No, Kentucky does not have any preseason All-Americans entering the 2025 football season. That tends to happen when you’re a top-60 team in the country and a single top-100 impact transfer is the highlight of the offseason for the Wildcats — at least through the national lens.

Nine of the team’s 12 opponents did, however, receive votes in the AP Preseason Poll, with six in the top 25. That does mean UK will be taking on plenty of superstars, unfortunately.

In fact, ESPN and The Athletic released their preseason All-Americans, and Kentucky will take on 13 in the former’s list and 12 in the latter’s with a number of obvious overlaps.

One overlap the Wildcats won’t have to face, but is quite familiar to Big Blue Nation? New LSU Tiger Barion Brown, who was named a First-Team Special Teams returner by ESPN and a Second-Team Special Teams all-purpose standout by The Athletic.

“Brown is getting a reset at LSU after rolling up 3,273 all-purpose yards at Kentucky over the past three seasons,” ESPN said of the former Kentucky star. “The Tigers want to get him as many touches in as many roles as possible. Brown is the Wildcats’ record holder for career kickoff return average (30.3 yards) and leads all active players with five kickoff returns for touchdowns, the most of any SEC player in history.”

Enough of that. Now, to the rest of the All-Americans the program will have to face.

ESPN’s 2025 preseason college football All-America team

By: Chris Low

First-team offense

TE: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

“Stowers is still developing as a tight end after starting his career as a quarterback. The 6-4 redshirt senior has bulked up to 235 pounds and looks more like a receiver with the way he runs routes and gets open. It seems his best is yet to come, even after catching 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.”

C Jake Slaughter, Florida

“When Slaughter announced that he was returning for his senior season, it was huge news for the Gators’ offensive line and a huge boost for coach Billy Napier. The 6-4, 303-pound Slaughter makes life easier for quarterback DJ Lagway and is a steadying force for the offense.”

First-team defense

DE: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

“Stewart burst onto the scene this past season as one of the best freshmen in college football and immediately asserted himself as one of the most feared pass rushers in the SEC.”

LB: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

“From the time he arrived on the Forty Acres, Hill has been destined for stardom. Now in his third season, the 6-3, 235-pound Hill is one of the country’s most well-rounded linebackers. … Whether he’s pressuring the quarterback or chasing down ball carriers, Hill is a big play waiting to happen on defense.”

CB: Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

“The only question with McCoy is his health after he tore an ACL in January while training at home. The Vols hope to have him back for the start of the season in some capacity, but there’s no timetable at this point as he continues to recover.”

S: Michael Taaffe, Texas

“Taaffe came to Texas as a walk-on and enters his redshirt senior season as one of the top defensive backs in the nation. … Taaffe’s instincts and range are both outstanding. His 91.3 coverage grade led all safeties last season, according to Pro Football Focus.”

Second-team specialists

P: Brett Thorson, Georgia

“Thorson is still working his way back from a left (nonkicking) knee injury in the SEC championship game last year. He was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in the country last season.”

Second-team offense

All-purpose: Isaac Brown, Louisville

Second-team defense

DE: Colin Simmons, Texas
DT: Christen Miller, Georgia
DE: Keldric Faulk, Auburn
DE: Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
LB: CJ Allen, Georgia
S: KJ Bolden, Georgia

The Athletic’s Preseason 2025 All-America Teams

By: The Athletic College Football Staff

First-team offense

TE Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

“A former four-star quarterback recruit who signed with Texas A&M in the 2021 cycle, Stowers blew up with the Commodores last season after transferring from New Mexico State with quarterback Diego Pavia. He earned first-team All-SEC honors after catching 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns. Stowers is No. 15 on Feldman’s Freaks List.“

C Jake Slaughter, Florida

“Slaughter, a fifth-year senior and former three-star recruit from nearby Ocala, Fla., earned first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press last season. He’s started 21 games over the last two seasons and played 800 of the 828 offensive snaps for the Gators in 2024.“

First-team defense

LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas

“Hill earned first-team All-America honors from The Athletic in 2024 when he led the Longhorns in tackles (113), TFLs (16 1/2) and forced fumbles (four) and ranked second in sacks (eight).“

Second-team offense

RB Isaac Brown, Louisville

Second-team defense

DE Colin Simmons, Texas
DT Christen Miller, Georgia
LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
CB Daylen Everette, Georgia
S KJ Bolden, Georgia
S Micahel Taaffe, Texas

Second-team specialists

K Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss
P Brett Thoroson, Georgia

---

Seems easy enough for the blue and white. Kentucky’s journey starts against Toledo on August 30, followed by its first All-American matchup vs. Ole Miss on September 6.

The first of many.