Projecting Kentucky football’s defensive depth chart after spring practice
Replacing two starters with the experience of DeAndre Square and Jacquez Jones at the heart of Kentucky’s defense is no easy task, but Wildcat linebackers Trevin Wallace and D’Eryk Jackson at least have plenty of snaps under their belts already.
Wallace and Jackson actually started much of the 2022 season as Square and Jones, both super seniors, were sidelined by injury.
Still, when the duo walked into the team’s linebackers’ meeting room this spring for the first time without Square and Jones it was a shock to the system.
“I’m so used to them being there sitting at the two front tables, and I’m sitting to the side of them,” Jackson said. “When I first walked in there, the two tables at the front were open. I was like, ‘Dang.’
“Me and Trevin, we’re in those seats now. We’ve just got to build on what they had going.”
Kentucky’s defense faced significant turnover this spring with Square, Jones and fellow super seniors Jordan Wright and Tyrell Ajian exhausting their eligibility. The transfer of starting nose guard Justin Rogers to Auburn added to the uncertainty.
For now, though, those veteran’s leadership might be a bigger loss than their on-field production as the staff is excited about the players stepping into larger roles.
Here is a position-by-position look at where the defensive and special teams depth chart stands after spring practice.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters: DT Deone Walker (6-6, 348, So.), NG Josaih Hayes (6-3, 317, Sr.), DE Tre’vonn Rybka (6-4, 276, Jr.).
Backups: Sam Anaele (6-4, 286, Jr.), Jamarius Dinkins (6-5, 280, So.), Tomiwa Durojaiye (6-4, 278, RFr.), Darrion Henry-Young (6-4, 264, Jr.), Octavious Oxendine (6-1, 276, Sr.), Kahlil Saunders (6-5, 285, So.), Keeshawn Silver (6-4, 322, So.), Tommy Ziesmer (6-2, 257, Fr.).
What to know: Kentucky Coach Mark Stoops sent a clear message on the first day of spring practice that he is not concerned about the loss of Rogers, a former five-star recruit, thanks to the addition of Silver as a transfer from North Carolina and improved depth across the line. That sentiment carried throughout spring practice. Silver remains a work in progress as he makes the switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense, but defensive coordinator Brad White praised Hayes for the way he responded to coaches’ challenges this spring, and the staff remains high on Dinkins as another option at nose guard.
The bulk of the defensive line returns at the other two positions, led by Walker, a freshman All-American. There is optimism that a full offseason in a college strength and conditioning program can take Walker’s game to another level. He might be the best NFL Draft prospect on the roster now that Will Levis has moved on. Oxendine and Saunders, who missed spring practice as he rehabbed from an injury, should be valuable rotation pieces capable of pushing for starting jobs.
What the coaches are saying: “I feel pretty good. Better than we’ve been, I feel, overall. I just feel like we have the depth. Some guys have matured. It’s a good spot for us right now. Get a couple guys back from injury. You’ve got to be really good up front, and I feel like we’ve helped ourselves up there.” — Stoops
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Projected starters: J.J. Weaver (6-5, 244, Sr.), Alex Afari (6-2, 214, So.).
Backups: Tyreese Fearbry (6-5, 233, RFr.), Noah Matthews (6-5, 237, RFr.), Keaten Wade (6-5, 250, So.).
What to know: After electing to return to Kentucky for his senior season rather than enter the NFL Draft, Weaver faces pressure to develop into the type of elite pass rusher his skill set suggests he can be. Injuries have slowed his progress, but Weaver is working with UK coaches on an offseason conditioning and nutrition program he thinks can help elevate his performance. As one of the most experienced players on defense, Weaver also needs to take on a greater leadership role.
Depth at outside linebacker is a concern heading into the summer. We list Afari as a starter here, but he is technically a defensive back and will play the “medium” position in the defense as a sort of hybrid linebacker/nickel back. Coaches remain high on the potential of the three second-year outside linebackers, led by Wade, but White made it clear consistency remains an issue for that group. Progress is needed there for the coaches to feel comfortable playing two traditional outside linebackers together for significant snaps.
What the coaches are saying: “The message to JJ — and he knows and he’s the one that brought it to me — is consistency. It’s consistency of effort, weight, strength. Everything matters. It doesn’t just matter one week or two weeks. It matters every day, every practice, every weightlifting session, every time you’ve got a chance to be a leader. Everybody always asks about Josh Allen, those guys … It was the daily focus to be the best and to be great. I think that light bulb has gone off for (Weaver).” — White
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Projected starters: D’Eryk Jackson (6-1, 245, Sr.), Trevin Wallace (6-2, 241, Jr.).
Backups: Luke Fulton (6-4, 225, Sr.), Martez Thrower (6-2, 224, Jr.).
What to know: Jackson started nine of 12 games while filling in for Jones last fall. Wallace started six of 12 games in place of Square. The duo combined for 121 tackles. Wallace, who showed a penchant for big plays even while learning to play linebacker, in particular appears to have the potential to blossom into a star this fall. Kentucky would of course love to have Square and Jones back, but it’s possible the starters are actually better than in 2022.
Depth is a major concern, though. Thrower is a player coaches have spoken highly of but has been mostly limited to special teams since arriving on campus. Fulton has yet to make an impact since transferring from Michigan State before the 2021 season. Adding another inside linebacker in the transfer portal would help, but for now it looks like four-star high school signee Grant Godfrey will have a real chance to earn a spot in the rotation when he arrives on campus this summer. UK has already hosted Jackson State linebacker transfer Jurriente Davis for an official visit.
What the coaches are saying: “I would never talk disrespectful of any of the guys that have ever moved on because you know how much I love them. It always excites me to see the next guys step up. That’s refreshing to me, you know what I mean? So, these guys have been working and ready to go.” — Stoops
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Projected starters: CB Andru Phillips (6-0, 187, Jr.), S Zion Childress (6-0, 201, Jr.), S Jordan Lovett (6-2, 198, So.), CB Maxwell Hairston (6-1, 181, So.).
Backups: Ty Bryant (6-0, 187, Fr.), Jantzen Dunn (6-0, 182, So.), Jalen Geiger (6-0, 207, SSr.), J.Q. Hardaway (6-3, 194, So.), Elijah Reed (6-3, 185, RFr.), Jordan Robinson (6-4, 208, So.).
What to know: Kentucky must replace three of four starters in the secondary, but like at inside linebacker there is significant experience among several of the players expected to step into featured roles. The strength is at safety where Lovett shinned after Geiger’s season-ending injury early in the 2022 season and Childress emerged as a playmaker late in his first season as a Wildcat following a transfer from Texas State. Geiger, who opened 2022 as a starter, was able to practice on a limited basis this spring.
Cornerback is more of a question, but coaches have raved about the progress there from Phillips, who impressed as Kentucky’s primary nickelback in 2022. Hairston, who had multiple highlights in the two open spring practices, enters the summer as the starter opposite Phillips, but it would be little surprise to see one of Hardaway or Dunn take that spot after growing more comfortable in the defense after transferring from Cincinnati and Ohio State respectively. Robinson, who redshirted in 2022 after transferring from Division II Livingstone College, is another player to watch in the cornerback competition.
What the coaches are saying: “I think the secondary as a group has played well. I think that speaks to Brad and our staff and what we’re able to do. I wouldn’t say we got extremely exotic in the spring, but the things we do, we do well. So, I think it’s a matter of execution. That’s team defense.” — Stoops
SPECIALISTS
Projected starters: K Chance Poore (6-2, 213, SSr.), P Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, So.).
Backups: Jackson Smith (5-11, 204, RFr.).
What to know: Stoops opened spring practice by acknowledging the 2022 kicking and snapping struggles would “not get fixed in one day,” but he said this week he was pleased with the leadership of new special teams coordinator Jay Boulware. There was an obvious increase in emphasis on special teams during the open practices, and Boulware will have a chance to rebuild the unit from the ground up.
Poore has impressed as Kentucky’s kickoff specialist but has failed to hold onto the field goal kicking job at least twice previously. Berry opened 2021 as the starting punter but was slowed by a back injury and ultimately lost the job to walk-on Colin Goodfellow. He returned to the starting job for the final four games last fall after Goodfellow’s season-ending injury, averaging 41.2 yards per punt. Smith is the other scholarship kicker on the roster, but he appears behind his older teammates for now. It would not be a surprise to see Kentucky add a veteran walk-on kicker to increase competition this summer.
What the coaches are saying: “You could see days where (Poore) was out there and extremely confident and comfortable. He’s got good pop on the ball. You could see that with his kickoffs and his leg strength. He’s been more consistent. We’re working on timing and working on getting quicker, getting the ball up. There’s been days where he’s been very good, and there’s been other days where the inconsistency pops up.” — Stoops
2023 UK season opener
Ball State at Kentucky
When: Sept. 2
2022 records: Ball State 5-7, Kentucky 7-6
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