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Kentucky

Brad White analyzes Kentucky's linebacker depth after Trevin Wallace, D'Eryk Jackson

On3 imageby: Sam Gillenwater03/28/23samdg_33
brad white lessons learned Knetucky spring football practice
Mont Dawson | KSR

Kentucky is dealing with some very genuine turnover at the linebacker spot. They had one of the most experienced corps in that position last season with DeAndre Square, Jacquez Jones, and Jordan Wright. Now, with not much depth behind the next men up in Trevin Wallace and D’Eryk Jackson, UK DC Brad White is in search of some players who can break out for them at that spot.

In White’s opinion, junior Martez Thrower is a main focus that they’re looking to develop. Luke Fulton, a senior that transferred in from Michigan State two seasons ago, was also named. White highlighted those two as players that the inside linebacker room is going to need to step up.

“I think ‘Tez is gonna be a guy that’s really gonna help us this year. He’s progressing and I think he understands the urgency. I’ve prodded him a little bit to understand that urgency piece…He’s gonna have to come along,” White said during press last week. “I think he does a really nice job run fit wise. He’s a natural fitter in the run game. Coverage is where he needs to continue to develop and enhance his football awareness and IQ.”

“Luke is progressing as well,” added White. “That’s a group that we need to build that depth behind.”

Thrower is coming into his third season at UK. He arrived in Lexington as a three-star prospect in 2021 according to the On3 Industry Rankings. During his two years of action, he has appeared in 20 games and posted 11 tackles and a blocked punt.

As for Fulton, he has seen action in 16 games since transferring in from East Lansing. However, those snaps have all come on special teams.

With Square, Jones, and Wright gone, they took 15 years worth of combined experience with them. They also took 157 of last season’s tackles along with several sacks, pass deflections, and fumbles. While Kentucky’s outside linebacker options aren’t as limited, the position as a whole needs some fresh production from some new faces. In White’s eyes, that’s eventually going to come down to prospects like Thrower and Fulton taking the steps up that the defense expects from them.