Early breakdown: Who’s coming, going and staying for Kentucky’s defense in 2020?
This is the second half of a two-part story. Click here for a breakdown of Kentucky’s offense in 2020.
A mass exodus set the tone in Kentucky’s 2019 preseason. Excitement surrounding a mass influx of fresh talent and returning standouts should define its 2020 lead-up.
Only eight scholarship players who contributed significantly to last year’s 8-5 team — seven seniors and junior Lynn Bowden — are known to be out of the picture come spring camp. In addition to a few players that have already announced their transfers, a least a few more departures should come, as UK could needs to accommodate several newcomers and, as of Tuesday, had only 18 open scholarships.
UK has signed 21 players as part its the 2020 recruiting class and could pick up a couple more next month. Unless a few guys who were previously on scholarship decide to play without one — or, conversely, some incoming freshmen decide to go to school without a football scholarship for a year — UK needs up to five current players to transfer; and that doesn’t take into account the possibility of defensive lineman Phil Hoskins gaining a sixth year of eligibility, which would reduce the amount of open scholarships to 17 before new enrollees become a factor.
Where might those departures come from?
We looked at the offense yesterday. Today, let’s take a look at every position on the defense and try to see where things stand.
Defensive backs
Who’s here: Tyrell Ajian, Jamari Brown, Yusuf Corker, M.J. Devonshire, Taj Dodson, Cedrick Dort Jr., Jalen Geiger, Moses Douglass, Brandin Echols, Quandre Mosely, Davonte Robinson.
Who’s coming: Rickey Hyatt Jr., Kelvin Joseph, Andru Phillips, Vito Tisdale, Carrington Valentine, Joel Williams.
Who’s leaving: Jordan Griffin.
Assessment: The most concerning group heading into 2019 on paper, they proved doubters wrong by helping Kentucky’s defense allow the third-fewest passing yards of any team in the nation. Griffin, a safety, is the lone known departure though it’s an area in which UK could afford and might see some attrition, based on sheer numbers. Dort and Echols started a combined 23 games at cornerback this past season and figure to be major players again next season, and newcomer Kelvin Joseph — who transferred from LSU in August — should extend the bench along with Brown, who played in all but UK’s final two games. Davonte Robinson’s versatility as a safety and nickel will make him indispensable once again as he returns from a year lost to injury. Corker started 13 games as a safety and lived up to his former four-star billing. Devonshire, Dodson, Geiger and Douglass all played limited snaps as true freshmen but Devonshire and Dodson seemed to have a leg up within the quartet.
Defensive line
Who’s here: Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald, Quinton Bohanna, Cavon Butler, Isaiah Gibson, Kordell Looney, Qua Mahone, Marquan McCall, Davoan Hawkins.
Who’s coming: Josaih Hayes, Octavious Oxendine, Justin Rogers, Tre’Vonn Rybka.
Who’s leaving: T.J. Carter, Phil Hoskins (?), Calvin Taylor.
Assessment: For the second straight season, from where the Cats generate the most pressure will be a significant question mark. Taylor didn’t put up the gaudy numbers that Josh Allen did, but he finished in a tie for second among all Southeastern Conference sack leaders and should be drafted by an NFL squad this offseason. Carter, who held down the other end, had two sacks, six tackles for loss and was second on the team with four quarterback hurries. It would be a boon if Hoskins is granted a sixth year of eligibility — UK hopes to receive a final verdict from the NCAA by the end of this month — but if that doesn’t come to pass then it’ll be crucial for Abadi-Fitzgerald and Looney to develop into bigger contributors. They each played in every game this season and Looney started at Mississippi State; he was productive in a limited role, producing a sack, two TFLs, two QB hurries and forcing two fumbles. Bohanna’s return is significant as an anchor in the middle; the 361-pound junior was a possible NFL draftee but will look to improve his own stock and help further contribute to the development of McCall, his immediate backup who appeared in all 13 games. Mahone, a redshirt freshman, played in four of UK’s final six games while Butler and Gibson, both true freshmen, each made their only appearance in a rout of UT Martin. Regardless of how things shake out at tackle among the veterans, expect five-star recruit Justin Rogers to make an immediate impact.
Inside linebackers
Who’s here: Marquez Bembry, Jamin Davis, Chris Oats, DeAndre Square.
Who’s coming: D’Eryk Jackson.
Who’s leaving: Kash Daniel.
Assessment: Square is poised for his second season as a full-time starter and third straight season as a major contributor since arriving in Lexington. Oats, who also didn’t redshirt, will slide into the starting role left behind by Daniel and it should be an overall boost for an inside group that greatly benefited from his services as a reserve. Davis came on strong down the stretch — he piled up 32 tackles, a sack and an interception — and will help a three-man rotation at the Mike and Will linebacker spots not skip a beat. Bembry, recruited as an outside guy, moved inside midseason; with Jackson, a three-star talent, as the only other scholarship player expected to be on the roster next year, it’ll be crucial for him to develop into a solid rotation piece to combat possible fatigue and injuries.
Outside linebackers/edge
Who’s here: Jared Casey, Alex King, K.D. McDaniel, Josh Paschal, Xavier Peters, Jamar “Boogie” Watson, J.J. Weaver, Jordan Wright.
Who’s coming: Sam Anaele.
Who’s leaving: No one.
Assessment: Paschal started every game after a battle with cancer sidelined him most of the 2018 season; he felt at his best as the season wound down and, in his junior year, seems like the best candidate for a Josh Allen/Calvin Taylor-like leap among all of UK’s edge defenders. Watson and Wright will enter their fifth and fourth years, respectively, and each made strides in their development — Watson as a full-time starter and Wright as an active, lanky reserve. Casey and Weaver preserved their redshirts but both Louisville native showed signs of future stardom while leap-frogging Peters, a ballyhooed transfer from Florida State, for snaps; so did McDaniel, another true freshman who played in four of UK’s final six games. Peters can’t be written off, but he has much to prove this spring, especially with another four-star talent (Anaele) joining the fold. King appeared in nine games as a redshirt freshman — mostly on special teams — but didn’t play at all in 2019; he’s the prime suspect if a transfer were to come from this group.
Special teams
Who’s here: Cade DeGraw, Max Duffy, Colin Goodfellow, Matt Ruffolo, Chance Poore.
Who’s coming: No one.
Who’s leaving: Blake Best, Zach Johnson, Grant McKinnis, Drew Schlegel, Brett Slusher.
Assessment: “No one” probably isn’t exactly accurate as far as newcomers — it’s likely that UK will add a new face or two to its return game with Johnson, a former walk-on, making his exit and receiver Josh Ali likely to be of more utility on offense. Running back Travis Tisdale is a name to watch there. The loss of Best will be overlooked but shouldn’t; he handled long-snapping duties on field goals and PATs for three years before adding punts to his repertoire in 2019. DeGraw, a true freshman walk-on, was listed as his backup this season. Ruffolo, a senior-to-be, finished the year 4-for-5 on field-goal tries and 18-of-20 on PATs, and was the starter down the stretch despite what the depth chart said. Will the walk-on enter 2020 as the leading man or will Poore, who’s on scholarship, bounce back in his sophomore season? Duffy, who graduated in December, has a year of eligibility remaining and has dismissed the idea of entering the NFL Draft. The 27-year-old could conceivably forego his eligibility and focus on a more traditional professional career, but he’s made no indication of the sort. Goodfellow, a senior-to-be from Cleveland, is the only other punter on UK’s roster.
UK football calendar
Feb. 5: National signing day
Feb. 23-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine at Indianapolis
March-April: Spring practice (dates TBA)
April 23-25: NFL Draft at Las Vegas
August: Fall practice (dates TBA)
Sept. 5: Season opener at home vs. Eastern Michigan
