All-SEC Selections Highlight the Biggest Problem Facing the 2025 Kentucky Football Team

Mark Stoops and the Kentucky quarterbacks at Spring Practice, Aaron Perkins, KSR

There are a myriad of concerns surrounding the Kentucky football program this offseason. A lot of them are in the form of optics. Public relations matters for fans, but they don’t make a significant difference in what you will see on fall Saturdays.

The Kentucky football program was happy to share a bit of positive PR on Friday, although it actually highlights the biggest flaw in the Wildcats’ 2025 roster.

Phil Steele named four Kentucky football players to his preseason All-SEC roster. Punter Aidan Laros was a second-team selection, Josh Braun and Alex Wollschlaeger made the third-team, and Alex Afari made an appearance on the fourth-team.

This is not to diminish what any of those four players can accomplish for Kentucky this fall. After all, it’s just one mustachioed man’s opinion. However, it does highlight what the Cats should be the best at this fall: blocking and punting.

Mark Stoops had a massive roster-building undertaking following a 4-8 season. The Wildcats only have 14 returning scholarship players on offense. They had to almost completely rebuild the offensive line. That comes at a cost.

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Kentucky lacks star power at skill positions.

Zach Calzada put up gaudy numbers at the FCS level after recording some big wins at Texas A&M. Dante Dowdell is an exceptional short-yardage back who led the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns. Seth McGowan should provide explosiveness at the position. Ja’Mori Maclin proved he can create big plays as an outside receiver. Outside of that, there aren’t many guys in the wide receiver room you can point to and say, “That guy is going to be a difference-maker in the SEC.”

Mark Stoops built a roster that can run the football. Kentucky can drag teams into the mud. If they take care of pigskin and play clean football, there are opportunities to win in the margins. That’s significantly harder to do without top-tier SEC skill talent. It will be the Wildcats’ greatest challenge in the 2025 season.

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

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