If J.J. Weaver’s injury keeps him out, this Kentucky football freshman could be key
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Preview: No. 8 Kentucky vs. Northern Illinois
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As a freshman playing in just his third collegiate game, Keaten Wade will take the backhanded compliment handed him by Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops after a 31-0 win over Youngstown State.
“I don’t remember having to try to yell at him in between series,” Stoops said with a laugh. “So, it felt like he did good.”
Wade probably expected to receive an extended look against the FCS opponent, but he could not have anticipated how early he would be needed against the Penguins.
Starting outside linebacker J.J. Weaver was sidelined by an arm injury on Youngstown State’s first offensive drive, leaving Wade as the top option when Kentucky wanted to play with a second outside linebacker alongside super senior Jordan Wright.
Wade responded with three tackles and one-half sack. The third-quarter sack was the first of Wade’s young career.
“I feel like I just try to make a play so I can put my name out there,” Wade said. “So, I was trying to follow the ball wherever I go on the field. I know when I’m making plays it boosts my confidence and just the overall team’s confidence.”
With Weaver and Wright both returning to Kentucky, it appeared Wade would have a chance to ease into his college career after signing with the Wildcats as a four-star recruit in the class of 2022.
Wright was suspended for the opener, though, giving Wade an extended look against Miami (Ohio). In that game, he turned heads with a bone-crushing hit on third down to break up a pass.
A week later, Wade’s role shrunk with both Wright and Weaver available for the win at Florida, but he still was credited with two tackles. Wade has totaled eight tackles in three games.
Stoops listed Weaver as “week to week” Monday but said he does not expect Weaver to be back in time for Saturday’s game against Northern Illinois. Any missed time for Weaver would mean more snaps for Wade moving forward.
“I think we’ve got bodies and some depth,” defensive coordinator Brad White said after the game. “Just like anything else, we’ll have to adapt.”
Kentucky is likely to use an extra defensive back to account for Weaver’s absence at times, like it did in the opener when Wright was suspended. Freshman nickel back Alex Afari led the Wildcats with five tackles against Youngstown State in an expanded role.
White has never been shy about outlining how difficult it is for freshmen to contribute at outside linebacker immediately. Even when Kentucky entered the season with freshmen as the primary backups to both Weaver and Wright, White did little to hype Wade and fellow freshman Tyreese Fearbry as immediate contributors.
“They’ve got to be edge-setters in the run game, they’ve got to pass rush and they’ve got to be able to cover and drop,” White said before the opener. “Those guys have a lot going on.”
Wade, a top-200 recruit in the high school class of 2022 according to the 247Sports Composite, could be particular suited to that role considering even at 6-foot-5, 237 pounds he trained as a defensive back at the National Playmakers Academy in Nashville.
“Keaten has always had the look of a high draft pick guy,” NPA president Buck Fitzgerald said. “… I trust that he will continue to take advantage of that opportunity just because of how he was raised, how he was trained and because of his unique attributes he has physically to really be able to play in the Southeastern Conference.”
Wade credits his aggressive playing style for his ability to already make an impact in limited snaps, but he is clear about the need for more work in the film room, especially if Weaver misses any more time.
Northern Illinois could offer another opportunity for developmental snaps for Wade before the meat of SEC play starts on Oct. 1 at Ole Miss. Two of UK’s four opponents in October rank in the top 25 nationally in total offensive yards per game.
The best-case scenario for Kentucky’s defense is a quick return from Weaver in time for that stretch, but Wade’s progress in the coming weeks could be key for the present as well as the future of the program.
“He can do things that are unusual for a man his size on the football field,” Fitzgerald said. “He can be put in different types of situations. You see him make plays you don’t think he can get to just because of his range and his unique skill set.”
▪ The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Kentucky’s game at Mississippi on Saturday, Oct. 1, will kick off at noon and be televised by ESPN.
Next game
Northern Illinois at No. 8 Kentucky
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
TV: ESPN2
This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 6:45 AM.
