Here is what almost everyone agrees on. Nobody is going to be happy that Dane Key, Barion Brown, Khamari Anderson, and Keeshawn Silver are leaving in the portal. Nobody will be happy when we learn about other Wildcats who will enter the portal this coming week.
We are assuming Brock Vandagriff and Gavin Wimsatt will transfer out. Neither has a future in Coach Hamdan's offense.
But players come, and players go. It happens everywhere. These are the times.
OTOH, I have been reading what former UK players including Kash Daniel, AJ Rose, and Quinton Bohanna have recently said about this team. For those who haven't seen it, Bohanna explicitly absolves Stoops and our coaching staff. All three former Wildcats reinforce Stoops' current path forward by placing blame on the shoulders of unfocused players intoxicated by NIL and lacking the necessary mental discipline to work through any significant competitive challenges. Bohanna's comments are particularly poignant and you should google them if you haven't already.
Be that as it may, I missed part of this season while recovering from an illness. When I re-engaged with college sports around Halloweenish, just after the loss to Auburn (which I DVRed), I didn't know what to make of the slide because I hadn't actually witnessed enough of it. But I am catching up fast now while I do my cardiac rehab.
I like our 2025 recruiting class a lot. It is sad to lose Tucker Kattus and Marquise Davis, but it is good to add Dyllon Williams, Grant Grayton, and Cameron Miller. These are somewhat overlooked additions but good players. Especially Miller. Strengths of this class are significant. OTOH, only 2-3 of these incoming freshmen will be ready to contribute by September.
Next year's team will open with 4 nonconference games. The first three are on our schedule to serve as formalized scrimmages and near certain wins. The fourth game is UL in Louisville, and that one will serve as an early measure of whether Stoops, Hamdan, Wolford, and White have succeeded in making necessary roster improvements and attitude adjustments. After that will come the SEC schedule. FL, Ole MS, TN, and TX will visit KF. UK must travel to Auburn, GA, SCar, and Vandy. There is no point in fearing the schedule until we know what we are dealing with and what weapons we will have by October. All these teams are in flux. Not just us.
But just to assure there will be talent, let's piece this together as of today. Of course, changes are not over yet. Obviously, nearly every offensive position and some defensive positions will gain players from the portal between now and summer. Effectiveness of these portal additions will go a long way toward determining eventual success of our 2025 team.
QB- Cutter Boley, Stone Saunders, Brennan Ward
RB- Chip Trayanum, Jamarion Wilcox, James Patterson, Tovani Mizell
WR- Jacori Maclin, Brandon White, Hardley Gilmore, Fred Farrier, David Washington
TE- Josh Kattus, Willie Rodriguez
OL- Jalen Farmer, Dylan Ray, Koby Keenum, Jaden Burton, Malachi Wood, Anfernee Crease, Aba Selm, Marc Nave, Hayes Johnson, Daniel Mincey
DL- Josaih Hayes, Kahlil Saunders, Tavion Gadson, Austin Ramsey, Kendrick Gilbert, Jerod Smith, Brian Robinson, Dennious Jackson
OLB- Steven Soles, Caleb Redd, Jacob Smith
MLB- D'Eryk Jackson, Daveren Rayner, Devin Smith
WLB- Alex Afari, Grant Godfrey, Antwan Smith, Quintavion Norman
CB- JQ Hardaway, Terhyon Nichols, DJ Waller, Nasir Addison
S- Jordan Lovett, Ty Bryant, Jantzen Dunn, Quaysheed Scott, Cam Dooley, Jaden Smith, Quavo Marshall
P- Aidan Laros
PK- Jacob Kauwe
DE Darrion Henry-Young will petition for another year of eligibility due to time missed with multiple injuries. He could help us. I have heard Beau Allen may petition for an extra year.
Given this information, you can easily see which positions need help from the portal. But there is more quality depth on this roster than people might realize at first blush. Of course, a few of these names may still leave before next fall.
There are some very good players on the list who have not yet had enough playing time to impact the team. I am a big fan of Willie Rodriguez, Grant Godfrey, Terhyon Nichols, Nasir Addison, and Quaysheed Scott. Jacob Kauwe has a big leg and will apparently inherit the PK job. Some other dark horses for seasonal breakouts could be DJ Waller, Daveren Rayner, Jaden Smith, Caleb Redd, Tavion Gadson, Brian Robinson, Tovani Mizell, and David Washington. All are good, talented players.
True freshmen Stone Saunders, Martels Carter, Kalen Edwards, and Dejerrian Miller will probably be in their playing rotations from the get-go. Maybe Quintin Simmons, Cameron Miller, Mikkel Skinner, Javeon Campbell, or Andrew Purcell if they play themselves into a role in practice.
Let's not waste time debating or criticizing this as if it is a final roster, when everyone knows there will be forthcoming portal additions, some of whom will start. But it is a foundation, along with the recruiting class.
It is known that Stoops has already offered former Western Carolina OT Derek Simmons, a 6'6" 325# brute currently in the portal. There will be more, and we will see how it goes.
We are assuming Brock Vandagriff and Gavin Wimsatt will transfer out. Neither has a future in Coach Hamdan's offense.
But players come, and players go. It happens everywhere. These are the times.
OTOH, I have been reading what former UK players including Kash Daniel, AJ Rose, and Quinton Bohanna have recently said about this team. For those who haven't seen it, Bohanna explicitly absolves Stoops and our coaching staff. All three former Wildcats reinforce Stoops' current path forward by placing blame on the shoulders of unfocused players intoxicated by NIL and lacking the necessary mental discipline to work through any significant competitive challenges. Bohanna's comments are particularly poignant and you should google them if you haven't already.
Be that as it may, I missed part of this season while recovering from an illness. When I re-engaged with college sports around Halloweenish, just after the loss to Auburn (which I DVRed), I didn't know what to make of the slide because I hadn't actually witnessed enough of it. But I am catching up fast now while I do my cardiac rehab.
I like our 2025 recruiting class a lot. It is sad to lose Tucker Kattus and Marquise Davis, but it is good to add Dyllon Williams, Grant Grayton, and Cameron Miller. These are somewhat overlooked additions but good players. Especially Miller. Strengths of this class are significant. OTOH, only 2-3 of these incoming freshmen will be ready to contribute by September.
Next year's team will open with 4 nonconference games. The first three are on our schedule to serve as formalized scrimmages and near certain wins. The fourth game is UL in Louisville, and that one will serve as an early measure of whether Stoops, Hamdan, Wolford, and White have succeeded in making necessary roster improvements and attitude adjustments. After that will come the SEC schedule. FL, Ole MS, TN, and TX will visit KF. UK must travel to Auburn, GA, SCar, and Vandy. There is no point in fearing the schedule until we know what we are dealing with and what weapons we will have by October. All these teams are in flux. Not just us.
But just to assure there will be talent, let's piece this together as of today. Of course, changes are not over yet. Obviously, nearly every offensive position and some defensive positions will gain players from the portal between now and summer. Effectiveness of these portal additions will go a long way toward determining eventual success of our 2025 team.
QB- Cutter Boley, Stone Saunders, Brennan Ward
RB- Chip Trayanum, Jamarion Wilcox, James Patterson, Tovani Mizell
WR- Jacori Maclin, Brandon White, Hardley Gilmore, Fred Farrier, David Washington
TE- Josh Kattus, Willie Rodriguez
OL- Jalen Farmer, Dylan Ray, Koby Keenum, Jaden Burton, Malachi Wood, Anfernee Crease, Aba Selm, Marc Nave, Hayes Johnson, Daniel Mincey
DL- Josaih Hayes, Kahlil Saunders, Tavion Gadson, Austin Ramsey, Kendrick Gilbert, Jerod Smith, Brian Robinson, Dennious Jackson
OLB- Steven Soles, Caleb Redd, Jacob Smith
MLB- D'Eryk Jackson, Daveren Rayner, Devin Smith
WLB- Alex Afari, Grant Godfrey, Antwan Smith, Quintavion Norman
CB- JQ Hardaway, Terhyon Nichols, DJ Waller, Nasir Addison
S- Jordan Lovett, Ty Bryant, Jantzen Dunn, Quaysheed Scott, Cam Dooley, Jaden Smith, Quavo Marshall
P- Aidan Laros
PK- Jacob Kauwe
DE Darrion Henry-Young will petition for another year of eligibility due to time missed with multiple injuries. He could help us. I have heard Beau Allen may petition for an extra year.
Given this information, you can easily see which positions need help from the portal. But there is more quality depth on this roster than people might realize at first blush. Of course, a few of these names may still leave before next fall.
There are some very good players on the list who have not yet had enough playing time to impact the team. I am a big fan of Willie Rodriguez, Grant Godfrey, Terhyon Nichols, Nasir Addison, and Quaysheed Scott. Jacob Kauwe has a big leg and will apparently inherit the PK job. Some other dark horses for seasonal breakouts could be DJ Waller, Daveren Rayner, Jaden Smith, Caleb Redd, Tavion Gadson, Brian Robinson, Tovani Mizell, and David Washington. All are good, talented players.
True freshmen Stone Saunders, Martels Carter, Kalen Edwards, and Dejerrian Miller will probably be in their playing rotations from the get-go. Maybe Quintin Simmons, Cameron Miller, Mikkel Skinner, Javeon Campbell, or Andrew Purcell if they play themselves into a role in practice.
Let's not waste time debating or criticizing this as if it is a final roster, when everyone knows there will be forthcoming portal additions, some of whom will start. But it is a foundation, along with the recruiting class.
It is known that Stoops has already offered former Western Carolina OT Derek Simmons, a 6'6" 325# brute currently in the portal. There will be more, and we will see how it goes.
