Kentucky’s Most Pressing Spring Practice Personnel Issue, Pt. 2: Receivers

Wan’Dale Robinson came home and smashed the Kentucky record books after registering 104 receptions, 1,334 yards, and seven touchdown catches in 2021. Josh Ali finished his Wildcat career with 131 catches and 1,447 yards. Both pass catchers are preparing for the NFL Draft and will be sorely missed. There is a great deal of unknown surrounding Coach Scott Woodward’s receiver position.

I’ve broken down Kentucky’s available receivers for spring practice into five categories in order to paint a more accurate picture. Let’s take a deeper look. 

The Transfer

Tayvion Robinson is a transfer with high expectations. The former Virginia Tech Hokie brings experience and production to Lexington. Robinson caught 113 passes for 1,555 yards and nine touchdowns during his stay in Blacksburg. The 5’10, 180-pound slot receiver is expected to take over for Wan’Dale Robinson which will not be an easy task. Frankly, the hope is for Robinson to lead the room and become acquainted with QB Will Levis as quickly as possible. 

Veterans 

Clevan Thomas Jr. returns to the field after spending a year as a student coach. The super-senior has started 16 games but has manufactured just 15 career receptions. He was drawing praise from Liam Coen prior to sustaining a season-ending injury last season. DeMarcus Harris’ 26 career receptions are tops amongst this group. The 6’1, 183-pound junior has flashed at times but needs to become more consistent. Rahsaan Lewis missed action last season due to a midseason knee injury. He played in six games in which he caught three passes and had one punt return for 12 yards against New Mexico State. Lewis’ block during Wan’Dale Robinson’s fourth-quarter catch in the Citrus Bowl made highlight reels. Scott Woodward needs at least one of this group to separate from the others.

Risers

Redshirt freshman Chris Lewis saw his first extended game action against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. A true X receiver, the 6’4, 190-pound Lewis possesses Red Zone pass-catching traits. The Pleasant Grove, Alabama product played in four games in 2021 but did not record a catch. Sophomore Chauncey Magwood was a do-it-all player at Lee County High School in Georgia. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman and caught his first career pass against Tennessee. Magwood’s role in the offense should see an increase in year two. Ideally, Woodward should be able to count on both of these players to find a spot in the two-deep rotation. 

Unknowns   

Tae Tae Crumes’ name has been frequently mentioned by Mark Stoops and other coaches but he’s yet to be a factor on the field. The junior has one career catch and is regarded as one of the fastest players on the team. Redshirt sophomore Earnest Sanders IV has failed to catch a pass as a Wildcat. With a position room that is rapidly escalating in regards to talent, it’s make or break time for both Crumes and Sanders. 

Rookies  

Dekel Crowdus was a significant in-state recruiting win for Vince Marrow. Early preseason talk was that the speedy Crowdus was working his way into the rotation as a true freshman. After sustaining an injury, the Frederick Douglass product redshirted in 2021. The former 4-star prospect looks to factor in the slot as well as in the return game. 

Fellow Douglass High teammate Dane Key was another major recruiting victory for Stoops and company. The 6’3 Key is a Legacy Wildcat and is known as a high-level route runner with excellent ball skills. The early enrollee will get a shot to earn playing time during spring practice. Cole Lanter is an intriguing walk-on from Boyle County High School who has a chance to work his way into scholarship status.  

Crowdus could be a speedy answer from the slot. Key is a polished route runner for a true freshman that could provide Kentucky with a consistent target on third down. Crowdus and Key have a strong likelihood to factor in 2022 with a strong spring practice. 

What Does All This Mean? 

The return of tight ends Brenden Bates and Keaton Upshaw joined by the upward trajectory of Izayah Cummings and Jordan Dingle as pass-catching options could lessen the immediate desperation of replacing Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali. However, vertical threats and chain-movers will be required to surface at the receiver position. Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson is a veteran with proven production that will be counted on to take on a similar role that Wan’Dale Robinson so eloquently filled in 2021.

Barion Brown, Jordan Anthony, Brandon White, and Alabama transfer Javon Baker are not on campus for spring practice. Coach Scott Woodward has a great deal of new and unproven entities within his position room. This means that opportunities for a spot in the two-deep will be highly competitive over the next few weeks. I’ve been doing this for a while now. I’ve never seen a position room flip the script more so than the Kentucky receivers over the past two seasons. Once considered a liability, current Wildcat pass catchers are highly regarded by outsiders and insiders alike. However, there’s a great deal of work to be done during spring practice. Likely a rotation will be established in April and then reconstructed in September. 

This series is taking a look at three specific position groups that are the most pressing during spring practice. Those spots are at offensive tackle, cornerback, and receiver. My ranking in terms of prominence are tackle first, cornerback second, then receiver. With Will Levis’ star rising, the Kentucky receivers need to keep in stride with the Wildcat signal-caller.