Kentucky players to watch against Texas

Kentucky is back at home for the first time in over a month. The Cats will play their fourth SEC game of the season and just the second at home. The opponent is a fresh one but a big one.

Texas entered this season with national title aspirations and were a popular preseason selection to win the whole enchilada. But the season has not gone to plan for the preseason No. 1 team. The Horns are still top-five good on defense but this offense has some issues. That has played a big role in this 4-2 (1-1) start. Now UK draws UT in their third consecutive game away from home.

Can the home team find a way to the winner’s circle in what seems like a letdown spot? If they do, odds are high that these players will make a big difference.

Let’s take a look at some individuals that UK will need to show up and play well on Saturday night.

A big opportunity for Kentucky’s defensive line

The offensive line was a major question mark for Texas entering the season. Steve Sarkisian and his staff decided to not bring in any transfers and made a big bet on in-house development in year where four new starters were needed. That plan hasn’t worked out well.

Trench play on offense has been a massive issue. More importantly, there have been massive problems in the interior three. On Saturday, Texas will have new starters in at center and left guard.

Kentucky must take advantage. Kentucky needs to win this matchup.

The defensive line has been a team strength for the Cats all season. It must be a strength in this matchup. UK added Washington State transfer David Gusta for situations just like this one.

Texas will try to get the run game going but UK’s run defense has mostly been game throughout the season. Where the real weaknesses have been are against the pass. This defense needs an uptick in pass rush production. That could happen this week.

Gusta should have some very favorable matchups in this game. The veteran might have a chance to tilt this game a time or two with a big negative play.

Establish the run and commit to it

Last season, Kentucky played a ranked team in a night game at home coming off a week where there was a lot of negativity surrounding the program. The Cats responded and played well.

In that matchup, Georgia had a big name quarterback and a top-five defense that UK had a hard time generating anything in the passing game against. To move the football, the Cats had to commit to the run and stay committed to it. They did that and rolled up over 200 non-sack rushing yards with the tailbacks producing 141 yards on 31 carries. The home team will need something similar to happen on Saturday.

That means a heavy workload for Seth McGowan.

The New Mexico State transfer has been Kentucky’s best player all season and he was limited to just 14 touches against Georgia, but he was on pace for many more before being pulled from the game in the third quarter with an injury. McGowan is back healthy this week and should get a heavy workload.

Florida had some success with a downhill run game against Texas. That allowed the Gators to establish game control. Kentucky will need an effective rushing performance from McGowan where he is churning out first downs and helping UK shrink this game.

The Cats must stay out of passing downs as much as possible against this dynamic Texas pass rush and coverage unit. That happens if they can establish the run and stay committed to it.

The return of a starting cornerback

Before this season started, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops and defensive coordinator Brad White both said that they thought the secondary could be a team strength for the defense this season. Part of the reason for that was because of the emergence of DJ Waller Jr. throughout the offseason. The former Michigan transfer remained healthy and was primed for a big season.

Then the injury bug arrived again. After missing five games in his first season at UK, Waller missed four consecutive games after suffering a hamstring in Week 1. But he will be back in the lineup on Saturday.

Can that help improve the perimeter tackling issues? Kentucky sure hopes so.

Expectations were high for the 6-foot-3 cornerback since he arrived on campus but injuries have lingered. Waller is back healthy and will be looking to make a splash. Expect Texas to test him and the rest of Kentucky’s perimeter defense early and often at Kroger Field.

Kentucky’s tackles will be tested

There is no denying that Kentucky’s offensive line is much improved in 2025. The Cats rebuilt in the portal during the offseason and that is paying dividends. This group has made a big jump but there has been some leaky moments in pass protection.

New starting tackles Shiyazh Pete and Alex Wollschlaeger have allowed 27 combined total pressures in 180 pass rush snaps. The interior three has allowed a combined six pressures. When heat gets to Kentucky’s quarterback, it is from the edge.

Saturday will be this group’s biggest challenge since facing South Carolina’s strong edge rush duo in Week 5. In that game, UK allowed six sacks on 11 pressures. All of that heat ultimately led to four turnovers in the second quarter to turn a Kentucky lead into a blowout loss. They have to avoid that on Saturday.

Colin Simmons has logged 15 tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a team-high 18 pressures through six games. He will be a big challenged to deal with. Arkansas transfer Brad Spence has recorded two sacks and 12 pressures in just 46 pass rush snaps this season. Trey Moore 28.5 career sacks. It will be important for Kentucky to run the ball and stay out of passing downs, but eventually, you will have to protect when Texas pins their ears backs. UK’s tackles will be challenged.

They must hold up better than they did against South Carolina.