Ten Wildcats to Watch Against Ole Miss

Cats Illustrated highlights ten important Kentucky players before each football game. This week we know a little more about a very new team than we did last week.

Here are the Wildcats to watch against Ole Miss with the Rebels a 10-point favorite going into Lexington.

Zach Calzada

Calzada’s first game at Kentucky included a couple of really bad decisions but some moments that weren’t as bad as it might have looked at first viewing. But he needs to be better this week. Both Mark Stoops and Lane Kiffin expect him to be better but he has to do it. Calzada was pretty good on his seven play action attempts and not very good on drop back attempts against Toledo.

Dante Dowdell

Dowdell was efficient and hit a big play from the backfield over the weekend. We know that both Dowdell and Seth McGowan are going to get opportunities. They are the clear one and two, or may even be interchangeable. UK needs more of those efficient runs to control the game and chew up clock but they will also need some bigger gains to score enough to win.

Kendrick Law

Kentucky tried the run play with Law early against Toledo. It wasn’t blocked well and that was a drive-killer. They took a deep shot to him but the defender was running with Law in stride. This is a player you brought into the program to help generate some explosiveness in the absence of Barion Brown and Dane Key. The receivers were not impactful enough against Toledo. Whether it’s on returns or running or receiving, if you knew Kendrick Law would have big moments against Ole Miss it would make you think Kentucky has a better chance in the game.

Josh Kattus

Kattus is going to play a lot this year because of his strength in the blocking game but he’s also more easily slipped out into space for potential big-gainers because opponents are expecting Willie Rodriguez to be out running routes. Of the players on Kentucky’s offense it’s easier to imagine Bush Hamdan scheming him open with space to run than a lot of other players.

Joshua Braun

Kentucky’s offensive line looked much improved in Week 1. This week is a much bigger test. We know that Kentucky’s defense needs to have its share of wins against the Ole Miss offense. But it’s hard to imagine UK pulling an upset without finding success running the ball. Braun has been through the wars before, like Jager Burton, and the Cats will benefit from that conference experience this weekend. The guards were very good last week and they need to win the matchup again.

Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace

Humphrey-Grace leaving the game against Toledo gave Jerod Smith an opportunity to show what he can do and he played at a high level. Kentucky needs all the front seven strength it can muster against a questionable Ole Miss offensive line. So UK doesn’t just need Humphrey-Grace, it needs him to be a difference-maker who helps create an advantage in the trenches.

Steven Soles

Soles had an incredibly impactful game against Toledo. He played only 20 snaps but was routinely around the quarterback forcing miscues. He also drew a hands to the face penalty. Ole Miss will probably do a better job of getting the ball out quickly than Tucker Gleason did. So that could neutralize the pass rush some. But there will be moments when pass rushers have an opportunity to make a game-changing play.

Kam Olds

While Soles had some signature moments, Olds consistently got after it creating havoc as well. He is able to slip through holes in the offensive line or get around the edge to chase things down. Olds had some of his better games at Kent State against the best teams the Golden Flashes played. This week would be a great time to step up.

JQ Hardaway

Hardaway had a good game against Toledo allowing only one reception for five yards on three targets his direction. Toledo’s Junior Vandeross ultimately had a good game but Ole Miss’ Harrison Wallace, who had five catches for 130 yards, will be a bigger test.

Aidan Laros

One of the best things Kentucky had going for it on Saturday was Laros. He routinely helped the Cats win the field position battle. He did a great job of pinning the Rockets deep and keeping them backed up. His work will be even more important this week. Laros punted five times, which was probably more than you would like to see against Toledo, but he averaged 43.8 yards with a long of 54 and dropped four of those five punts inside the 20 yard line.