2023 Kentucky Football Position Previews: Linebackers
Kentucky football fall camp is right around the corner. Before the Cats officially begin the 2023 season in August, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction.
This year Kentucky is replacing two talented Super Seniors, but it doesn’t feel like there’s a big void in the middle of the defense. Let me explain by taking a closer look at this new group of inside linebackers…
KSR Position Previews: Quarterback, Tailback, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Defensive Line
The New (Old) Linebackers
Typically, the loss of two captains that played linebacker would dominate the offseason conversation. DeAndre Square made significant contributions through all five seasons in Lexington, most notably his game-saving interception in the Citrus Bowl. Like his running mate, Jacquez Jones made a few game-changing plays in coverage and tallied more than 300 tackles in his college career (even though he spent his first three seasons at Ole Miss).
The losses to the Kentucky defense are significant, yet there’s not a significant drop-off in experience.
D’Eryk Jackson and Trevin Wallace each started in 50% or more of Kentucky’s games in 2022. Despite starting the season as the second Mike linebacker, Jackson led the team in tackles with 67. Wallace was not far behind, tallying 54, including 5.5 for loss. Wallace and Jackson aren’t your typical replacements.
The Other Guys
— Martez Thrower (Junior): The hard-hitter from Georgia has played in 20 games through his first two seasons in Lexington. He has 11 career tackles, mostly on special teams, and last year he blocked a punt against Youngstown State. If Thrower fills into his athletic frame and learns his fits, he can be a valuable asset for the Kentucky defense.
— Daveren Rayner (Senior): The Indianapolis North Lawrence product began his career at Northern Illinois. Over three years he tallied 118 tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions and two blocked kicks. The biggest knock on Rayner is that he’s light in the shorts, leaving him vulnerable to injury against physical SEC competition.
— Jayvant Brown (Freshman): A late surprise addition to Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class, Mike Stoops helped flip the four-star talent from Michigan State on signing day. He looks the part of a thumper, but probably needs a year or two to get comfortable within Kentucky’s system.
— Luke Fulton (Senior): A product of Mark Stoops’ alma mater, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, Fulton is a transfer from Michigan State. He knows the UK defense well, but is limited athletically in pass coverage.
One Big Question: Can Kentucky Linebackers Develop Depth?
An optimist is excited that Kentucky is replacing two starters with experienced players. A pessimist will be quick to remind you they are experienced because the starters were often injured.
SEC linebackers get hurt. Even if someone is able to play all 12 games, there’s no way they are 100% healthy for all of the action. You need more than two inside linebackers to compete in the SEC. Four players in the rotation is ideal, but three may have to suffice this fall. So who’s it going to be?
Rayner is the most game-ready of the bunch. He’s been in the action and will not flinch when the bullets are flying. Ideally, Thrower knows the Kentucky defense well enough to be thrown into the action regularly. Brad White spent the spring injecting a sense of urgency into Thrower’s development. Will it take?
We’ll learn soon enough if the two can keep the boat afloat with Wallace and D-Jack on the sideline. If not, White may have to adjust on the fly. Boogie Watson temporarily moved inside due to depth concerns and made a goal line stand at South Carolina. History could repeat itself with Keaten Wade this fall.
Bold Prediction: Trevin Wallace pulls a Jamin Davis
It’s impossible not to make comparisons between the two linebackers. They’re both from small towns in South Georgia. They both came to Kentucky as outstanding athletes with little knowledge of the position. The only significant differences are Wallace’s lofty recruiting ranking and the amount of experience he gained as an underclassman. Davis spent most of his first three years on the sideline before emerging into a first round draft pick. Wallace has just shy of 100 tackles (10 for loss) over two seasons as he steps into a more prominent role in the middle of the defense.
Expectations are high for Trevin Wallace. He’s already shown that he is an exceptional blitzer and can cover the open field from sideline to sideline. The final piece of the puzzle: getting more comfortable reading and reacting in the heart of the UK defense.
“He’s a heck of a football player,” Mark Stoops told KSR last week. “The more reps he’s getting under his belt, the better he’s going to become. Just with playing, he’s really doing some dynamic things. I’m excited to watch him.”
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