Mark Stoops comments on the impact of Jordan Wright returning ahead of Florida game

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•09/08/22

The Kentucky Wildcats’ defense will have one of their biggest challenges of the season this weekend as they roll into the Swamp to face off against dual-threat sensation Anthony Richardson and the Florida Gators. Luckily for Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops, his defense gets his top pass rusher back this week, outside linebacker Jordan Wright. In his press conference, Stoops discussed the impact of his top pass rusher returning to the lineup just in time to face one of the nation’s most electrifying quarterbacks.

You can listen to the clip from the 0:19-0:40 mark of the video below or read the transcribed version below.

“Yeah, it’s good to get Jordan [Wright] back. You know, he brings experience. He brings another pass rusher and another body to chase around a very good quarterback. So…we need all hands on deck and really glad that he’s back and cleared to play,” Stoops said on Thursday.

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In 42 games for the Wildcats, Wright has racked up 106 career tackles with 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He’s also tallied 12 pass breakups, four forced fumble recoveries, and six quarterback hurries. Last year in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa, he racked up a career-high 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss, and he tipped a pass that was intercepted by D’Eryk Jackson. According to the On3 Consensus Rankings for the 2017 cycle, he was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 43 linebacker in America coming out of Dillard High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).

Wright’s return to the lineup simply couldn’t come at a better time for Kentucky. Anthony Richardson is one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in all of college football. Last week, he stunned the seventh-ranked Utah Utes, racking up over 270 all-purpose yards (106 rushing yards) and three touchdowns on the ground. The performance vaulted him to the No. 2 spot on On3’s Matt Zenitz’s Heisman Hot Board and deservedly so. He’s currently listed as a top 10 overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to many different draft analysts across the country, including ESPN’s Todd McShay.

The Kentucky Wildcats will face off against the Florida Gators on Saturday, Sept. 10. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 PM EST.