Future UK depth chart on defense

[K_TIME]

Just still in awe of this recruiting class and thinking of how the future could look

NT - Haynes/Rogers/Deone Walker
DT - Ox/Saunders/Dinkins/Quentel Jones
DE - Rybka/Analee/Durojaiye

I do wonder if Saunders or Dinkins will move to DE or when Analee shows up in games. The DE spot feels very iffy to replace Paschal.

Jack - Weaver/Does Keaton Wade jump into 2nd on depth chart
Sam - I know in nickel packages w can take a DL and/or SAM Lber off the field at times....but do we go back to a formal SAM LBer or do we have to wait until the talent is there? If Jordan Wight is back then you have ???? Dingle/I assume Fearby will be slotted here.
MLB - D Jacksokn/Fulton/Thrower
Will - Jacquez Jones/Trevin Wallace

If Square is back....you have 4 proven dudes in D Jackson/Jones/Square and Wallace that need to play

CB - Valentine/Huey/Frazier/Andre Stewart
CB - Dre Phillips/Hairston/Reed

For sure you have to imagine we get 2 portal transfers to fill these needs

SS - Vito/Dodson/Jordan Lovett/Kobi Albert
FS - Geiger/Joel Williams/Hyatt/Afari

I've always thought the biggest issue on our D was we didn't have good enough DB play but followed closely by we couldn't rush the passer well once Ox went down and Weaver sort of struggled. I love getting 2 edge rushers in Fearby/Wade in this class. Hoping for years to come of edge pressure back on the scene in Ky.

How can you not be in love with our DL talent and depth. Insane job. Teams have not been able to run at UK in years which is why I think our D has risen to top half of SEC D rankings the past few years. I don't see that changing with Deone Walker and Quentel Jones down the road.

Love the LBer talent and depth....if they add Mason Thomas...wow.

We are fine at safety IMO. Vito should get us back to elite play with his edge...and the young kids we've added the past 2 years should make this spot fine.

I'm a bit less in love with our CB future. I'm not sold there is a future NFL player at this spot but I think there are some dudes at all the other units on the D side. We have to hit the portal hard for starters but we need Collins to get this group back on track production wise.

 

[Colonial Farm 80]

I do wonder if Saunders or Dinkins will move to DE or when Analee shows up in games. The DE spot feels very iffy to replace Paschal.

Players come and go. Rybka and Anaele are 4 star recruits. This is why Stoops recruited them. It is their time.

I iso'ed on Rybka a couple times while he was in games. He is huge, and he moves instinctively. Backing up Paschal has been a learning opportunity, and I think he is ready. He had an offer from Bama, but he is a Wildcat. We move forward.

 

[Stuntman68]

There was an article where they talked about Afari in that Sam/nickel spot and mentioned Vito as well like that’s where they expected him to play. Makes sense because I think he’s better against the run hitting vs in coverage. No clue how LB will shake out 3 really good ones (Jackson, Wallace, Jones) have been MLB so someone moves I’m guessing. I think they add one more in the secondary and maybe a DE or edge rusher depends who returns and how spring goes. If Jackson didn’t get hurt we may not have seen Jones but if you have a wide open starting spot to compete for you can get a quality transfer. I think the next month and spring practice will determine a lot too.

 

[gamecockcat]

Valentine showed a lot of promise but he played out of control at times. Has to rein in the overzealousness to avoid stupid penalties. I'm confident that we've got all the ingredients for another strong defense as long as we can generate pressure on the QB.

 

[TuckyFB]

I like our CB's and adding Stewart, Reed, and Frazier on Wednesday helped a lot. Overall our defense is stacked and if we get Square back, next year can be yet another special year.

 

[TuckyFB]

Our DL is almost made up of all 4 star recruits and that's insane in my mind since what we had pre-Stoops. Trenches will always rule CFB and Stoops has put us in a great position on both the DL/OL.

Plus there's a chance Bully comes back as well

 

[TuckyFB]

 

[YaketySax]

Players come and go. Rybka and Anaele are 4 star recruits. This is why Stoops recruited them. It is their time.

I iso'ed on Rybka a couple times while he was in games. He is huge, and he moves instinctively. Backing up Paschal has been a learning opportunity, and I think he is ready. He had an offer from Bama, but he is a Wildcat. We move forward.

Rybka was playing exactly as well as you’d want a young backup to play the second half of this season. Showed me a lot of promise.

 

[Colonial Farm 80]

I'm confident that we've got all the ingredients for another strong defense as long as we can generate pressure on the QB.

Kentucky was 9th in the SEC this year in both sacks and tackles for loss. That is not very good, but it is better than I expected before I looked at the stats. We had Wright, McCall, and Oxendine injured most of the year, Weaver recovering from knee surgery, and maybe too much nickel package at times. I think the pass rush will be better next year, but it would not hurt to take another rusher through the portal.

 

[Colonial Farm 80]

Rybka was playing exactly as well as you’d want a young backup to play the second half of this season. Showed me a lot of promise.

I agree. I think Rybka can become a great player once given the chance. He is strong and I love how well he moves. Same for Oxendine. That was an excellent class.

 

[TuckyFB]

Kentucky was 9th in the SEC this year in both sacks and tackles for loss. That is not very good, but it is better than I expected before I looked at the stats. We had Wright, McCall, and Oxendine injured most of the year, Weaver recovering from knee surgery, and maybe too much nickel package at times. I think the pass rush will be better next year, but it would not hurt to take another rusher through the portal.

That's my only concern. We need another edge rusher and I hope we can get one through the portal.

 

[kyleb740]

Crazy to think right now there is only 1 SR on the defensive depth chart next year I believe (Dingle). Obviously that could change with kids coming back for a super SR year and transfers.

Given they all have the super senior year our whole starting D for next year at this moment could be here for another 3 years.

 

[maysvilleky]

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Really could use Bully back for one more year!

 

[ukalum1988]

Really could use Bully back for one more year!

Along with Wright….

 

[mrschwump]

Surprised at how little play Deone Walker has received. Few years ago he would've been the jewel of this class(shows how far UK has come I guess). This guy is huge, runs really well and is violent on contact. He'll be in the rotation in '22.

 

[Colonial Farm 80]

That's my only concern. We need another edge rusher and I hope we can get one through the portal.

We can get another edge rusher through the portal. But will he be better than what we already have, or will he be depth? That would have a lot to do with the decision.

 

[Old_Red]

Surprised at how little play Deone Walker has received. Few years ago he would've been the jewel of this class(shows how far UK has come I guess). This guy is huge, runs really well and is violent on contact. He'll be in the rotation in '22.

Is he coming in early? Would make spring practice a must see.

 

[hmt5000]

Our DL is almost made up of all 4 star recruits and that's insane in my mind since what we had pre-Stoops. Trenches will also rule CFB and Stoops has put us in a great position on both the DL/OL.

Plus there's a chance Bully comes back as well

UL signed a kid that is big but a 3* and only got late interest from Mich. They think that dude addresses their need.... lol. Your post shows how far out they are from competing on both sides of the line. Its weird that we have gone so far past them that I really don't even compare talent with them because its so vast. We are arguing about where we rank in the sec, in a good way, now. We aren't saying "are we 13 or 12 in tlaent" anymore... we are wondering if we are "3 or 4" on OL and "top 5" on DL.

 

[The-Hack]

They think that dude addresses their need.... lol. Your post shows how far out they are from competing on both sides of the line. Its weird that we have gone so far past them that I really don't even compare talent with them because its so vast.

Remembering my own frequent false hopes the last 45 years, beware a fan or fan base that focuses on one player as having any real chance to turn a program around.

Yes, there will be a Couch or Lamar Jackson that can disguise deficiencies in a few games.

But when talking line play, on both sides, you better have a rotation of at least two quality bigguns at every position.

 

[Chad Rock]

Just still in awe of this recruiting class and thinking of how the future could look

NT - Haynes/Rogers/Deone Walker
DT - Ox/Saunders/Dinkins/Quentel Jones
DE - Rybka/Analee/Durojaiye

I do wonder if Saunders or Dinkins will move to DE or when Analee shows up in games. The DE spot feels very iffy to replace Paschal.

Jack - Weaver/Does Keaton Wade jump into 2nd on depth chart
Sam - I know in nickel packages w can take a DL and/or SAM Lber off the field at times....but do we go back to a formal SAM LBer or do we have to wait until the talent is there? If Jordan Wight is back then you have ???? Dingle/I assume Fearby will be slotted here.
MLB - D Jacksokn/Fulton/Thrower
Will - Jacquez Jones/Trevin Wallace

If Square is back....you have 4 proven dudes in D Jackson/Jones/Square and Wallace that need to play

CB - Valentine/Huey/Frazier/Andre Stewart
CB - Dre Phillips/Hairston/Reed

For sure you have to imagine we get 2 portal transfers to fill these needs

SS - Vito/Dodson/Jordan Lovett/Kobi Albert
FS - Geiger/Joel Williams/Hyatt/Afari

I've always thought the biggest issue on our D was we didn't have good enough DB play but followed closely by we couldn't rush the passer well once Ox went down and Weaver sort of struggled. I love getting 2 edge rushers in Fearby/Wade in this class. Hoping for years to come of edge pressure back on the scene in Ky.

How can you not be in love with our DL talent and depth. Insane job. Teams have not been able to run at UK in years which is why I think our D has risen to top half of SEC D rankings the past few years. I don't see that changing with Deone Walker and Quentel Jones down the road.

Love the LBer talent and depth....if they add Mason Thomas...wow.

We are fine at safety IMO. Vito should get us back to elite play with his edge...and the young kids we've added the past 2 years should make this spot fine.

I'm a bit less in love with our CB future. I'm not sold there is a future NFL player at this spot but I think there are some dudes at all the other units on the D side. We have to hit the portal hard for starters but we need Collins to get this group back on track production wise.

K_Time, not sure if you’re background or affiliation with UK football but I always look forward to and appreciate your posts!