Zion Childress gives Kentucky options in secondary

After Kentucky lost Vito Tisdale to a knee injury in the spring, the Wildcats had a clear need in the secondary. The coaching staff addressed that need with two outside cornerbacks added from the transfer portal, but a versatile safety was signed.

In Saturday’s open practice, Zion Childress was spotted running with the twos at a more traditional safety position. Joel Williams was leading the way at medium/nickel when Kentucky went to subpackages. Just two days later, there has been a big change.

Childress (6-0, 191, Jr.) spent two seasons at Texas State starting as a true freshman at nickel before moving to a traditional safety role in 2021. Last season for the Bobcats, the New Caney (Texas) High product played over 300 snaps in the box, according to PFF. The transfer has some of the skills that Kentucky needs in its hybrid medium/nickel role.

Joel Williams entered the transfer portal on Monday, and Kentucky does not have a clear starter at this hybrid spot. However, Zion Childress appears to check some of the boxes that Stoops and defensive coordinator Brad White are looking for.

“As we get more versatile, play some man, do some things you gotta have a good cover guy at that position,” Stoops told reporters at Kentucky Media Day about the nickel spot. “So it’s not necessarily a hybrid nickel/Sam linebacker. You gotta have a guy that can cover. We’re exploring there to continue to develop.”

At Texas State, the strength of Childress was his coverage ability. The defensive back record nine pass breakups and one interception over the last two seasons. The junior showed the ability to match up in man coverage, play in phase, and make plays on the ball.

On tape, Zion Childress was an effective player in the box who could slip blocks, and make tackles, but also had the versatility to cover players in space. At this position last year, Davonte Robinson started for Kentucky and finished the year with 45 tackles. Vito Tisdale was used off the bench to provide more coverage. Kentucky must replace both. Childress could fill the void by bringing both box playmaking and coverage skills to run with slot receivers and tight ends.

As J.J. Weaver and Jordan Wright return from injury and enter the season fully healthy, the expectation is that Kentucky will play more base, but a fifth defensive back will be needed quite often. The defense will need a player with a multi-dimensional skillset. Zion Childress seems to have that, and the Texas State transfer is now the clubhouse leader to be Kentucky’s starter at Medium following the transfer of Joel WIlliams.

“A lot of experience and a good football player,” Stoops said about Childress.