Kentucky could have busy 2023 NFL Draft class

Since the beginning of the 2018 season, Kentucky is 33-17 on the field and has produced 17 draft picks. The Wildcats are gaining respect nationally in both the college ranks and in the scouting world.

“They’re doing an excellent job at Kentucky developing football players at every single position with a lot of toughness,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said about the Wildcats at the beginning of the third round on Friday.

Kentucky is continuing its climb up the ladder in the SEC and will enter the 2022 season with high expectations as a likely preseason top 25 ballclub. Due to some solid roster building and development by Mark Stoops and his football staff, the Big Blue could be heavily involved in another draft next year.

Preseason prognostications will begin soon as we start a four-month buildup to the season, but for now, we’re going to put our scouting hats on at KSR and look at who some of the big prospects could be for next year’s NFL Draft.

Will Levis has palpable buzz

Throughout the 2022 NFL Draft process, many folks dug into Wan’Dale Robinson‘s tape to see how offensive coordinator Liam utilized the effective slot receiver in the new pro-style scheme that was installed at Kentucky. Throughout the process, folks came away impressed with Levis.

As the draft ended on Saturday, the Penn State transfer landed on a lot of way too early first round mocks.

• CBS Sports: New York Giants at No. 5
• The Draft Network: New York Giants at No. 6
• PFF: Seattle Seahawks at No. 8

Will Levis has major traits — elite arm talent with power and velocity — along with athleticism for the position that gives the quarterback legitimate secondary playmaking ability when plays break down. In one year at Kentucky, Levis flashed accuracy within an NFL offensive structure and will look to grow after just one full-season as a starer.

Decision making at the position must be improved as Levis had a very high intereception/pass breakup rate (14.2%) last year and the quarterback must prove that he wasn’t WR1 dependent after losing Robinson. However, if it comes together, it could be easy to envision Levis becoming the highest draft picks of the Stoops era.

Buckle up for what could be a crazy fun ride in 2022, Big Blue Nation.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. should find home in middle rounds

In one of the surprise decisions, star tailback Chris Rodriguez Jr. decided to return for his fifth year on campus. After rushing for 1,379 yards with an extremely efficient 55.1 percent success rate, the redshirt senior returns as the McDonough (Ga.) Ola product will have a great chance to set the program record for career rushing yards.

Fumbles are a big issue for Rodriguez to correct this season, and the tailback must continue to evolve as a receiver. However, a fair comp to him would be Dameon Pierce who was an efficient rusher on lower volume that also flashed receiving ability. The Texans took the Florida product off the board early in round four.

A solid redshirt senior year — bare minimum — should land Rodriguez in the middle rounds next season.

Transfer development at wide receiver

With Wan’Dale Robinson off to the NFL, Kentucky went to the transfer portal to find the next answers in the passing game.

Tayvion Robinson comes in with over 100 career receptions in offenses at Virginia Tech with some passing game issues. If the transfer turns into a good No. 1 option for Levis, Kentucky should have another slot wideout in the NFL.

TAYVION ROBINSON WITH THE MEEEAAN ONE-HANDED TD CATCH ✋ pic.twitter.com/tjP3jZi53r

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) October 16, 2021

Javon Baker did not play much at Alabama, but the X receiver as an intriguing skillset with vertical playmaking ability. Due to his athleticism, it would not be a surprise to see the transfer turn into a draftable prospect this fall.

Tight end has major potential

Keaton Upshaw is back after missing the entire 2021 season, and the Ohio native has long been considered a pro prospect thanks to his ability in the passing game. A big year in Rich Scangarello’s pro-style scheme could get Upshaw back on some draft boards.

Brenden Bates is a wild card as a redshirt senior. The Cincinnati Moeller prospect is similar to Justin Rigg due to blocking value, but might have just a little more athletic pop as a receiver. Keep an eye on the veteran.

Heavy guard value

Kentucky lost some star power at offensive tackle, but the Big Blue Wall is in great shape at offensive guard. Both expected starters will be looked at heavily by NFL franchises.

Kenneth Horsey is entering his third year as a starter for the Wildcats at left guard and will be playing for his third offensive coordinator in that time. In 2021, the Sanford (Fla.) Seminole product took a big leap forward and appears to be a good fit for a wide zone scheme. Horsey flashed positional versatility by playing both tackle spots last season and has legit value as a pass protector. There will be some size concerns as the redshirt senior is listed at just 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, but three years of tape and successful pass protection history should get Horsey comfortably into day three.

As Eli Cox shifts over to center, Kentucky went to the transfer portal to address right guard. Auburn transfer Tashawn Manning comes to Kentucky as a super senior and is making an immediate impact taking over a starting role in the spring. The Apopka (Fla.) Wekiva product started multiple games at Auburn and seems to be a scheme-versatile prospect after being used in power schemes under Gus Malzahn and Mike Bobo on the Plains and is transitioning to a zone scheme at Kentucky. The tape shows good pass protection production, and Manning is a good season away from emerging into one of the better power guards in the 2023 draft class.

Kentucky is in great shape at offensive guard, and that should play out next draft season.

Potential at edge

Kentucky’s defense was hindered last season because the Wildcats essentially played the whole season without J.J. Weaver and Jordan Wright both healthy at the same time. That should change in 2022, and both players will have the eye of scouts.

Weaver is entering his redshirt junior season and the former four-star recruit out of Louisville (Ky. ) Moore has shown some real run support production with the ability to set the edge combined with athleticism to drop in space. However, the outside linebacker has a work in progress as a pass rusher and flashed some improvement in that area last season. A big step forward could have the fourth year player as a premium edge player in the 2023 haul.

Throughout his career, Wright has showed high-level playmaking potential. The South Florida product has been a big-time havoc producer in spots. If the veteran can stay healthy and put it all together in 2022 it should lead to being a draft pick.

Super senior development

Kentucky’s defense in 2022 will be built on a ton of veterans. The Wildcats are expected to start as many as five super seniors on defense — counting Wright — and each seems to be a big year away from becoming a draftable prospect.

At linebacker, both Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square have the ability to fit the run and make havoc plays behind the line of scrimmage, but each is hoping show development in coverage to appear on draft boards.

In secondary, Keidron Smith joins the program from Ole Miss and the versatile defensive back has value as a multi-positional player but another year of solid tape at full-time cornerback could get the transfer into day three. Tyrell Ajian has good coverage skills as a safety, but tackling must improve. If the sixth year player checks that box, Ajian could work his way into the draft.

Kentucky should be busy again at the NFL Draft in Kansas City next spring.