These five underrated Wildcats deserve more attention for Kentucky football in 2023

Kentucky football’s year of the transfer means even more attention than normal has been pointed to newcomers during preseason camp.

Questions about Devin Leary, Marques Cox, Ray Davis, Courtland Ford and the other transfers have joined the annual hunt for freshmen who might be able to contribute right away. A group of returning players poised for breakout seasons generates conversation too.

But what of the veteran Wildcats who fly under the radar? Many of those players remain essential to Kentucky’s chances of a special season.

Here is a look at five underrated Wildcats who should be getting more attention in the lead-up to the season.

RB JuTahn McClain

After Kentucky added transfers Ray Davis and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye to the running back room, it is easy to forget about the senior already on the roster who showed promise as Chris Rodriguez’s primary backup a year ago.

In 30 games at Kentucky, McClain has totaled 109 carries for 278 yards to go with 24 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. His best run of production came in the second half last season when McClain recorded 29 carries for 157 yards over the final four games. Twice earlier in the season with Kentucky backed up behind its own 5-yard line McClain broke through for a run of at least 15 yards to provide needed breathing room.

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was an admirer of McClain’s versatility during his first stint at Kentucky in 2021 but that season was derailed for McClain due to the investigation into a fraternity party fight that kept him and several teammates out of practice into the season. McClain’s opportunity to grab a larger role during Rodriguez’s four-game suspension a year ago was ruined by an injury that cost him two games.

Davis is expected to start at running back this season and Sumo-Karngbaye will be used at both running back and wide receiver, but McClain could still serve an important role in the rotation.

“If you can really get all those guys a lot of work while keeping them fresh throughout the season, I think that will be really important for us moving forward,” Coen said of the running backs.

S Jalen Geiger

At this time a year ago, Geiger looked well positioned for a breakout season, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in just the second game.

With Geiger sidelined, safety Jordan Lovett emerged as one of the most promising young players on the defense. Texas State transfer Zion Childress blossomed alongside Lovett in the second half and continued to generate positive buzz throughout the offseason.

Geiger is healthy again, and while he might not start over Lovett or Childress he remains an important part of the secondary.

Reports during camp suggest there has been little sign of rust as Geiger works back into the fold. He received strong reviews for his play in the first scrimmage Saturday and could now cash in on the promise shown in his interception return for a touchdown against Vanderbilt in 2021.

“There’s plenty of snaps to go around,” defensive coordinator Brad White said of the safeties during spring practice, explaining the coaches view all three as starters. “We’re going to be able to keep each of those guys fresh so they can play fast, they can play physical. That’s going to be a position group that I lean on heavily because of the experience, because of their play style, because of the mentality. All three of them. Just really, really excited to get Jalen back.”

TE Brenden Bates

Bates was also included on the Herald-Leader’s underrated players list a year ago, but if anything his contributions are being more overlooked now.

Sophomores Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus were the breakout stars at tight end last season. Junior Izayah Cummings has generated much of the buzz at the position since spring because of his previous contributions to a Coen-led offense. Even freshman Khamari Anderson has been a target of praise at tight end during camp.

The presence of those exciting, younger tight ends makes it easy to overlook Bates, but fans should not be surprised if the sixth-year senior continues to play a featured role.

Bates did not reveal until he was finally forced to the sideline in November that he played much of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury. It is hard to quantify how much that injury limited his impact, but Bates has also since acknowledged he was too heavy for much of the year. He reported losing 15 pounds this offseason in hopes of becoming a more consistent pass catcher.

“I do feel like sometimes I am being a little pigeonholed (as a blocking tight end) in that aspect, but I’m not doing myself any favors if I’m going to be 270 pounds and can’t move like I know I can move,” Bates said. “That’s my goal to prove to everyone, prove to the coaches that I’ve got hands, I can run routes, I can do more in the passing game.”

LB D’Eryk Jackson

Jackson is often viewed as a new starter due to the departure of middle linebacker Jacquez Jones, but he actually started nine games in 2022 with Jones sidelined by injury for much of the season. Only the most dedicated of fans would likely realize that Jackson led Kentucky in tackles a year ago.

While Jones is gone, Jackson is now overshadowed by fellow inside linebacker Trevin Wallace, who was a more highly touted recruit and this week was included on Bruce Feldman’s annual list of college football’s biggest athletic freaks at The Athletic. While he is listed as a senior on the roster, Jackson still has three years of eligibility remaining.

There is room for further growth.

“He’s such a smart player,” defensive coordinator Brad White said of Jackson. “Sometimes he’s just got to cut loose and play, not overthink the downs. But he’s made a lot of plays this fall camp. He looks ready to take that next step.”

DL Josaih Hayes

In Kentucky’s much-hyped 2020 defensive line class, North Hardin star Octavious Oxendine and five-star prospect Justin Rogers drew the bulk of the attention, but Hayes was also rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals.

When Rogers transferred to Auburn this winter, Keeshawn Silver, a former five-star recruit and incoming transfer from North Carolina, generated the most buzz as a potential replacement at nose guard, but it was Hayes who left spring practice on top of the depth chart there.

White made it clear during spring practice he had challenged Hayes to be more consistent on and off the field. There appears to have been clear progress toward that goal, but White is avoiding hyping Kentucky’s possible Rogers replacement too much.

“One way or the other with (Hayes), it’s never good in media,” White said. “That fine line of telling him you’re doing a good job versus continuing to push. So, we’re at that moment right now. Just need to continue to push. Continue to push and if he has a great season, at the end of the season I’ll tell him he did a great job.”

This story was originally published August 18, 2023 at 7:00 AM.

Jon Hale

Lexington Herald-Leader

(859) 414-6776

Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription