Which freshman could join Anthony Brown-Stephens, Ty Bryant in helping UK football in 2023?
When Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops unveiled his first two-deep depth chart of the 2022 season a year ago, seven freshmen were included.
When Stoops releases the first 2023 depth chart Monday, fans should not expect to see nearly as many first-year players.
“I think there will be some guys that play, yes,” Stoops said earlier in camp when asked about his 2023 high school signees. “How much, to be determined.”
At least in public comments, Kentucky coaches have confirmed just two freshmen have already clinched a spot on the two-deep depth chart: wide receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens and safety Ty Bryant. It is no coincidence that both Brown-Stephens, who previously was known as Anthony Brown, and Bryant graduated from high school early in order to enroll at UK in January and participate in spring practice.
That head start provided a firm foundation for both freshmen to earn early snaps during preseason camp at positions where depth is a concern.
As to why more freshmen have not joined them, a variety of factors are probably at work.
The 2022 freshman class, which included immediate contributors Deone Walker, Barion Brown, Dane Key, Josh Kattus, Alex Afari and Keaten Wade, was Stoops’ highest-ranked class at Kentucky. The 2023 class (32nd) was ranked 18 spots lower than the 2022 class (14th) by the 247Sports Composite, so it stands to reason there would be fewer players positioned to immediately force their way onto the field even at positions with adequate returning depth like Walker and Kattus did a year ago.
Kentucky signed 14 transfers from Division I colleges to fill most of the most glaring holes on the depth chart entering the offseason, decreasing the need for freshmen to play. At wide receiver, perhaps the most obvious position where freshmen might be needed, Brown-Stephens’ classmates apparently have struggled to stay on the field during camp.
“Just haven’t really earned it,” offensive coordinator Liam Coen said of the other freshman receivers. “You earn it. You get what you get. Especially if you’re not available health-wise, it’s hard to say any true freshman is going to be in the rotation if they haven’t really done it yet.”
Still, Kentucky will surely need contributions from more than Brown-Stephens and Bryant in its 2023 high school class over the course of a full season.
Here is a look at five freshmen who could contribute at some point this fall.
WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
Kentucky’s top three wide receivers (Barion Brown, Key and Tayvion Robinson) are back from last season but almost all the veteran backups behind those players transferred out of the program in search of more snaps. That leaves Brown-Stephens and sophomore Dekel Crowdus as the top protected backups entering the season.
“I thought he’s handled this go-around extremely well,” Coen said of Brown-Stephens. “In terms of being somebody we can count on to go play, somebody we can be able to push the ball down the field to. Diligent worker, smart kid. Bright future ahead of him.”
S Ty Bryant
Bryant will look to continue the Frederick Douglass High School pipeline that also sent Kentucky Key, Crowdus and center Jager Burton. The son of former UK wide receiver Cisco Bryant, Ty will open the season as the Wildcats’ fourth safety behind Jordan Lovett, Zion Childress and Jalen Geiger. Bryant used the KHSAA rule allowing students an extra year in high school due to the COVID-19 pandemic to better prepare himself to enroll at UK.
“You almost view him as a redshirt freshman,” defensive coordinator Brad White said. “Then he comes in early, so he’s a little bit more physically developed, mentally ready and developed. He’s been around this program for a long time.”
WR Shamar Porter
While Coen was unwilling to guarantee any other freshmen will play at wide receiver, it is difficult to imagine a scenario where Kentucky makes it through the entire season without at least one more having an opportunity to contribute. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Porter, UK’s highest-rated 2023 signee according to 247Sports, has the size that is currently lacking from the wide receiver rotation.
“I think it’s a guy that we needed,” Stoops said of Porter. “We definitely needed that size and somebody like him to come in and be able to contribute. So, we’ll see where it goes.”
TE Khamari Anderson
Tight end is Kentucky’s deepest position with Kattus, Brenden Bates, Jordan Dingle and Izayah Cummings all expected to play featured roles in the offense. While tight ends coach Vince Marrow has proclaimed that Anderson would already have been UK’s starter four years ago before that depth was developed, he might find snaps difficult to come by early in the season. The physical demands of the position all but ensure at least a couple of the veterans will be sidelined at some point though, perhaps opening a path to the field for Anderson.
“You’d love to be able to get him in, but not at the sense of obviously if we are healthy and things are going well losing a redshirt potentially,” Coen said. “He’s got those four games that he can play in without losing it. Ultimately, the health of the other guys and Khamari’s ability to keep learning, keep producing and keep contributing will determine how much true playing time he gets.”
RB Jamarion Wilcox
Depth should not be an issue at running back either with Ray Davis, JuTahn McClain, Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, Ramon Jefferson and La’Vell Wright available, but only Davis from that group has a proven track record of success in the Southeastern Conference. There appears to be room for a home-run threat to emerge alongside Davis. Wilcox, a former four-star recruit, might be the most obvious candidate to take over that role if he can learn the playbook and take care of business off the field.
“He’s got real gas,” Coen said. “He can really run with the football outside the tackles. Had a good catch in the (second) scrimmage. He’s done some nice things for us.
“... I like the kid. I like him. He’s growing. On and off the field getting better and better, more trustworthy and a guy you can count on. You can tell it means a lot to the kid.”
2023 UK season opener
Ball State at Kentucky
When: Noon Saturday
TV: SEC Network
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
2022 records: Ball State 5-7 (3-5 MAC), Kentucky 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Series: Kentucky leads 1-0
Last meeting: Kentucky won 28-20 on Sept. 8, 2001, in Lexington
This story was originally published August 25, 2023 at 7:00 AM.