Kentucky Post-Spring Depth Chart: Offense

Kentucky’s 2023 roster-building should be over now. The Wildcats have their guys for the upcoming football season after officially announcing the additions of seven transfers to the program on Friday. The countdown is on for football time in the Bluegrass.

Back in January, KSR’s football team took a swing at a depth chart projection after the first wave of transfers were added to the roster. We’re back just over three months later to perform the same exercise. Some things have changed since January.

First up is the offense where play-caller Liam Coen has seen his roster land a potential star quarterback and raise the floor at multiple positions with the recent transfer additions.

Quarterback

1. Devin Leary (6-1, 217, Super Senior)
2. Kaiya Sheron (6-3, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)

NC State transfer Devin Leary was a mid-year enrollee at Kentucky and immediately became QB1. The super senior has thrown for 6,807 yards and 62 touchdowns while helping lead NC State to a 17-4 record in starts over the last two seasons. Kentucky will go as Leary goes this season. Kaiya Sheron was the first quarterback up with the twos in the spring, but this battle will linger into fall camp as Destin Wade looks to make a move.

Tailback

1. Ray Davis (5-10, 216, Redshirt Senior)
2. JuTahn McClain (5-9, 198, Senior)
3. Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210, Super)/Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Redshirt Sophomore)/Jamarion Wilcox (5-10, 195, Freshman)

An argument can be made that the deepest position on Kentucky’s team is at tailback. New running backs coach Jay Boulware now has a plethora of solid options. Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis and returnee JuTahn McClain left the spring as the top option. Ramon Jefferson is still recovering from an ACL injury and NC State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye was just added to the roster. Incoming freshman Jamarion Wilcox has high expectations. Kentucky has options in the backfield, and we should see a true committee approach in 2023.

X Receiver

1. Dane Key (6-3, 195, Sophomore)
2. Shamar Porter (6-3, 210, Freshman)

Expectations are high for Kentucky’s receiver. Playing into the boundary, we should expect Dane Key to have a big role in the passing game after finishing last year with 37 receptions on 55 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns. However, depth is a concern at wideout. Four-star signee Shamar Porter will have a chance to play this season.

Z Receiver

1. Barion Brown (6-1, 166, Sophomore)
2. Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 171, Redshirt Sophomore)

Barion Brown could be the most important individual player on the offense not named Devin Leary. The former top-100 recruit had some very bright moments in his first season on campus and has clear All-SEC potential. Kentucky must find ways to get him the ball in space. Dekel Crowdus has a strong spring and is set to be Kentucky’s WR4 to begin the season.

Slot Receiver

1. Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, Super Senior)
2. Anthony Brown (5-10, 168, Freshman)

Former Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson is back for year two in Lexington and is looking to build off last season where he recorded 40 receptions (52 targets), 497 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Robinson is the most experienced player in the wideout room by a good margin. Anthony Brown was a significant top-500 recruiting win for Kentucky in Ohio last cycle. The early enrollee was working with the twos during spring practice and should have a chance to carve out a role on the offense this season.

Y Tight End

1. Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, Sophomore)
2. Brenden Bates (6-5, 251, Super Senior)

Kentucky was without Cincinnati Moeller alums Brenden Bates and Josh Kattus in the spring, but each will play a critical role this fall. Kattus will be looking to build off of a tremendous close to the season, and Bates is looking to stay healthy after battling through injuries last season. The tight end spot is a position of strength for the offense.

H Tight End

1. Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, Redshirt Sophomore)
2. Izayah Cummings (6-3, 232, Senior)

Jordan Dingle also missed spring practice, but the former top-500 recruit will have a big role in this offense. The Bowling Green (Ky.) High product could be one of the top pass-catching options and will be used in an assortment of ways as an off-ball tight end. Izayah Cummings received a ton of reps during spring practice as he looks to become a part of the offensive rotation again at tight end.

Left Tackle

1. Marques Cox (6-5, 311, Super Senior)
2. Nikolas Hall (6-6, 314, Redshirt Freshman)

Kentucky went looking in the transfer portal to find a new left tackle and quickly landed on Northern Illinois transfer Marques Cox. The mid-year enrollee quickly grabbed a starting spot with the ones and had a solid spring camp. Nikolas Hall missed the spring with an injury, but the former top-500 recruit is a key piece of the future for the Big Blue Wall.

Left Guard

1. Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 311, Super Senior)
2. Ben Christman (6-6, 315, Redshirt Sophomore)

Kenneth Horsey is back for year four as a starter on the Big Blue Wall and will be sliding back inside to his natural left guard position. The veteran’s pass protection production and positional versatility should give the offensive line some real value. Ohio State transfer Ben Christman will join the program this summer and should immediately become Kentucky’s third option at guard. The former blue-chip recruit might also be able to fill a void at right tackle.

Center

1. Jager Burton (6-4, 307, Redshirt Sophomore)
2. Koby Keenum (6-4, 295, Freshman)

After starting every game at left guard last season, former blue-chipper Jager Burton transitioned inside to center during spring ball. The reviews were strong, and the Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass product will open the season as a starter in the pivot. Koby Keenum was a big 2023 recruiting win for Kentucky, and the true freshman held his own with the twos during the spring.

Right Guard

1. Eli Cox (6-4, 311, Redshirt Senior)
2. Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Redshirt Senior)

Eli Cox is back to his original right guard position after playing center last season. The three-year starter will be relied on to give UK an upgrade at right guard. Glasgow (Ky. ) High product Tanner Bowles returns home after spending four seasons with Alabama. The versatile piece played multiple positions for the Tide and will give offensive line coach Zach Yenser a quality reserve to utilize.

Right Tackle

1. Courtland Ford (6-6, 305, Redshirt Junior)
2. Jeremy Flax (6-6, 325, Senior)

Courtland Ford started 12 games at USC but has no playing experience at right tackle. However, Kentucky is hoping Ford’s experience at left tackle will help him make a smooth transition to right tackle. The Texas native with three years of eligibility remaining is the top option to play right tackle at the moment. Jeremy Flax projects to serve as an experienced backup option. The right tackle spot could be a heated position battle during fall camp.

The ceiling has been raised but Kentucky needs Devin Leary to produce

Offensive line and tailback depth were issues that Kentucky’s offense had a hard time overcoming last season. The coaching staff looked to the transfer portal to fill some of those needs.

Kentucky added six total transfers to the two positional units to bolster the depth. Kentucky now has some quality options to choose from at the key positions. Add in the hire of Liam Coen, and the floor has been raised in Lexington. But the ceiling will be determined by another transfer.

NC State quarterback Devin Leary is taking over for Will Levis in Kentucky’s offense, and the super senior needs to produce. Kentucky will likely be more pass-heavy this year putting a lot on Leary’s plate. The veteran needs to distribute the football with efficiency and stay healthy for this unit to reach expectations.

Transfers will play a big role in Kentucky’s offense this season.