Kentucky has three of the top 100 players in the NFL

by:Jack Pilgrim05/22/20

(Via Getty Images)

The Kentucky football program represents three of the top 100 players in the NFL.

In a recent ranking by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, former Wildcat star pass-rushers Za’Darius Smith, Bud Dupree, and Josh Allen all made the list of top players in the league.

Leading the way was Smith of the Packers at No. 28 overall, who managed 13.5 sacks last year en route to Pro Bowl honors in his first season in Green Bay.

“He showed off his versatility in his first season with the Packers rushing both from the inside and outside,” CBS Sports said of Smith. “He proved to be an outstanding free-agent signing by Green Bay.”


From there, Bud Dupree came in at No. 60 overall following his 11.5-sack performance in 2019.

“He had his breakout season in 2019, getting 11.5 sacks and becoming a force in the run game,” CBS Sports said. “There’s a reason why the Steelers put the franchise tag on him.”

Jacksonville linebacker and top-ten draft pick Josh Allen closed out the list of former Wildcats at No. 88 overall following his 10.5-sack rookie debut.

“This is an emerging player who should be higher on this list next year,” they said. “As a rookie, he had 10.5 sacks to lead all rookies.”

Here is the entire list of top 100 players in the NFL, led by the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Donald, Russell Wilson, Michael Thomas, Christian McCaffrey, Stephon Gilmore, Lamar Jackson, Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack, and Aaron Rodgers to round out the top ten.

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