Kentucky’s Offense Could See Significant Jumps from Second-Year Sophomore Starters

Coaches and analysts agree that college football player’s most substantial development takes place between years one and two. This personnel occurrence is based on the individual’s maturity, advanced-individual coaching, strength and conditioning instruction, nutrition, and familiarity with the advanced game. Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen could benefit from as many as five second-year starters in 2023. Let’s dig into it. 

True Sophomore WR Dane Key

Dane Key is a legacy Wildcat that lived up to the immense recruiting hype that surrounded the receiver’s path to Kentucky. The Lexington Frederick Douglass product was a highly sought after national prospect and was the eventual in-state prize for Vince Marrow. Key started the season off ablaze and was named as a Midseason Freshman All-American. He continued to be a key, pun intended, target for Will Levis throughout the season. The 6’3, 190-pound pass catcher started twelve of thirteen games and caught 37 passes for 519 yards. The rookie also set the UK freshman record for most receiving touchdowns with six. 

2023 should be the season that Key sees the most growth. The rising sophomore has a new quarterback in Devin Leary and a player caller in Liam Coen. Both should copiously utilize Key’s skill set and benefit from Key being a “One” receiver. 

Dane Key is also a Dean’s List student and active in the Lexington community. That is not surprising, I’ve known his dad Donte since our playing days at UK. Dane is a fan-favorite (including Ryan Lemond) with a tremendously bright future. He can play in the slot or as a true “X” our outside receiver. His positional flexibility, propensity for the big-play, large catch radius, high football IQ, and work ethic help to construct a future professional pass catcher. 

True Sophomore WR Barion Brown

Dane Key’s 2022 running mate was fellow true freshman Barion Brown. The Cat’s home run hitter from Pearl-Cohn High School in Nashville flashed explosive traits a year ago. Brown finished 2022 with a long list of postseason accolades that include True Freshman All-American to All-SEC. He was also named as the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Week and SEC Co-Freshman of the Week on multiple occasions. Brown recorded 50 receptions, 628 yards, and four touchdowns as a rookie. He also concluded his true freshman campaign as the UK record holder with 628 yards. 

Liam Coen will have a field day calling plays for Barion Brown. I can see the coordinator utilizing Brown much like he did Wan’Dale Robinson in 2021. Brown also excels as a returner and is a threat to score anytime the football is in his hands. The Barion Brown/Dane Key garnered a great deal of attention a year ago. After a year of development, that combination will pose a serious threat to opposing defenses. Brown is also considered a “One” receiver. 

Redshirt Sophomore OL Jager Burton

Guard Jager Burton started all thirteen games as a redshirt freshman. He was named Freshman All-SEC for his efforts and was the first Wildcat offensive lineman to garner that postseason award since Logan Stenberg in 2016. 

Burton is an athletic offensive lineman that can play all five OL positions. His diverse skill set makes him extremely valuable. Rumors have circulated that a move to center is in the works. If that holds truth, both UK and Burton would greatly benefit from the position change. Burton’s updated weight is 308 pounds which is plenty big enough to manage a 0-technique nose tackle. The Frederick Douglass Bronco also moves like a tight end which will help reach defensive linemen in inside and outside zone schemes as well as pulling to secure the edge. 

True Sophomore TE Josh Kattus

Josh Kattus is the offense’s version of D’Eryk Jackson. Every year there is a surprise in the signing class and Kattus surely was that in 2022. There was very little buzz when he signed with the Wildcats, but that changed quickly. Word began to trickle out of the Joe Craft Football Training Center during early fall camp that the 6’4, 230-pound TE from Cincinnati was impressing coaches and players alike. Those rumors turned to truths on the game field last season when the opportunity was presented. 

Kattus saw action in eleven games including three starts last season. He finished 2022 with seven receptions for 125 yards before missing the bowl game due to injury. Kattus’ 18 yards per catch is a number that projects enthusiasm for the Cats going into spring practice. Additionally, the rising sophomore TE is a monster. I type that as a compliment. The term “Monster” details the manner in which Kattus plays the football game. 

Josh Kattus is a throwback, physical, in-your-face football player that doesn’t back down from a fight. He excelled and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the blocking aspect of his role. I had a great deal of joy watching him play the game. I wasn’t alone. Kattus was often the talking point on the Depth Chart Podcast when our collection of has-beens gleamed over the battering ram tight end.

Redshirt Sophomore TE Jordan Dingle 

Jordan Dingle is a 6’4, 240-pound football player from Bowling Green, Kentucky. I typed ‘football player’ because that’s what best describes Dingle’s game. He can align as a traditional on-line TE or be flexed out in passing scenarios. He can also play in a situational fullback role. I was fortunate to watch him play in the state championship game when he was a senior in high school. I’m on record saying that he was the best player that competed on that weekend on Kroger Field. Jordan Dingle is special. 

Dingle started twelve of thirteen games as a redshirt freshman last season. He was named as to the Freshman All-SEC Team after catching 20 passes for 220 yards, and three touchdowns. Much like Josh Kattus, Jordan Dingle is a throwback, old-school football player. The Kattus/Dingle combination, along with the return of Brenden Bates, gives the Cats a powerful trio of TE’s that will be heavily deployed by Liam Coen. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Kentucky could start five sophomores on offense. Four of the five were named Freshman All-SEC in 2022. All should see a significant jump from year one to year two. I don’t buy into the “Sophomore Slump” theory. Their contributions will greatly impact the success of Liam Coen’s return to Lexington.