Way Too Early Depth Chart: Offense

With the news of the past week where Kentucky has had individual players announce their intentions to return to Lexington for the 2021 season, it feels like a good time to look forward to the next year. We are still waiting on a couple guys (Jamin Davis, Christopher Rodriguez Jr.) but for the most part have a pretty good idea what the roster will look like for the Wildcats in 2021.

There are still plenty of questions to be answered and what Liam Coen’s offense will look like is not something will know until the first game of the season arrives, but it’s never too early to take a peek. Plenty of unknowns will pop up, but almost certainly Kentucky will be one of the oldest teams in college football this next year.

Quarterback

1.) Beau Allen (6-2, 207, RFr.)

2.) Joey Gatewood (6-5, 221, Jr.)

New offensive coordinator Liam Coen will be the quarterbacks coach in Lexington and there’s no hiding from the fact that it is the biggest individual position battle for the team this offseason. All eyes are on hometown native and former high three-star Allen due to what appears to be a very obvious scheme fit, but do not sleep on Gatewood. The Auburn transfer and former top-100 recruit has the arm talent if everything else can fall in place.

Running Back

1.) Chris Rodriguez Jr. (5-11, 224, RJr.)

2.) Kavosiey Smoke (5-9, 201, RJr.)

3.) JuTahn McClain (5-9, 187, RFr.)

Jemal Singleton moves over from the NFL back to the college ranks and he appears to inherit what is a very nice running back room. Rodriguez appears to be the next star of the offense and should get plenty of All-SEC love entering the fall. Meanwhile, Smoke has shown plenty of explosiveness that has been mixed with way too much inefficiency and bad injury luck. However, he could be a great fit for the outside zone. McClain got plenty of praise his first season and is the highest rated recruit UK has landed at tailback since Boom Williams. There are plenty of options and this should be a position of strength.

X Receiver

1.) Allen Dailey (6-3, 208, Sr.)

2.) Izayah Cummings (6-3, 228, RFr.)

3.) Christian Lewis (6-4, 190, Fr.)

A strong isolation receiver lined up away from the tight end is something Kentucky has never really had during the Mark Stoops era, but they are looking to change that. Dailey is the incumbent and he likely gets the first crack when spring camp opens up, but there is a lot to prove. Cummings has some unique tools (size, length, jump ball ability) but Christian Lewis appeared to be the gem of the 2021 class. The high three-star from Alabama is a glider with some vertical ability and a large catch radius. It figures to be pretty hard to keep him off the field.

Z Receiver

1.) Isaiah Epps (6-2, 189, RSr.)

2.) DeMarcus Harris (6-1, 183, RSo.)

3.) Bryce Oliver (6-1, 215, RJr.)

4.) Earnest Sanders IV (6-1, 216, RFr.)

5.) Devonte Ross (6-0, 170, Fr.)

I’m trying my best to keep this as a two-deep, but the wide receiver position is really just a major crapshoot. Epps showed some things late in 2021 after returning from injury and had a really nice Gator Bowl. Both Harris and Oliver have playing experience. However, freshmen Sanders and Ross both have high school tapes that show explosive playmaking. With a new staff, the two athletic dynamos will have chances to make a big splash.

Slot

1.) Josh Ali (6-0, 193, 5th)

2.) Michael Drennen II (5-11, 190, RFr.)

3.) Akeem Hayes (5-8, 155, RJr.)

4.) Chauncey Magwood (6-0, 180, Fr.)

Ali and his 88 career receptions are back to give this passing game some type of building block. Meanwhile, UK is hopeful blue-chipper Drennen will emerge sooner rather than later. Magwood is another good looking freshman with a very nice high school tape who will be enrolling early for spring ball.

Tight End

1.) Justin Rigg (6-6, 263, 6th)

2.) Keaton Upshaw (6-6, 245, RJr.)

3.) Brenden Bates (6-4, 248, RJr.)

The return of Rigg gives UK plenty of options at tight end. The Ohio native is an excellent blocker who has show occasional pass catching ability. Behind him, it’s hard not be infatuated with the skill set Upshaw brings to the table. The play-action game should be much more effective under Coen and this is a unit that should benefit. It’s one of the better tight end groups in the SEC.

Left Tackle

1.) Darian Kinnard (6-5, 345, Sr.)

2.) Nick Lewis (6-9, 320, RJr.)

Perhaps the next biggest question outside of quarterback and receiver is just how new offensive line coach Eric Wolford decides to manage the pieces. UK has plenty of talent returning, but there are huge questions at the key positions (center, left tackle). Kinnard seems like the best bet at this point so he’ll get plugged in first at the line’s most important position.

Left Guard

1.) Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 300, RJr.)

2.) Eli Cox (6-4, 293, RSo.)

Horsey emerged as a quality starter at left guard this past season replacing Logan Stenberg and he will look to build on a solid 2020. Cox hasn’t played much, but appears to be in position to be a contributor down the road.

Center

1.) Quintin Wilson (6-1, 294, RJr.)

Drake Jackson is off to the NFL and he leaves behind a gaping hole. Wilson was a nice recruiting win in the class of 2018 and has patiently waited his turn. The Cincinnati native played some guard this past season drawing the majority of snaps against Vanderbilt and Alabama. Who backs him up is a major question mark.

Right Guard

1.) Luke Fortner (6-6, 300, 6th)

2.) Austin Dotson (6-6, 313, RSr.)

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all the returnees was Fortner who decided to give it one more run. He is one of the best returning guards in the SEC and will be a high quality starter. Dotson played a lot of football this past season and will be one of the best interior offensive line reserves in the sport.

Right Tackle

1.) Naasir Watkins (6-5, 305, RSr.)

2.) Jeremy Flax (6-6, 356, Jr.)

3.) Jager Burton (6-4, 290, Fr.)

Watkins missed pretty much all of 2019, but he has plenty of experience and is a clear day one starter if he’s truly healthy. Flax was a big recruiting win in the class of 2020 and could be ready to contribute after making the transition from junior college. Burton has to plug in somewhere and in the new system he feels like a tackle.