Kentucky at Vanderbilt injury updates: Thursday availability report revealed

On Saturday, No. 14 Vanderbilt (8-2, 4-2) will host Kentucky (5-5, 2-5) inside FirstBank Stadium. With two losses this season, Vanderbilt must win to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.

The history between Kentucky and Vanderbilt is extremely competitive. The Wildcats boast a 48-44-4 all-time record against the Commodores. However, Vanderbilt won 20-13 when the two teams met last season.

Unfortunately, neither team will be at full-strength for the showdown. Look below to see each team’s latest availability report.

Kentucky Wildcats

• WR Troy Stellato – Out
• OLB Sam Greene – Out
• DB Jantzen Dunn – Out
• RB Jamarion Wilcox – Out
• DB Jaden Smith – Out
• DB Jordan Lovett – Out
• ILB Devin Smith – Out
• OL Aba Selm – Out
• WR David Washington – Out
• TE Elijah Brown – Out
• DB DJ Waller Jr. – Out
• DB Nasir Addison – Doubtful
• OL Malachi Wood – Doubtful
• ILB Alex Afari – Questionable
• DB Terhyon Nichols – Questionable
• DL Kahlil Saunders – Questionable

Vanderbilt Commodores

• DL Yilanan Ouattara – Out
• QB Drew Dickey – Out
• RB Chase Gillespie – Out
• DB Vanzale Hinton – Out
• DL Nikhil Jefferson – Out

Kentucky has been battling significant injury issues all season. Nonetheless, the Wildcats have found a rhythm lately and are entering the contest Saturday on a three-game win streak.

While Kentucky defeated Tennessee Tech on Saturday, the Wildcats’ two wins before that are more notable. Kentucky picked up its first SEC win of the season on Nov. 1, with a 10-3 triumph over Auburn. The ‘Cats followed up the victory with a 38-7 blowout win against Florida.

Kentucky’s surge is largely due to quarterback Cutter Boley. The redshirt freshman has found his stride. In Kentucky’s dominant performance against Florida, Boley completed 18-of-his-23 pass attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns, compared to one interception.

Of course, Boley won’t be the only standout QB on the gridiron Saturday. Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia put on a show last week in the Commodores’ 45-38 win over Auburn.

In the triumph, Pavia tallied a career-high 337 passing yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. Moreover, Pavia ran for a team-high 112 yards and a score. After the game, Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea raved about his veteran QB.

“The guy took the game over,” Lea said. “I’ve said it at this podium before, but in our minds, he’s the best player in the country. He found a way to win the game for us tonight. … Diego made it happen.”

Pavia will look to have another spectacular performance on Saturday when Vanderbilt takes on Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ESPN.