What’s in a name? Kentucky football players aim to be college sports’ next great Jordan.
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Preview: No. 8 Kentucky vs. Northern Illinois
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Walk into the Kentucky football locker room and ask for Jordan and you will need to be a little more specific.
The elder statesman is Jordan Wright, a team captain and super senior outside linebacker. Redshirt freshman safety Jordan Lovett ranks fourth on the team in tackles and is coming off his first career start. Redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Dingle has tallied four catches for 42 yards through three games.
Freshman wide receiver Jordan Anthony made his debut against Youngstown State. Sophomore cornerback Jordan Robinson is another player to watch for the future after transferring from Division II Livingstone College. Senior walk-on long snapper Jordan Morrow rejoined the team after preseason camp.
So how do Kentucky players and coaches keep all the Jordans straight?
“We’ve just got a lot of nicknames for a lot of people,” Wright said with a laugh.
Wright answers to “J Dub.” Lovett goes by “J Love.” Robinson is “J Rob” to teammates. Morrow is known as “J M.”
Dingle is often called by his last name, but sometimes that adds confusion since his older brother, Justice Dingle, is also on the team. Justice is then “Big D” and Jordan is “J Dingle.”
Anthony seems to have the most diverse group of nicknames.
One teammate called him “J Ant.” Another listed his nickname as “J A.”
“You can call me Flash if the fans want to use that,” Anthony said, alluding to his elite speed as the U.S. under-20 200-meter dash champion.
All of Kentucky’s Jordans were born in 1998 or later.
Yes, at least a couple of the Jordans think there is a tie between their names and basketball legend Michael Jordan, who won the last of his six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, but that isn’t the only common theme in how they were named.
Wright and Dingle both report they are named after the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized according to the Christian Bible. Lovett and Anthony both credit Michael Jordan as at least part of their namesake.
But there isn’t always a story behind the name either.
“My mom just liked the name,” Robinson said. “She didn’t know any Jordans when she named me.”
At least three of Kentucky’s Jordans are projected to play significant roles this season.
Dingle might be the best receiving threat in a deep tight end room. Tight ends coach Vince Marrow has called him the position’s Swiss army knife thanks to his versatility.
Lovett opened the season as the Wildcats’ backup free safety but has been pushed into a starting role after what is expected to be a season-ending knee injury for previous starter Jalen Geiger. He has totaled 12 tackles and one pass breakup through three games.
No Jordan is more important to the Wildcats’ 2022 chances than Wright though.
He was suspended for the opener but returned to post a momentum-swinging interception in the win at Florida. With J.J. Weaver expected to miss at least one game with an arm injury, Wright will take on an even larger role as the Wildcats’ top pass rusher.
“Especially his leadership and his character, it brings joy,” cornerback Keidron Smith said of Wright. “But I don’t even know the word for it. It’s just Jordan. It’s the same person 24/7. He’s not gonna change. That is him. He is an impact player on the defense.”
While Robinson has a year of college football experience, coaches spoke of him like a freshman they hoped to develop in the future when they signed him as a transfer. At 6-foot-4, 202 pounds, he boasts the length that Stoops covets in his cornerbacks, but he faces a difficult jump from Division II to the Southeastern Conference.
This season could also be viewed as a developmental year for Anthony thanks to the stacked depth chart in front of him at slot receiver, but offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has hinted in the last week there are still plays that can showcase Anthony’s elite speed. That was on display on his first career target against Youngstown State when he was open for a deep touchdown but quarterback Will Levis was unable to get him the ball because of pressure forcing him to scramble.
Whether Anthony makes an impact this season or not, we’ll give him the last word on what makes Kentucky’s Jordans special.
“I was projected to be a big star in life,” he said. “My first name is Jordan, my middle name is Jamar and my last name is Anthony. … Michael Jordan, Ja’Marr Chase, Carmelo Anthony.”
If there is really power in a name, Kentucky looks in good shape.
Next game
Northern Illinois at No. 8 Kentucky
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
TV: ESPN2
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Kentucky 3-0, Northern Illinois 1-2
Series: First meeting
This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 8:19 AM.
