Predicting Kentucky's First Depth Chart of the 2018 Football Season
One week from today Kentucky will release the first depth chart of the 2018 season. Normally an SEC Media Days tradition, this year the UK Media Guide did not feature a depth chart. Instead of waiting another week, let’s see what the depth chart will probably look like before the Cats take on Central Michigan.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Terry Wilson
Gunnar Hoak
Both are still expected to play in the opener, but after Wilson stepped up in Saturday’s scrimmage, the playmaking athlete will likely be the first to take snaps under center on September 1.
Running Back
Benny Snell
A.J. Rose OR Sihiem King
An excellent spring and summer from A.J. Rose has given Eddie Gran enough confidence to make Rose the No. 2 back behind Benny Snell, although King will still likely be used situationally. Kavosiey Smoke will play sparingly before he reaches the four-game limit for redshirts.
Wide Receiver (X)
Dorian Baker
Ahmad Wagner
Wide Receiver (Y)
David Bouvier
Akeem Hayes
These two receivers have earned plenty of preseason praise from the practice fields. Gran described Bouvier as the camp’s MVP, while the tiny freshman (5’8″) has captured the attention of his peers.
Wide Receiver (F)
Lynn Bowden
Clevan Thoms
Wide Receiver (Z)
Tavin Richardson
Isaiah Epps OR Josh Ali
Richardson emerged as one of the most consistent wide receivers on the roster in the second half of the 2017 season after Dorian Baker was forced to miss an entire year. Behind him there are a pair of deep-play threats who must prove they are the preferred deep-ball targets.
Tight End
C.J. Conrad
Justin Rigg
Kentucky will run a lot of sets featuring the two tight ends, with Conrad split out as a wide receiver more than ever before during his Kentucky tenure. The highly-touted freshmen, Keaton Upshaw and Brenden Bates, should also see some action, although at least one will be restricted to just four games.

@JustinRigg1
Left Tackle
Landon Young
Naasir Watkins
U.S. Army All-American Darrian Kinnard has been an excellent addition, but the Cats will contain him to just four games to keep his redshirt status.
Left Guard
Logan Stenberg
Luke Fortner
Center
Drake Jackson
Mason Wolfe
Right Guard
Bunchy Stallings
Sebastien Dolcine OR Austin Dotson
Right Tackle
“Big” George Asafo-Adjei
E.J. Price
DEFENSE
Sam Linebacker
Jamar “Boogie” Watson
Jordan Wright
Josh Allen’s former position, he flipped sides with Boogie to get into more pass rushing situations on third down.
Top 10
- 1Hot
NEW PRACTICE GYM
Only the best for Mark Pope
- 2New
Calzada Practices
UK splitting QB1 reps.
- 3
Passing Problems
UK has the worst passing attack in FBS
- 4Trending
"Cutter is going to play."
Get ready for the KY kid
- 5New
JQ's recovery
He's ahead of schedule!
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.
Defensive Tackle
Adrian Middleton
Phil Hoskins
Nose Guard
Quinton Bohanna
Tymere DuBose OR Marquan McCall
If McCall gets into playing shape, he could knock the senior out of the rotation.

True Sophomore Quinton Bohanna
Defensive End
T.J. Carter
OR Calvin Taylor Jr.
Jack Linebacker
Josh Allen
Kengera Daniel OR Chris Whittaker
Will Linebacker
Jordan Jones
Jamin Davis, DeAndre Square OR Chris Oats
No position brings more uncertainty than the weak-inside linebacker. Jones returned from his shoulder injury, only to deal with another minor ankle injury in preseason camp. Eli Brown would have stepped in seamlessly, but he opted to transfer closer to home in the offseason. There are three talented underclassmen who can play the position, but Stoops lamented the depth at the position following Saturday’s scrimmage.
Mike Linebacker
Kash Daniel
Chris Oats
Cornerback
Derrick Baity
Jordan Griffin
Cornerback
Lonnie Johnson
OR Chris Westry
You must have three good cornerbacks to play in the SEC. Lonnie Johnson has first dibs, but Westry will still see plenty of playing time.
Nickelback
Jordan Griffin
OR Yusuf Corker, Davonte Robinson OR Mike Edwards
None of the coaches have tipped their hat as to who will play the important position. Edwards came up often in run support last season, but when he did the Cats struggled at safety. My money is on Griffin as the first to fill the spot, but the nickel will probably feature a deep rotation.
Strong Safety
Mike Edwards
Tyrell Ajian OR Yusuf Corker
Free Safety
Darius West
Davonte Robinson
SPECIALISTS
Kickoff
Grant McKinniss
The four-star punter recruit struggled as a freshman and redshirted last season. The Australian will probably get all the punting reps, but McKinniss has carved out some time as a kickoff specialist.
Placekicker
Miles Butler
Freshman Chance Poore has a big leg, but Butler has proved to be the most consistent kicker. Butler is money from 45 yards in, but the Cats probably won’t try as many long balls this year.
Punt Return
David Bouvier
Lynn Bowden OR Mike Edwards
Bowden is not as comfortable catching punts as Bouvier is. Ball security is at a premium on punt returns so they’ll roll with the most reliable option.
Kickoff Return
Lynn Bowden
Sihiem King
Longsnapper
Tristan Yeomans will also be the holder.
Punter
Max Duffy
[mobile_ad]
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard