currently working at Sam linebacker and is also playing some Jack linebacker. Kentucky will ask the former blue-chipper to play in space and there will be a big role for him on this defense. For now, Wade needs to “amp up” and play with more edge.

“He’s a very easy-going young man. He’s very level-headed, he’s even keel — not too high, not too low. That’s what you want from guys, but at the same time, within a play you, need little spikes,” White said. “He’ll have plays where he just stays even-keel.”

White has had talks with Wade about it being OK to play angry. There were similar conversations had with Josh Paschal early in his career. The Wildcats need to see some more tenacity out of this talented sophomore, but there is no denying the raw talent.