Two Wildcats named first-team All-SEC by Phil Steele

How do you know when talking season has officially arrived in college football? Typically, the first day can be when Phil Steele’s College Football Preview hits the shelves at Barnes & Noble. The college football bible is on Volume 29 and was available for purchase just about everywhere by the Fourth of July.

When you flip open the 352-page preview and flip to the SEC section, you will quickly see that Steele thinks highly of Kentucky’s defense. Two players in the front seven make an appearance on the defensive first team.

Deone Walker joins Mekhi Wingo (LSU) as the only two defensive tackles on the first team. J.J. Weaver is at defensive end opposite Mykel Williams (Georgia). UGA leads the conference with four first-team defense selections, but Kentucky is tied with Alabama and LSU with two players on the first team.

As a rookie in 2022, Walker earned first-team All-American honors recording 40 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups. The former four-star recruit out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech figures to be an integral piece of Anwar Stewart’s defensive line where Kentucky will likely utilize the talented sophomore in a variety of alignments.

Weaver is now a redshirt senior who has played in 35 games (16 starting assignments) and logged 1,297 snaps. The Louisville (Ky.) Moore has had to battle multiple injuries (ACL team, elbow) over the last three seasons but has produced when on the field. Weaver has collected 120 career tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions during his collegiate career. After earning a career-high PFF grade (78.9) in 493 snaps last season, a big season could be awaiting the former four-star recruit in the in-state product can stay healthy for the duration of the 2022 season.

Kentucky’s defense produced big results last fall and could be a top-10 unit this season. The Wildcats have legit star power that will lead the way in the front seven which could help raise the defense’s ceiling.

High expectations for Barion Brown and Ray Davis

The defense is leading the way for Kentucky entering the season, but the optimism is high in Lexington that offensive coordinator Liam Coen can lead the Wildcats to a bounce-back season. Young wide receiver talent and recent transfer additions are the top reasons for the preseason positivity.

Kentucky added seven offensive transfers to the roster this season highlighted by NC State quarterback Devin Leary. UK also got a pair of starting tackles from the portal along with a couple of depth additions at guard. However, running back also got a bump.

Kentucky added Ray Davis (Vanderbilt) and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (NC State) to the roster. Each will have a role in the offense. The former was a third-team All-SEC selection by Steele coming in behind Raheim Sanders (Arkansas), Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss), Jarquez Hunter (Auburn), Jase McClellan (Alabama), and Kendall Milton (Georgia). Davis rushed for 1,042 yards last year at Vanderbilt and should be involved in a heavy tailback rotation in Lexington this fall.

Meanwhile, expectations are high for sophomore wideouts Barion Brown and Dane Key after excellent debut seasons. The former made two appearances on Steele’s preseason teams as a second-team kick returner and fourth-team wideout. Brown will have a big say in Kentucky’s success.

The Big Blue Wall even made an appearance with Kenneth Horsey (second-team) showing up at guard. Jordan Lovett (fourth-team) rounded up the selections at safety. Kentucky appears to have some star power on the roster entering 2022.