Spring Briefing: Linebacker room is loaded with top-end experience

Preparations for the 2024 college football season are already underway at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. Linebackers coach Mike Stoops is now in year three at Kentucky and has room with star power experience, and many new faces.

The Wildcats received a big boost in the transfer portal when this program landed the No. 1 available off-ball linebacker to replace Trevin Wallace on top of returning a multi-year starter inside with a super senior returning to provide depth. There are many reasons to believe in this linebacker unit but there are some young faces that need to be developed behind the scenes.

In KSR’s Spring Briefing series, we will cover every position on Kentucky’s roster before spring practice begins. Next up is linebacker where Kentucky has two potential All-SEC selections and future draft picks.

Spring Rundown: Quarterback, Tailback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, EDGE

The Room

Daveren Rayner (6-2, 217, Super)

The Northern Illinois transfer filled a LB3 role for Kentucky last season recording 30 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. Rayner is back for year two and will be expected to fill a similar role for Kentucky in 2024.

D’Eryk Jackson (6-1, 245, Redshirt Senior)

The South Georgia native thrived in his first full season as a starter recording 89 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and two interceptions in 2023. Jackson is backing 2024 and will be asked to play a big role. The redshirt senior enters the season as one of the best returning linebackers in the SEC.

Jamon Dumas-Johnson (6-1, 245, Senior)

To replace Trevin Wallace, Kentucky found a former All-American. Dumas-Johnson is a former blue-chip recruit who was a two-year starter at Georgia. The SEC transfer owns two national championship rings along with 125 career tackles and 17 tackles for loss. Kentucky could have the best inside linebacker duo in the SEC.

Jayvant Brown (6-0, 226, Sophomore)

The South Florida native played primarily on special teams in year one and will be entering a big spring after Kentucky just signed a ton of players in the most recent high school class. Brown has a chance to lock down the LB4 spot over the next two months.

Quintavion Norman (6-3, 205, Freshman)

A surprise addition to Kentucky’s recruiting class, Norman was headed for junior college until a late audible was called in his recruitment. The Peach State native will arrive on campus this summer.

Antwan Smith (6-3, 200, Freshman)

One of the fastest linebackers in the 2024 recruiting cycle, the Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake product was an early enrollee who will be participating in spring practice. Smith needs to add some strength and weight but has an intriguing physical skill set built around speed.

Devin Smith (6-0, 215, Freshman)

A recruiting win over LSU during the season, Kentucky landed another Smith at linebacker. Devin Smith will not be on campus until the summer but is a run-and-strike linebacker who figures to be a good fit in Kentucky’s scheme.

Jaden Smith (6-3, 201, Freshman)

The Michigan signee backed out of his National Letter of Intent in February and quickly landed at Kentucky. We are unsure what the four-star recruit’s position will be at the next level, but the West Charlotte product brings speed and a pass-rushing package to the defense.

Steven Soles Jr. (6-2, 220, Freshman)

Despite playing EDGE at Powell (Tenn.) High, Soles will be beginning his Kentucky career at off-ball linebacker. The true freshman is another player with an intriguing pass-rush toolbox but will be playing a different position than high school.

Top Storyline: Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s impact at a new school

Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson was Kentucky’s biggest defensive recruiting win in the portal era. I’m not sure it’s really even close. The SEC transfer was an All-American as a true sophomore, is a future pro, and played a critical position in the middle of Kirby Smart’s championship-caliber defense.

Expectations will be high for the true senior.

Kentucky will ask Dumas-Johnson to fulfill a leadership role in the middle of the defense and to produce at a high level. On paper, off-ball linebacker is a big positional strength. D’Eryk Jackson is a big returning piece, but Dumas-Johnson’s arrival gives Kentucky a chance to have an incredibly stout front seven and perhaps one of the best linebacker duos in college football.

What to Watch: Developing young depth

An argument can be made that Devin Smith and Jaden Smith were Kentucky’s most impressive recruiting wins at linebacker. Neither will be on campus until the summer. So there is a waiting game to play, but there will be opportunities presented this spring for some young players.

Jayvant Brown has a year in the system with a chance to carve out a real role with the twos. Steven Soles Jr. owns an intriguing skill set and could factor in year one. Antwan Smith has some physical traits that are worth investing in long term.

Much of this season will be about developing young depth at linebacker since this position room will see heavy turnover after the season. One of the six underclassmen will have a chance to start in 2025. Who will that end up being? The upcoming 15 spring practices could give us a better idea.

Bold Prediction: Expectations will grow for Jamon Dumas-Johnson

Much is expected of the Georgia transfer. I believe we will soon learn that this was an excellent offseason addition by the Kentucky football program.

Dumas-Johnson has played high-level SEC football and can give Kentucky a big voice in the middle of the defense. Playing alongside Jackson behind Kentucky’s big and talented defensive line will equal good things.

Do not be surprised if some hype builds that this could end up becoming one of Kentucky’s best front sevens in program history. Dumas-Johnson will have a huge say that. Look for the senior to make a big splash this spring.