Mark Stoops’ depth chart will change by the season opener of his Kentucky soccer team. This is inevitable.
But it probably won’t change much.
And that’s a testament to what Stoops has built in the UK.
There was a time when the Wildcats’ highly respected recruits routinely poured into drop position fights. But with a few notable exceptions, most of Kentucky’s fresh faces with shots on the starting grid have been since spring practice. The Wildcats have enough veteran talent and depth these days that cracking the rotation early isn’t always easy.
Ranking cats:Kentucky Football Cracks USA TODAY Sports preseason Coaches Poll; see the full ranking
Yes, Britain needs help from newcomers in some trouble spots.
While the projected depth chart on opening day looks very similar to that seen in spring practice, there are some new names here – some of them with a chance, if not by September 3, then to claim the first spots as the season progresses.
A look at how Great Britain will line up against Miami (Ohio) for their opener:
Table of Contents
offense
quarterback
Starter: Will Levis
Fuses: Kaiya Sheron, Deuce Hogan
Levis is returning after a breakout season following his transfer from Penn State and UK have no doubts about his suitability for the starting spot. But the backups – especially after Beau Allen’s transfer decision – are a weak point. Keeping Levis healthy is crucial to the Cats’ success, a questionable proposition even for a physical force like Levis, given his propensity for frontal contact and Britain’s relative insecurity in the left tackle.
No reason to worry:Why Kentucky’s Mark Stoops isn’t worried about how Will Levis will handle the preseason hype
Back race
Starter: La’Vell Wright
Fuses: Kavosiey Smoke, JuTahn McClain, Ramon Jefferson (Chris Rodriguez)
This one gets a little tricky. Rodriguez pleaded guilty last month to driving under the influence in an arrest in May. He’s been practicing with the Wildcats, but Stoops was noncommittal about his game availability. Assuming Rodriguez misses the opener – he didn’t start on the first-team offense in the first open practice session in Britain but has scored reps with it – the starter could be one of several talented backups. Wright, who is probably the closest to Rodriguez’s mix of height and ability, is as good a guess as anyone. A lot of these guys will be playing and some of the UK backups, including Mike Drennen II, could also see the time as a slot receiver.
wide receiver
Appetizers: Tayvion Robinson, Dane Key, and DeMarcus Harris
Fuses: Barion Brown, Chris Lewis, Rahsaan Lewis, Chauncey Magwood, Jordan Anthony
Given the number of wideouts the field could see, there’s a lot of flexibility here. Key, a true freshman who enlisted in the winter and completed spring training, was on the first-team offense when he first took the field in Britain’s first open training session and seems perhaps the safest bet in the freshman class to start from Week 1 Robinson has had all but a suspension at the starting spot position since moving from Virginia Tech. Brown may not land a seed at the opener but expects to see a lot of him. He made a strong impression early in training.
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Close end
Starter: Keaton Upshaw
Fuses: Izayah Cummings, Brenden Bates, and Josh Kattus
This should be the best and deepest tight end corps of Stoops’ tenure, and new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello plans to include them further. True newcomer Kattus seems unlikely to be able to score meaningful snaps with so many talented veterans in front of him, but he impressed Levis early on in camp. Britain could also use Tennessee transfer Dee Beckwith for some close-end snaps but the competition is fierce with talent at the top in Upshaw and Cummings.
offensive line
Left tackle
Appetizers: Deondre Buford (left tackle), Kenneth Horsey (left keeper), Eli Cox (center), Tashawn Manning (right keeper), Jeremy Flax (right tackle)
Fuses: Kiyaunta Goodwin (LT), John Young (LG), Quintin Wilson (C), Jager Burton (RG), David Wohlabaugh (RT)
The O-Line have been an integral part of Stoops’ most successful British teams and this unit looks strong from the inside. The question mark is a lack of experience in the duel positions. Despite being a freshman, Goodwin is massive and has been the subject of a heated recruitment battle. Could secure a place and expects to be in the rotation anyway. Protecting Levis will be a major storyline this season, and beefing up tackle spots will be vital as Kentucky progresses through camp and into the season.
No reason to worry:Why Kentucky Football’s Will Levis isn’t worried about untested blindside blockers
defense
line of defense
Appetizers: Octavious Oxendine (Defensive Tackle), Justin Rogers (Nose Guard), Tre’vonn Rybka (Defensive End)
Fuses: Deone Walker (DT), Darrion Henry-Young (DT), Josaih Hayes (NG), Kahlil Saunders (DE)
Josh Paschal was a force on Britain’s defensive front and replacing him will be a challenge. But there is solid talent on the line. A healthy Oxendine is a boost in tackle, but keep an eye on newcomer Deone Walker. He got some first-team representatives early on in training and looks like a rotation candidate right from the start.
Slim and Mean:Lean and Mean: Why Some of Kentucky Football’s Defense Lines Thinned for the 2022 Season
linebacker
Appetizers: JJ Weaver (jack), Jacquez Jones (middle), DeAndre Square (weak side), Jordan Wright (strong side)
Fuses: Keaten Wade (Jack), D’Eryk Jackson (Center), Trevin Wallace (Weak Side), Tyrese Fearby (Strong Side)
Linebackers represent the strength of the starting defense, a group rich in talent and play representatives. The depth is something to behold, both in terms of player rotation this season and building a foundation for 2023. Jones, Square and Wright are all fifth-year seniors. In Wade, Fearby and Noah Matthews, Stoops said Britain has “good young people with different talents”.
Watch closer:Three takeaways from Kentucky Football open practice
cornerback
Appetizers: Carrington Valentine, Keidron Smith
Fuses: Andru Phillips, Kobi Albert, Adrian Huey, Alex Afari Jr.
This was the biggest area of concern to emerge from Spring Ball, and it remains so. Schmidt should help. Ole Miss’ transfer ran primarily with the second team in Kentucky’s fan-day training, but he saw snaps with the projected starters at the end of the day, and the guess is he’ll end up there early in the season. At 6ft-2, he fits UK’s cornerback profile. The cats prefer a certain size on the position and he will provide it along with experience.
security
Appetizers: Tyrell Ajian, Jalen Geiger
Fuses: Taj Dodson, Jordan Lovett, Zion Childress
UK is full of gaming experience here. Ajian started and played in all 13 of 11 games last season and has made 48 appearances in his British career. Geiger has only two starts, both last season, but has 22 games under his belt. Dodson has 19 career games. Lovett played once last season and picked a red shirt. And Childress had 76 tackles in 24 games at Texas State before making the switch. The Cats’ depth at Nickel was hurt by Joel Williams’ decision to switch ahead of the season.
Special teams
table football
Starter: Matt Ruffolo
Fuse: JacksonSmith
gambler
Starter: Wilson berry
Fuses: Colin Goodfellow
punt returner
Starter: Tayvion Robinson
Fuses: Jordan Anthony, Dekel Crowdus
kick returner
Starter: JuTahn McClain
Fuse: Mike Drenen II
Stoops has said that Ruffolo and Goodfellow “are going to be the guys now until they get hit,” but Berry feels like a contender to win the punter spot. Hailing from Maribyrnong, Australia, the redshirt newcomer favors the Aussie style of punting that was so successful for former wildcat Max Duffy. Robinson returned punts for three seasons at Virginia Tech and averaged 13.1 return yards last season, scoring a touchdown. Kick returner is a guess at this point, but UK have a number of running backs that could slip into that position.