The development of these players is crucial for 2026

Right on the cusp of another college football season it’s only natural to focus on the 12-game slate staring us in the face. And with the portal leading to annual uncertainty, you can’t project too far ahead.

Nonetheless, there’s still a multi-year component to roster building and program development, and not everybody occupies the same role on the team.

The development of these current Kentucky players will be very important looking ahead to 2026, the year after this one.

QB Cutter Boley

Even if Zach Calzada is Kentucky’s starter and it remains that way through the season, Boley has a prime opportunity to start in 2026. But he’s going to have to impress the coaches this year, whether that’s during game action or on the practice field. He saw real time in four games a year ago and the results were a mixed bag. But the talent is there and he now has some time and continuity working with Bush Hamdan. If UK can go into next year with a projected room of Boley, Stone Saunders, Brennen Wards, and Matt Ponatoski, it could be that Hamdan opts to skip the portal search for a starter next year.

WR Hardley Gilmore

The reason Kentucky brought Gilmore back into the program after he was kicked off the team at Nebraska? He’s really talented and has the potential to be really good one day. Kentucky liked Gilmore as soon as he arrived last time around. Expect him to have to earn his way into a featured role, but whatever experience Gilmore gains this year will be vital for 2026. UK can lean on a heavy portal class as Gilmore and other young players develop this year but he has the ability to emerge as one of their top pass catchers this year, too.

WR D.J. Miller

Kentucky coveted Miller as a recruit and based on spring reports he did not disappoint upon his arrival. While Mark Stoops isn’t ruling out an impact by the other freshmen receivers he did single Miller out on Monday as someone they have seen a lot of. He and Gilmore could be leading options at receiver going into next year, depending on how ’25 goes for them.

OT Malachi Wood

We could easily throw Darrin Strey in here as well since he’s the fourth tackle who is working to develop enough to crack the rotation. Wood is the third tackle after Shiyazh Pete and Alex Wollschlaeger, who come from the portal. There will be some who write Wood off after some struggles last year, but he was still very young. Wood needs to develop well enough in the program that Kentucky’s coaches feel comfortable with him as a starting tackle going into 2026. That would make next year’s portal work much easier.

OG Aba Selm

Selm will be a rotation player this year and he needs to be a starter next year. If Selm can find his way to 200 snaps and plays them at a quality level, that would be all the evidence anyone needs that he can handle the role. And if you have Jalen Farmer and Selm starting at guard in 2026, that could be a very nice duo.

C Evan Wibberley

With Jager Burton looking so good at center Kentucky has the luxury of bringing Evan Wibberley along slowly. His main task is to continue to gain strength, though there have been some strides. In an ideal scenario Kentucky is able to get Wibberley some valuable experience in the SEC this year, setting him up for a seamless transition to next season as a starter in the middle.

DL Tavion Gadson

Mark Stoops seemed eager to mention Gadson at his Monday press conference. There are a lot of new faces in the defensive line room this year and Gadson should be a rotation player. It would be great if he has a breakout season and could emerge as the man in the middle who can handle a big workload for 2026. There seem to be plenty of snaps up for grabs this year with so many familiar faces gone.

DL Jerod Smith

Smith got on the field for 54 snaps last season so that was meaningful time but he was outside the typical rotation. Still, someone who sees action in nine games as a freshman is someone of interest to the staff. Stoops said this week that Smith is twitchy and up to 275 pounds. He should get meaningful time playing behind Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace, from South Dakota. Smith is a big body in the trenches who could be ready for a breakout, like Selm and Gadson, and also a UK-grown player.

LB Grant Godfrey

Godfrey has been developing quietly behind the scenes and playing behind some big name players who are no longer with the program. While Alex Afari will command a lot of snaps at one inside ‘backer position it does seem like there could be some snaps available for an upstart player. Godfrey could be a two-year starter for Kentucky starting next season.

LB Antwan Smith

Over the years Kentucky has brought in a number of undersized linebackers and Smith was one of them. He has gained 25-30 pounds in UK’s strength and conditioning program and brings an element of speed that could add something new to the room.