JJ Weaver Playing Free Without Knee Brace

This iteration of spring practice feels different for JJ Weaver. Last year, he was still on the sideline, rehabilitating his injured knee. Even when he returned during preseason practice, a bulky brace covered his right knee. UK’s star on the edge was able to play in every regular season game, but nothing felt quite right.

“Watching film from last year, it seemed like I was less dangerous,” Weaver said Saturday.

He previously admitted he was never playing at 100% in 2021, yet he still led the team in sacks (6) and interceptions (2) to win Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year honors. Since the regular season concluded, he’s had more time to heal and get back to playing like he did before the injury.

“This year during spring I’ve just been letting loose, no brace, no nothing. The brace felt like it was stopping me from my range of motion. Now I feel like I can bend my knee faster, I can explode off of it even better,” he said.

Weaver getting Pass Rush help from the D-Line

Once a rising star with something to prove, Weaver is now one of the most established stars on Mark Stoops’ defense. Entering his fourth year on campus, this spring he’s transforming into a leader. A disruptive athlete in the pass rush, it’s his primary point of emphasis to the other younger players on the front line of the UK defense.

“Pass rush is where I come in at. I’m a leader, I’m mature now, so that pass rush is on me. I’m trying to get all my youngins, all my top dogs to work hard and get off. That’s what we need to work on is our ‘get off.’ That’s it, just work on our get off for right now this spring. We can worry about everything else in (fall) camp.”

Even though he is healthy, numbers are thin right now for the UK pass rush. Weaver revealed Jordan Wright is staying on the sideline throughout UK’s 15 spring practices after he suffered through countless injuries in 2021. Three freshmen OLBs will arrive in the summer, but in the meantime DE Tomiwa Durojaiye is running with the twos at Jack linebacker.

For now, Kentucky must lean on the defensive line to assist Weaver in the pass rush. KSR has heard positive reviews of Tre’vonn Rybka‘s play. Weaver also likes what he’s seeing from the guy competing with Rybka, Ohio State transfer Darrion Henry-Young.

“He’s so amazing. I love his hands. He’s fast,” said Weaver. “He helps me and Jordan (Wright) out on the pass rush this year.”

Injuries slowed down Kentucky’s pass rush in 2021. In 2022 the early returns from spring practice are much more optimistic.