How Kentucky football and Clemson match up in the Gator Bowl — with a game prediction

How the Kentucky Wildcats (7-5, 3-5 SEC) and the Clemson Tigers (8-4, 4-4 ACC) match up at each position for Friday’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl — with a game prediction:

Quarterbacks

▪ In what will be his final college game, Kentucky’s Devin Leary (56.7 percent completions, 2,440 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) will face a familiar foe. The North Carolina State transfer went against Clemson three times while with the Wolfpack, winning once (a 27-21 double-overtime victory in 2021). In those three contests vs. Dabo Swinney’s Tigers, Leary completed 61.7 percent of his passes (a combined 74 of 120) for 649 yards with six TDs vs. only one pick. A 6-foot-1, 217-pound graduate transfer, Leary made clutch throws while passing for 206 yards and three touchdowns in UK’s 38-31 upset of then-No. 9 Louisville in the regular-season finale.

▪ During Clemson’s four-game win streak to end the regular season, Cade Klubnik (63 percent completions, 2,580 passing yards, 19 TDs, eight picks) has thrown for a combined six touchdowns vs. three interceptions. The 6-2, 205-pound sophomore from Austin, Texas, has deployed his mobility to good effect down the stretch. In Clemson’s season-ending 16-7 win at archrival South Carolina, Klubnik ran 11 times for 52 yards. The prior week, in a 31-20 upset of then-No. 20 North Carolina, Klubnik ran 12 times for 44 yards and a TD. In last season’s 31-14 loss to Tennessee in the Orange Bowl, Klubnik threw a whopping 54 times, completing 30, for 320 yards with no TDs and two interceptions.

Advantage: Clemson.

Running backs

▪ Kentucky star Ray Davis (1,066 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 5.7 yards a carry average; 29 receptions, 317 yards, seven TDs) was one of the heroes of UK’s upset of U of L. The 5-10, 216-pound graduate transfer rushed 14 times for 76 yards and the game-winning TD and caught four passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Cardinals. Super-senior Ramon Jefferson has run for 175 yards this season — and 133 of that has come in the season’s last three games. Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, another transfer from North Carolina State, played against Clemson once in his ACC days. He carried five times for 10 yards and caught three passes for 28 yards in the Wolfpack’s 30-20 loss at Clemson last season.

▪ Clemson’s Phil Mafah (894 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, 5.3 yards a carry) has averaged 107.8 yards a contest over the season’s final five games. The 6-1, 230-pound junior from Loganville, Georgia, was the star of the Tigers’ 31-23 win over Notre Dame on Nov. 4, running for 186 yards and two TDs. Will Shipley is a double threat. The 5-11, 210-pound junior has run for 798 yards and five TDs, while averaging 5.1 yards a carry. He has also caught 29 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

Advantage: Clemson.

Wide receivers

▪ Kentucky sophomore Barion Brown (team-high 40 catches, 439 yards, three TDs) made a tough catch on a deep slant pattern that went for a 23-yard gain and ignited UK’s game-winning touchdown drive in its victory at Louisville. Sophomore Dane Key (38 catches, 553 yards, five touchdowns) had two catches for 25 yards in the win over U of L, including a 9-yard TD reception. Super-senior slot Tayvion Robinson (37 catches, 507 yards, four TDs) played against Clemson once during his first three college seasons competing for Virginia Tech. In a 45-10 loss to the Tigers in 2020, Robinson caught three passes for 53 yards.

▪ Clemson will be down a starting wide receiver after Beaux Collins (38 catches, 510 yards, three TDs) announced plans to transfer to Notre Dame. The absence of Collins presumably puts more focus on Tigers leading receiver Tyler Brown (51 catches, 519 yards, four touchdowns). Troy Stellato (34 catches, 279 yards, one TD) is capable.

Advantage: Kentucky.

Tight ends

▪ Kentucky’s Jordan Dingle (11 catches, 198 yards) entered the transfer portal after the season, but subsequently made a u-turn and returned to UK. Both Dingle and sophomore Josh Kattus (eight catches, 108 yards, two TDs) missed the Louisville game due to injury. In their absence, super-senior Brenden Bates (four catches, 89 yards on the season) and true freshman Khamari Anderson (one catch, 11 yards) each made receptions vs. U of L.

▪ Clemson’s Jake Briningstool is a major weapon in the Tigers’ passing attack, having caught at least one pass in all 12 Tigers games. On the season, the 6-6, 230-pound product of Brentwood, Tennessee, has 41 receptions for 407 yards and five touchdowns. Backup Josh Sapp has two TDs among his six receptions. Sapp’s father, Patrick Sapp, threw a 21-yard touchdown to Terry Smith in the final seconds of the 1993 Peach Bowl to give Clemson a 14-13 win over Kentucky.

Advantage: Clemson.

Offensive line

▪ Kentucky starting right tackle Jeremy Flax and veteran left guard Kenneth Horsey both opted out of the Gator Bowl. That means USC transfer Courtland Ford (right tackle) and West Virginia transfer Dylan Ray (left guard) will get chances to stake their claims to starting positions for 2024 with strong showings vs. Clemson.

▪ A starting guard for Clemson, ex-Frederick Douglass High School standout Walker Parks was knocked out for the season Sept. 23 by an injury suffered during the Tigers’ 31-24 overtime loss to Florida State. Right tackle Blake Miller, a 6-6, 310-pound sophomore, and center Will Putnam, a 6-4, 310-pound super-senior, were each Third Team All-ACC selections.

Advantage: Even.

Defensive line

▪ Kentucky star sophomore defensive tackle Deone Walker had seven tackles and a QB hurry in the win at Louisville. On the season, the 6-6, 348-pound Detroit product has made 51 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, eight hurries and has broken up two passes. Senior nose guard Josaih Hayes (23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4.5 TFL) had a sack vs. U of L.

▪ Clemson tackle Tyler Davis has earned First Team All-ACC honors for the third straight season. The 6-2, 300-pound super-senior has made 40 tackles, 3.5 TFL and six quarterback pressures. However, standout tackle Ruke Orhorhoro (22 tackles, five sacks, eight TFL) has opted out of the Gator Bowl. True freshman Peter Woods (22 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 10 QB pressures) is slated to start in Orhorhoro’s place and is considered a future star.

Advantage: Clemson.

Linebackers

▪ Kentucky OLB/rush end J.J. Weaver won the Howard Schnellenberger MVP Award for his play in UK’s win at Louisville. The 6-5, 244-pound redshirt senior made eight tackles, a QB sack and recovered two fumbles vs. the Cardinals. Inside linebackers D’Eryk Jackson and Trevin Wallace also put up productive stat lines in the win at U of L, as each was credited with 11 tackles. Jackson, the 6-1, 245-pound senior MLB, also forced a fumble. Wallace, the 6-2, 241-pound junior WLB, is entering the 2024 NFL draft but will play in the Gator Bowl.

▪ Clemson will be without First Team All-ACC middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (88 stops, 15 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks and 16 quarterback pressures), who has opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. In Trotter’s place, starting SLB Wade Woodaz (27 tackles, four sacks, five TFL) may shift inside. WLB Barrett Carter, a 6-1, 230-pound junior, earned Second Team All-ACC recognition after recording 63 tackles, three sacks, nine TFL, six QB pressures and three pass breakups.

Advantage: Kentucky.

Defensive backs

▪ Kentucky free safety Jordan Lovett (26 tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery) made a game-clinching interception in the end zone on the next-to-last play of the game in UK’s 38-31 win at Louisville. It was the second-straight season in which Lovett, a 6-2, 195-pound sophomore from North Hardin, has sealed a Kentucky victory over U of L with a pick. Cornerback Andru Phillips (44 tackles, four pass breakups) made six tackles and two pass breakups vs. Louisville. The 6-foot, 187-pound junior has declared for the 2024 NFL draft but will play vs. Clemson.

▪ Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins, a First Team All-ACC choice after breaking up nine passes and picking off two, is opting out of the Gator Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. That means Clemson is expected to start two freshmen on the corners: Avieon Terrell has 13 tackles and six pass breakups; Shelton Lewis has four tackles and six pass breakups. Strong safety R.J. Mickens has 47 tackles, three TFL, two QB pressures and four pass breakups.

Advantage: Clemson.

Special teams

▪ Kentucky place-kicker Alex Raynor, a Georgia Southern transfer, is 10-of-11 on field-goal attempts with a long of 50 yards. Punter Wilson Berry (40.4 yards a kick average) has pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line only 12 times in 49 punts. Barion Brown received some All-America recognition as a kick returner after recording his second kickoff return TD of the season in the win over Louisville.

▪ Clemson punter Aidan Swanson is averaging 43.7 yards a kick and has stopped 24 of 55 kicks inside the foes’ 20-yard line. Place-kicker Jonathan Weitz is 11-of-17 on field-goal attempts with a long of 50 yards.

Advantage: Kentucky.

Prediction

Clemson 21, Kentucky 20.

With Mark Stoops staying at Kentucky, he has some things he needs to get fixed

At age 59, ex-Cat Maurice Douglass fulfills promise to his mom by graduating from UK

If Mark Stoops is leaving, he left Kentucky fans with one whale of a going-away gift

Moving forward, the one thing Mark Stoops has to get fixed with Kentucky football

Vote for your favorite UK football uniform combo. Chrome? Anthracite? Or more traditional?

At the end of an odd rivalry night, the UK coach goes to bat for the U of L coach

For Kentucky basketball fans, a familiar worry comes back again

For Rick Pitino and Billy Gillispie, the hoops season is off to an eventful start

How UK’s Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed got together. From the Herald-Leader archives.