Bio Blast: Eastern Kentucky Colonels

Kentucky is 1-0, but the Wildcats have plenty to work on in Week 2. The same could be said for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, who had a disappointing performance to open the 2023 season fresh off a playoff appearance in 2022.

Former Kentucky quality control assistant Walt Wells is now in year four at Eastern Kentucky and owns a 16-15 overall record. The 55-year-old will bring his ballclub from Richmond up to Lexington this weekend as these two in-state programs meet for the sixth time in history on Saturday afternoon with UK owning a 5-0 series lead.

Let’s find out more about EKU.

Star quarterback

Program building is a lot easier when you can quickly find a star at quarterback. Walt Wells and offensive coordinator Andy Richman inherited Parker McKinney from the previous staff. The super senior is the No. 1 reason why this program entered the 2023 campaign with high expectations.

McKinney was the ASUN Co-Offensive Player of the Year and a Walter Payton Award finalist in 2022 after throwing for 3,956 yards (9.4 yards per attempt) on 419 passes with a strong completion percentage (68.2%). The Coalfield (Tenn.) High product set a program record for single-season passing touchdowns (33). McKinney also added in over 350 rushing yards.

With the strong play at quarterback, Eastern Kentucky averaged 36.2 points per game, 6.6 yards per play, and 8.6 yards per pass. Each ranked inside the top 15 in FCS. McKinney is this team’s engine.

The quarterback has amassed 9,895 passing yards, 95 total touchdowns, 35 interceptions, and 1,431 rushing yards. The veteran is one of the biggest stars in the FCS and will be one of the best quarterbacks that Kentucky sees in 2023.

Eastern Kentucky has a defensive problem

The offense was great for EKU last season. We cannot say the same for the offense. Defensive coordinator Jake Johnson’s unit had issues getting stops last season and that is likely to continue this season.

• Scoring: 35.2 (No. 101 overall in FCS during 2022)
• Yards Per Play: 6.1 (No. 94 overall)
• Yards Per Rush: 5.6 (No. 117 overall)
• Yards Per Pass: 6.9 (No. 46 overall)
• Tackles For Loss Per Game: 5.4 (No. 76 overall)
• Takeaways: 15 (No. 78 overall)

In the season-opening 66-13 loss to Cincinnati, Scott Satterfield‘s offense rolled up 667 total yards (9.4 yards per play), rushed for 239 non-sack yards (5.7 yards per rush), and scored touchdowns on each of their first six drives.

The Colonels have a lack of size in the front seven and returned just five players who played 300-plus snaps last season. All signs point to this being a long year on defense for EKU.

Talent around McKinney

In Andy Richman’s shotgun-heavy spread offense, they have put some good talent around their star quarterback. Eastern Kentucky has some legitimate weapons on the perimeter.

Jaden Smith reeled in 62 receptions for 750 yards last season. The junior got off to a hot start in Week 1 with five receptions for 81 yards on nine targets against Cincinnati. Expect Parker McKinney to target him early and often. At tailback, Braedon Sloan returns after totaling over 1,100 yards from scrimmage last year. The Monticello (Ky.) Wayne County prospect logged 42 receptions, over 600 rushing yards, and 10 total touchdowns. Offensive tackle Josiah Ezirim is a potential NFL prospect.

Eastern Kentucky has some talent on offense.