PFF Ranks Kentucky's Top Performers Through 3 Games

Kentucky EDGE Steven Soles gets a strip sack against Toledo, via Jeff Drummond, Cats Illustrated

There are a lot of moving parts in a football game. It can be difficult to dissect which parts of the game are working well and which ones are struggling. In the middle of an early bye, let’s take a closer look at which Kentucky Wildcats are bringing their A-game on a regular basis.

Pro Football Focus breaks down the game film and issues grades for every individual. It’s a tedious task that produces imperfect results, but these grades give us a good general idea of where each player stands. Take a closer look at the top PFF performers for Kentucky through the first quarter of the season who have played at least 50 snaps.

Kentucky Offense

5. C Jager Burton
The starting offensive line has logged 212 snaps, and Burton has the best grade of the bunch, narrowly edging out Jalen Farmer with a grade of 68.7. Previous snapping issues have not resurfaced, he has yet to commit a penalty, and has only given up on QB pressure all season, good for a team-high 85 pass-pro grade.

4. RB Seth McGowan

Even though he has a grade of 70.4, McGowan leads the SEC in rushing touchdowns with six. He’s fifth in the SEC with 275 rushing yards and is averaging 5.39 yards per carry.

3. QB Cutter Boley

Boley just surpassed the minimum of 50 snaps, playing in 78 following his start against Eastern Michigan. Boley threw for two short touchdowns, but he’s been at his best when throwing down the field. In seven attempts that went 20+ yards through the air, he’s completed three. Boley averaged 11.4 yards per attempt in the victory over Eastern Michigan, the best by a Kentucky quarterback since week 3 of the 2023 season.

2. TE Josh Kattus

Kattus earned a PFF grade of 73.8 through three weeks because of his contributions to the passing game. He’s caught two passes of 20+ yards and has reeled in 6-8 targets on short passes. Kattus is Kentucky’s leading receiver with 8 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.

1. RB Dante Dowdell

Dowdell earned a grade of 79.5, and it’s not just because the powerful back has a 79-yard touchdown on his resume, the longest of the season in the SEC. The Nebraska transfer has an 80.2 grade in pass-blocking. Even though McGowan is usually in the game on passing downs, Dowdell has the skills to keep the pocket clean.

What Does This Mean?

Bush Hamdan wants to remain balanced, but Kentucky can successfully “Run The Damn Ball.” The Cats have the fourth-best rushing attack in the SEC, averaging 214.7 yards per game. Kentucky ranks 26th in rushing EPA (17.54) and No. 34 in success rate (26.7%). While Cutter Boley works through young mistakes, Kentucky has a reliable run game to lean on.

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Kentucky Defense

5. NG David Gusta
Arguably the most talked-about defensive player during the preseason has lived up to the hype. Two tackles and a half-sack don’t necessarily pop off the page, but he has a PFF grade of 79.4 as a two-gapper against the run.

4. DL Tavion Gadson
Another player who shines in the chaos near the line of scrimmage, Gadson has a grade of 79.9 through three games.

3. DL Kahlil Saunders
Mark Stoops said that Saunders played one of his best games as a Wildcat against Ole Miss, and that wasn’t hyperbole. He has a grade of 81.8 thanks to sound gap responsibility in the run game and production against the pass. He leads the team in pressures (8) and QB Hurries (7) through three games.

2. EDGE Kam Olds
You have to scroll pretty far down to find Olds on the basic box score. He has five tackles through three games. Olds earned an 83.9 grade from PFF thanks to his ability to move the pocket. The Kent State transfer has six pressures, four QB hurries, and he’s hit the QB twice. With production like that, the sacks will start stacking up soon.

1. EDGE Steven Soles

“Sack ’em” Soles has logged the fewest snaps of the EDGE players, but he’s made the most of his opportunities. He has a grade of 90.2, the highest on the team, thanks in large part to the havoc he’s caused in the backfield. Soles has three sacks, two of which came in the first game, and also resulted in fumbles.

What Does This Mean?

The Kentucky defense has been exceptional in the trenches. The back seven? Well, that’s a different story. Missed open-field tackles have turned short gains into explosive plays that Kentucky cannot afford to surrender in SEC play.