Mark Stoops Believes the Secondary will be a Strength of the Kentucky Defense

Aug 31, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive back JQ Hardaway (6) celebrates after an interception in the end zone against Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second quarter at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Carter Skaggs-Imagn Images

Much of the attention during the lead-up to the 2025 Kentucky football season has been on the program’s drastic roster changes. There’s one position group that was seemingly immune to significant turnover, the secondary.

There was one big departure. Maxwell Hairston became the first Kentucky defensive back selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. Hairston could effectively shut down one side of the field. Filling that void cannot be done with the snap of a finger, but Mark Stoops believes this secondary will not take a step back a year after the Wildcats finished fourth in the SEC in pass defense (183.7 passing yards allowed per game).

“The secondary can be a real strength of this team,” Stoops said on Monday.

J.Q. Hardaway started in all 12 games opposite of Hairston at cornerback. The two safeties, Jordan Lovett and Ty Bryant, have plenty of starts under their belts as well. The key for this group lies in the players who flashed but did not get a ton of snaps, due to either injury or inexperience.

D.J. Waller was a highly-touted transfer portal addition from Michigan who was sidelined by an injury for five games in 2024. Terhyon Nichols did not look like a true freshman, but his season ended prematurely after a shoulder injury forced him to undergo surgery and kept him out of full-contact drills during spring practice.

Two other second-year players could play a vital role for this defense. Cam Dooley is a former four-star talent with a ton of athleticism who will act as the Wildcats’ third safety. Quay’Sheed Scott is competing with Jantzen Dunn for snaps at nickel. Scott looks like the future at the position. He has the speed to cover shifty slots and does not shy away from physicality in the box. “I think he’s going to be a really good football player,” said Stoops.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

The physical tools are there. For those inexperienced players to take the next step in fall camp, it’s all between the ears.

“Where they could take it to another level: One thing is just really being dialed into the situation, Football IQ, being very smart. What’s the down and distance? What’s the situation of the game? What’s coming? Anticipating things,” said Stoops. “I think with experience, they could take that to another level.”

Defensive coordinator Brad White is prepared to rely on the secondary this fall. They’ve gained his trust, and it’s not just the starters, which should allow them to stay fresh by regularly substituting.

“We have a lot of snaps, and we’re going to have to lean on ’em at times,” White said at the Lexington Kickoff Luncheon. “It’s that give and take. If you want to stop the run and load the box, those guys are going to have to win some one-on-ones out there, and at the end of the day, the goal is to win more than they lose. They’re not going to win 100% but I think they have the mentality now that they can put it behind them. You gotta have that goldfish mentality if you’re playing corner. I think those safeties are going to be playmakers for us, and we’re going to expect them to be. We’re going to rely on them a lot, while that front continues to build cohesiveness.”