Roster Management: Where Kentucky stands heading into spring practice

After two signing days and a long transfer portal window, Kentucky’s biggest phase for roster construction is officially complete. The Wildcats have checked many boxes as the spring semester is off and running.

After officially announcing the additions of high school EDGE Noah Matthews and Alabama wide receiver transfer Javon Baker on Wednesday, Kentucky appears to have reached the 85-scholarship threshold.

In less than a month, spring practice will begin at Kentucky and those 15 practices will end sometime in April. From that point until July, the coaching staff will assess the team and determine if any more moves need to be made in roster management.

Due to the transfer portal never closing, more attrition could come for the Wildcats at any moment. Once spring practice wraps up and the semester ends, don’t be surprised if some more current players on the roster enter the portal.

To get us jump-started, KSR is going to dig into each position and see where the Wildcats stand heading into the next phase of the offseason. Let’s dive into this roster management breakdown.

Offense

Quarterback (4)

Kentucky will enter the year with four scholarship quarterbacks and one clear guy. Will Levis is the unquestioned starter, but most of the spring and summer will likely be spent trying to determine if redshirt sophomore Beau Allen can be the guy in the future. Regardless, another portal visit is likely needed after 2022, but walk-on Deuce Hogan could be a wild card this spring.

Running Back (5)

Kentucky went through the 2022 cycle and did not add one running back. Why? Mainly due to no departures and Chris Rodriguez Jr. being one of the best tailbacks in college football. However, due to that return, there could be a late departure thanks to the lack of reps available. However, redshirt freshman La’Vell Wright is a promising young player to watch out for as Rodriguez’s future replacement.

Wide Receiver (13)

After the departure of Wan’Dale Robinson, Kentucky needed to address wide receiver in the transfer portal. The Wildcats did that by adding two potential starters — Javon Baker and Tayvion Robinson. Meanwhile, the position room will have eight freshmen/sophomores but half of those are former blue-chip prospects. The future is bright on the perimeter.

Tight End (5)

Kentucky is slowly developing a reputation at tight end, and that position will again be used heavily in 2022. Keaton Upshaw returns from injury and will get most of the buzz. Izayah Cummings is back for his junior season and could take a big jump forward. Meanwhile, Brenden Bates is a steady redshirt senior, and Jordan Dingle could be a player as a redshirt freshman. Kentucky will run a ton of 12 personnel next fall.

Tackle (6)

Perhaps the biggest question on the team is at tackle. Kentucky must replace two quality starters and do not have a clear answer. The hope is that former four-star recruit Deondre Buford takes a big jump as a redshirt sophomore to take over the left tackle spot. Meanwhile, Jeremy Flax could be the answer at right tackle after playing 73 snaps last year. Kiyaunta Goodwin is an early enrollee and redshirt freshman David Wohlabaugh Jr. appears to have a bright future, but a transfer portal visit could be needed.

Interior OL (9)

If no position switch is needed, an interior grouping of Eli Cox, Kenneth Horsey, and Tashawn Manning could be one of the best in the SEC. Meanwhile, redshirt senior Quintin Wilson will provide quality depth. Redshirt freshman Jager Burton is a promising young piece. However, things could get thin if Kentucky needs Horsey to slide out to tackle.

Defense

Defensive Line (12)

Josh Paschal leaves a huge hole, but Kentucky’s quality recruiting should now start to pay off in 2022. Blue-chippers Josaih Hayes, Justin Rogers, and Tre’vonn Rybka are all set to play major roles. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore Octavious Oxendine flashed some potential in six games last season. Ohio State transfer Darrion Henry-Young was added from the portal as Anwar Stewart has the deepest position group on the team with six former blue-chip recruits.

Edge (5)

Inside Kentucky is very deep, but that is not the case at outside linebacker. Both Jordan Wright and J.J. Weaver return to give defensive coordinator Brad White quite the one-two punch, but things fall off after that. The Wildcats signed three edge high school prospects — Tyreese Fearbry, Noah Matthews, and Keaten Wade — in the class, but may need a portal visit to address immediate depth. Things could be thin, and Kentucky will be very young at the position next season.

Linebacker (6)

Both Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square are returning for super senior seasons and that helps the Wildcats enhance a solid positional unit. Mike Stoops takes over for Jon Sumrall and will have quality depth with sophomores D’Eryk Jackson, Martez Thrower, and Trevin Wallace. Kentucky is all set at off-ball linebacker with good class balance.

Safety (9)

Kentucky gets super senior Tyrell Ajian back for one more year and that helps settle things in the secondary. Redshirt junior Jalen Geiger will step into a starting role to give the Wildcats a pair of interchangeable safeties. Vito Tisdale should have the Sam/Nickel hybrid position locked down, and Kentucky has plenty of bodies available for depth.

Cornerback (6)

After an up and down first season as a starter, Carrington Valentine returns, but not much else is known. Redshirt sophomore Andru Phillips is a candidate to make a jump, and true freshman Andre Stewart will be participating in spring practice. The Metro Atlanta native is a good-looking young prospect. However, Kentucky must address this position in the transfer portal before the season arrives. That is non-negotiable.

Special Teams

The third phase is where things get interesting. Starting kicker Matt Ruffolo and starting punter Colin Goodfellow both appear to be returning for a super senior season. Each former walk-on is likely to have a scholarship in 2022.

That puts Kentucky in a bind because there are three other specialists also scheduled to be on scholarship.

Chance Poore is entering his redshirt senior year and is a solid kickoff specialist, but punter Wilson Berry is likely not to play with the return of Goodfellow. True freshman Jackson Smith steps in and will be the future at kicker or punter, but the Wildcats have spent about two scholarships too many at this spot.

Expect a departure or two to occur once spring practice wraps up.