Kentucky Spring Notebook: Jantzen Dunn is making strides

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Over at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility, it was defense day after spring practice No. 5. Kentucky is now in full pads and wrapped up another workout at the newly renovated indoor facility. Defensive coordinator Brad White is still stressing the importance of fundamentals with his unit.

“Some good, some bad. It’s kind of what you expect from spring ball. Like we talked about last week, trying to hammer some fundamentals but then just mess around with a couple little tweaks,” White told KSR. “Doing some of that today.”

From a big-picture standpoint, White pointed out that the margin for error between a great defense and average defense is very small. Early in spring practice, Kentucky is working on improving in the margins but there is also some talent development standing out despite the Wildcats’ current defensive depth chart being “written in pencil”.

Two former four-star recruits are standing out. One has officially made a position change and another has made a big jump at a position of need.

Jantzen Dunn has taken strides

Jantzen Dunn was a former top-200 recruit out of Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren who started his collegiate career at Ohio State. After two years in the Big Ten, Dunn returned to Kentucky and played a limited role in 2023. However, the class of 2021 recruit played big snaps at nickel against Louisville and Clemson to end the season. There was some good and bad.

Dunn was on the field during Clemson’s fourth quarter comeback when the pass coverage let Kentucky down in some key situational spots. Heading into 2024, the Wildcats need to get better in the secondary and must replace Andru Phillips. Through two weeks of spring practice, the redshirt junior has made a leap and is impressing the coaching staff.

White just needs him to stay away from the rat poison.

“JD is having a really good spring,” White said. “JD, if you’re listening, turn off your ears. Don’t be listening.”

“I think he’s gaining that confidence. He’s had the time in the system now to understand and to develop. And his length and his athleticism is something that we can really use, and he can use to his advantage.”

Dunn spent time in and out of the lineup in 2023 learning Kentucky’s scheme and trying to find a home. The former transfer could give the Wildcats a permanent answer at nickel. White is hopeful that Dunn learned from last season and likes where the defensive back is at from a development standpoint.

“You learn from mistakes. You learn way more from your mistakes than you learn from your good plays. Everybody wants to watch their good plays because it makes them feel good, and it’s hard to watch your bad plays but you learn way more that way,” said White. “I think he’s taken an approach — teach me off my bad plays.”

“He’s taken significant strides thus far.”

Grant Godfrey makes a position switch

When Kentucky landed a commitment from Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett linebacker Grant Godfrey, the Jamin Davis blueprint was immediately brought up. The Wildcats saw the versatile defensive prospect as a player who would start outside in their scheme and eventually slide inside. Davis made that same move at Kentucky, and it helped him become a first-round pick.

After missing his first season with injury, Godfrey made that move inside the box this spring. The redshirt freshman is now at off-ball linebacker and looks the part.

“Grant was always a guy that we brought in that we thought could play sort of outside and transition to inside. This spring slid him inside, and I think he looks comfortable in there. I think even out of high school we sort of thought ultimately that’s where he’d probably end up,” White said about the young linebacker. “And he played a fair amount his senior year in there.”

In Mike Stoops’ position room, Kentucky has a clear top three. Jamon Dumas-Johnson and D’Eryk Jackson are the starters. Daveren Rayner is the top backup. The defense needs to develop depth after that. Godfrey will play a key role in that. The position is filled with freshmen and the Peach State native is making some good early progress.

“He’s doing some good things,” White said.