2025 Kentucky Position Previews: Safety

Kentucky’s fall camp is off and running. Before the Cats officially begin the 2025 season, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction will be included.

Next up is a position with two veterans leading the way for an otherwise young room.

Position Preview: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, EDGE, Linebacker, Cornerback

---

KSR’s preseason coverage is presented by Angel’s Envy. Located in the heart of Downtown Louisville, Angel’s Envy Distillery is a must-visit destination for bourbon enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in tours, tastings, and cocktail classes that engage every sense, and learn to refine your palate. Open seven days a week, book your experience now. Disclaimer: Must be 21+. Please drink responsibly. Note: Minors are allowed on tours.

Expected Starters

Jordan Lovett (6-2, 208, RSr.)

The Radcliff (Ky.) North Hardin product is back for his final season of eligibility playing 37 career games (1,793 defensive snaps) with 33 starts. Lovett has had terrific ball production (seven interceptions) throughout his career but has had issues with consistency. Kentucky needs the veteran to become a steadying force for the defense.

Lovett has played over 500 defensive snaps in each of the last three seasons and enters his final year of eligibility with 156 career tackles.

Ty Bryant (6-0, 198, Jr.)

The Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass product is now in year three with the program and has started 13 games through his first two seasons. Bryant has been a dependable player and a solid tackler through his first two seasons on campus. The class of 2023 signee is stepping into a leadership role this season.

Bryant has not missed a game in his collegiate career. The veteran showed some havoc creation last year with two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 405 snaps.

Kentucky’s Safety Room

Frank Buffano has been on Kentucky’s staff since 2013 and has been the program’s safeties coach since 2020. This year the Youngstown native has six players in his position room and will look to some develop some young talent behind the entrenched starters.

Cam Dooley (6-2, 208, So.)

The former blue-chip recruit out of Valley (Ala.) High played primarily special teams in his first season in Kentucky’s program. Dooley might be the best athlete in Kentucky’s secondary, and is s currently running with the second unit.

Jaden Smith (6-3, 208, RFr.)

The former Michigan signee is now in year two after taking a redshirt season in 2024. Smith is currently getting some run at Kentucky’s hybrid big nickel position. Should be a major factor on special teams.

Martels Carter Jr. (6-0, 200, Fr.)

The Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman product was a big recruiting win for the Cats in the 2025 high school cycle. Expectations in year one were always going to be high for Carter. Kentucky will likely attempt to find the true freshman a role and get him on the field.

Dyllon Williams (6-2, 187, Fr.)

The former Missouri commit flipped to Kentucky in October. Williams is a Alabama native who is on campus for spring practice. A redshirt season seems possible, but the true freshman will get a long look due to the lack of depth at safety. Played a physical brand of football in high school that could get him on the field in kick coverage.

Big Question: Is there any depth?

Kentucky is all-in on its starters at safety in 2025. Ty Bryant and Jordan Lovett are clearly the first two up. Defensive coordinator Brad White has talked about the defense using depth but that might not be the case at safety.

Behind these two veterans are four former high school recruits in their first or second year in college football. Can any of them play winning football for Kentucky this season if something happens to the starter?

Finding a quality backup is a top goal for fall camp. Expect Cam Dooley and Martels Carter Jr. to be the players who could find themselves on the field with the starting defense this season.

Top Storyline: How good can the starting unit be?

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Kentucky’s winter and spring transfer portal activity was that the program didn’t address safety after losing Zion Childress and Kristian Story. That move seem to be an investment in the returning veterans.

How good can this duo become?

Kentucky believes that its secondary can be a strength of the football team this fall. Jordan Lovett and Ty Bryant being multi-year starters at safety is a major reason why. Both players have proven to be quality SEC starters. Can either gear up and hit another level this season?

The Cats seem to be counting on that.

Bold Prediction: Ty Bryant leads Kentucky in tackles

Ty Bryant has not missed a game through two seasons with the Kentucky football program. The former three-star recruit has been Mr. Dependable and will be playing in the box a ton this season. UK likely won’t take him off the field much.

Expect the tackles to pile up.

Bryant will be playing a fair amount in the box and should be around the football constantly. With LB3 Landyn Watson expected to play a serious role this season, there could be less tackle volume than normal for Kentucky’s starting linebackers. Yusuf Corker was the last safety to lead the defense in tackles. That happened back in 2019.

Ty Bryant will become the next safety to lead this defense in tackles.