Spring Briefing: Kentucky turns to veterans at safety

Preparations for the 2024 college football season are already underway at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. In a few short weeks, cleats will be hitting the grass practice fields and/or the turf at the Nutter Field House as Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops oversees his 13th team at Kentucky.

The Wildcats are fresh off some notable roster-building in the transfer portal, but there were not additions made at safety. Kentucky was active in the high school recruiting market and there is a chance a young player steps into a big role in 2025. Meanwhile, the program is seemingly committed to running it back with two local products with a lot of experience.

In KSR’s Spring Briefing series, we will cover every position on Kentucky’s roster before spring practice begins. Now we shift to safety where the Cats have some multi-year starters returning but zero proven depth.

KSR’s Spring Preview Series: Quarterback, Tailback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, EDGE, Linebacker, Cornerback

The Room

Jordan Lovett (6-2, 208, Redshirt Senior)

The Radcliff (Ky.) North Hardin product is back for his final season of eligibility playing 37 career games (1,793 defensive snaps) with 33 starts. Lovett has had terrific ball production (seven interceptions) throughout his career but has had issues with consistency. Kentucky needs the veteran to become a steadying force for the defense.

Ty Bryant (6-0, 198, Junior)

The Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass product is now in year three with the program and has started 13 games through his first two seasons. Bryant has been a dependable player and a solid tackler through his first two seasons on campus.

Cam Dooley (6-2, 203, Sophomore)

The former blue-chip recruit out of Valley (Ala.) High played primarily special teams in his first season in Kentucky’s program. Dooley might be the best athlete in Kentucky’s secondary and will enter spring practice as the No. 3 safety.

Jaden Smith (6-3, 203, Redshirt Freshman)

The former Michigan signee enters year two after taking a redshirt season. We are still unsure what position Smith will call home but that must be discovered this spring. He could fit in well at the medium Sam/Nickel position that Alex Afari Jr. played before moving to off-ball linebacker.

Martels Carter Jr. (6-0, 194, Freshman)

The Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman product was a big recruiting win for Vince Marrow in the 2025 high school cycle. Expectations in year one were always going to be high for Carter. Kentucky will attempt to find the true freshman a role and get him on the field in year one.

“I like how they see me, how the system fits me and how the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach see me running their scheme.”

Martels Carter is a true scheme fit for Kentucky.

➡️https://t.co/VgULmB2Eed pic.twitter.com/617Ofm7M01

— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) May 26, 2024

Dyllon Williams (6-2, 182, Freshman)

The former Missouri commit flipped to Kentucky in October. Williams is a Alabama native who is on campus for spring practice. A redshirt season seems likely but the true freshman will get a long look during spring practice due to the lack of depth at safety. Played a physical brand of football in high school that could get him on the field in kick coverage early.

Top Storyline: Is Kentucky all-in with Jordan Lovett and Ty Bryant?

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Kentucky’s winter transfer portal activity was that the program didn’t address safety after losing Zion Childress and Kristian Story. That move seem to be an investment in the returning veterans.

How invested is Kentucky in that investment?

The spring will be a chance for Jordan Lovett and Ty Bryant to show ownership of the position. Kentucky does not have many returning starters on defense and will need these two returning veterans to provide the unit with some much-needed stability both in the offseason and when the games start.

UK could need to each to play a high snap count volume in 2025.

What to Watch: The young former blue-chip recruits

Cam Dooley and Martels Carter Jr. were each big recruiting wins for Kentucky at the safety position. The Wildcats held off SEC competition to sign both prospects. The young players now enter spring practice with a clear avenue for playing time.

Dooley should be ready to take on a bigger load after spending his first season as a reserve safety. Expectations will be high for Carter in his debut season. Kentucky will need both to play a role on the defense in 2025.

The development of each is critical to the safety position.

Bold Prediction: Kentucky adds a veteran safety in the spring transfer portal window

Even if both Cam Dooley and Martels Carter Jr. exceed expectations this spring, Kentucky is just one injury away from being in a tough place at safety. The Wildcats prefer to play at least three players starters snaps throughout the season. This room could use some more depth.

Look for Kentucky to attack the safety market after spring practice and bring in a veteran with experience and limited eligibility similar to Kristian Story last offseason. The Cats could used another piece at safety and that will give the young players some time to grow.