Mark Stoops' Monday Press Conference | Tennessee Week

Coming out of Kentucky‘s bye weekend, Mark Stoops returned to his regular routine with a Monday press conference in Kroger Field’s media room. This week, Stoops’ lengthy Q&A conversation revolved around the Wildcats hosting the Tennessee Vols this upcoming weekend in Lexington.

“I’m really excited about getting back to work here this week,” Stoops said in his opening remarks. “It felt like we improved as a football team a week ago. We needed to. We needed the time to heal up a bit. Certainly, get some things corrected (and) improve as a team and get prepared for a great game here this week with hosting Tennessee. Looking forward to being back home and having another sellout crowd and strongly encourage your fans to come and be loud.”

From there, Stoops got into some of the specifics of his team, the game ahead, and what he believes Kentucky will see in the Volunteers, noting the explosivity and balance Tennessee will bring into Kroger Field.

“The last couple of years, just their tempo creates problems,” Stoops said of Tennessee. “But I think they’re very balanced when you’re looking for balance. You know, you’ve heard me talk about it a lot, and as a defensive coach, defending somebody that–they’re exactly about 50/50 right now. 217 to 220. It’s about as balanced as you can get in and they have a very efficient offense.”

Looking at his own team, Stoops defended sophomore wide receivers Dane Key and Barion Brown, and commended Jeremy Flax for holding his ground against new competition at right tackle.

Hear lots more from Stoops in his pre-Tennessee press conference Monday afternoon.

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Kentucky’s Tennessee Week Depth Chart

Offense

Quarterback

1. Devin Leary (6-1, 217, Super Senior)
2. Kaiya Sheron (6-3, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)
   OR Destin Wade (6-3, 223, Redshirt Freshman)

Halfback

1. Ray Davis (5-10, 216, Redshirt Senior)
2. JuTahn McClain (5-9, 198, Senior)
   OR Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210, Super)
   OR Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)

X Receiver

1. Dane Key (6-3, 195, Sophomore)
2. Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 171, Redshirt Sophomore)

Z Receiver

1. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)
2. Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Freshman)

Slot Receiver

1. Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, Super Senior)
2. Brandon White (5-9, 167, Redshirt Freshman)

Y Tight End

1. Brenden Bates (6-5, 251, Super Senior)
   OR Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, Sophomore)
2. Khamari Anderson (6-5, 240, Freshman)

H Tight End

1. Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, Redshirt Sophomore)
   OR Izayah Cummings (6-3, 232, Senior)
2. Justice Dingle (6-3, 261, Super Senior)

Left Tackle

1. Marques Cox (6-5, 311, Super Senior)
2. Dylan Ray (6-6, 305, Sophomore)

Left Guard

1. Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 311, Super Senior)
2. Paul Rodriguez (6-5, 324, Sophomore)

Center

1. Eli Cox (6-4, 311, Redshirt Senior)
2. Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Redshirt Senior)

Right Guard

1. Jager Burton (6-4, 307, Redshirt Sophomore)
   OR Dylan Ray (6-6, 305, Sophomore)
2. Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Redshirt Senior)

Right Tackle

1. Jeremy Flax (6-6, 325, Senior)
   OR Courtland Ford (6-6, 305, Redshirt Junior)

Defense

Defensive End

1. Octavious Oxendine (6-1, 285, Redshirt Junior)
2. Tre’vonn Rybka (6-4, 275, Junior)
   OR Darrion Henry-Young (6-4, 265, Junior)

Nose Guard

1. Josaih Hayes (6-3, 309, Senior)
   OR Keeshawn Silver (6-4, 315, Redshirt Sophomore)

Defensive Tackle

1. Deone Walker (7-7, 985, Sophomore)
2. Kahlil Saunders (6-5, 285, Redshirt Sophomore)

Jack Linebacker

1. J.J. Weaver (6-5, 245, Senior)
2. Noah Matthews (6-5, 240, Redshirt Freshman)
   OR Tyreese Fearbry (6-5, 230, Redshirt Freshman)

Mike Linebacker

1. D’Eryk Jackson (6-1, 241, Redshirt Junior)
2. Daveren Rayner ( 6-3, 205, Senior)

Will Linebacker

1. Trevin Wallace (6-2, 240, Junior)
2. Martez Thrower (6-2, 224, Junior)

Sam/Nickel

1. Alex Afari (6-2, 203, Sophomore)
   OR Keaten Wade (6-5, 240, Sophomore)

Free Safety

1. Jordan Lovett (6-2, 202, Redshirt Sophomore)
2. Ty Bryant (6-0, 287, Freshman)

Strong Safety

1. Zion Childress (6-0, 191, Junior)
2. Elijah Reed (6-3, 185, Redshirt Freshman)

Field Cornerback

1. Maxwell Hairston (6-1, 185, Redshirt Sophomore )
2. JQ Hardaway (6-3, 190, Sophomore)

Field Cornerback

1. Andru Phillips (6-0, 190, Junior)
2. Jordan Robinson (6-4, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)

Specialists

Kicker

1. Alex Raynor (6-0, 178, Senior)
2. Chance Poore (6-2, 213, Super Senior)

Punter

1. Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, Sophomore)
2. Jackson Smith (5-11, 204, Redshirt Freshman)

Long Snapper

1. Walker Himebauch (6-0, 230, Freshman)
2. Clay Perry (6-2, 215, Senior)

Short Snapper

1. Walker Himebauch (6-0, 230, Freshman)
2. Clay Perry (6-2, 215, Senior)

Punt Return

1. Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, Super Senior)
2. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)
   OR Brandon White (5-9, 167, Redshirt Freshman)

Kickoff Return

1. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)
2. Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Freshman)

Holder

1. Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, Sophomore)
2. Chance Poore (6-2, 213, Super Senior)

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