Seven Kentucky football seniors who really deserve a season in 2020
If the Southeastern Conference follows through on its current course and plays college football this fall amid the coronavirus pandemic, there are at least seven Kentucky Wildcats football seniors who will be unusually compelling stories.
Conversely, if the SEC ultimately gives into fear of the unknown — and of liability lawsuits — and cancels its season, the same seven UK players will be high on the list of the Wildcats most deserving of your empathy over a lost year.
Let’s count them down:
7.) Max Duffy. En route to winning the Ray Guy Award as college football’s best punter last year as a junior, Duffy led the nation (48.1 yards a kick) in punting.
With his array of rugby-style kicks plus his ability to kick to specific spots, the Australian import actually made punting fun. That’s why Kentucky backers will be the losers if they don’t get the enjoyment of watching Duffy again weave his punting magic in 2020.
6.) Josh Ali. The senior-to-be was one of the heroes of UK’s stirring 37-30, come-from-behind victory over Virginia Tech in last season’s Belk Bowl.
The 6-foot, 190-pound UK senior-to-be from Hollywood, Fla., not only caught the 13-yard, game-winning touchdown pass from Lynn Bowden, he also made a diving catch on a fourth-and-7 for a first down to extend what became UK’s 18-play, 85-yard, game-winning drive.
If Ali (23 receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns in 2019) does not get a chance try to use his bowl-game heroics to propel his career upward in 2020, it will be an unmitigated shame.
5.) Boogie Watson. Just like ex-Kentucky pass-rushing star Josh Allen, Watson was an unheralded recruit: Rivals had Watson rated as a 2-star; 24/7 had Allen as a 2-star.
Like Allen, Watson’s career began to take off during his junior season of eligibility. Watson’s junior production (11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 quarterback sacks) was quite similar to Allen’s junior season (10.5 TFL, seven sacks).
Of course, it was in his senior year in 2018 that Allen (21.5 TFL, 17 sacks, five forced fumbles) blew up into the National Defensive Player of the Year and a first-round NFL Draft pick (seventh overall to Jacksonville).
It would be beyond unfortunate if the 6-3, 248-pound Watson did not get the same chance as a senior to see how high he can take his game.
4.) Drake Jackson. Alabama, Florida, Ohio State and Penn State were among the regal college football names that Jackson turned down to play for his home-state school.
Since then, the former Woodford County star has become the center (literally) of UK’s “Big Blue Wall,” the rugged offensive line that helped the Wildcats finish fourth in the nation last season (278.8 yards per game) in rushing.
With a redshirt senior season of eligibility left, it will be sad if the 6-2, 310-pound Jackson does not get to play one final season in a Kentucky uniform in 2020.
3.) Landon Young. Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Ohio State were among the regal college football names that Young turned down to play for his home-state school.
Since then, the ex-Lafayette High School star has become a multi-year starter for UK at left tackle on what has become one of the best offensive lines in school history.
Given that the 6-7, 321-pound redshirt senior-to-be missed Kentucky’s 10-win season in 2018 after suffering a left-knee injury during preseason practice, it would just seem unfair if Young did not get a 2020 season in Wildcats blue and white, either.
2.) Davonte Robinson. After the ex-Henry Clay High School star missed all of last season with a quadriceps injury, there’s a tendency to forget how well the 6-2, 208-pound safety played down the stretch for Kentucky’s 10-win team (10-3) in 2018.
That season, Robinson had seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass break up in a tense 14-7 win over Vanderbilt. In UK’s 34-17 loss to Georgia in the game that decided the SEC East championship, Robinson had nine stops with one TFL. When the Wildcats bested Penn State 27-24 in the VRBO Citrus Bowl, Robinson contributed five stops.
It would be beyond unfortunate if the coronavirus robbed Robinson of a shot to relaunch his promising career in 2020.
1.) Terry Wilson. In terms of working through his pass progressions and making accurate throws into tight windows, Wilson was playing one of his best games as Kentucky starting quarterback in last season’s second contest against Eastern Michigan.
Alas, Wilson’s 2019 ended in that game when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee after being pulled down from behind while running.
After going through a grueling rehab to get his knee back to game condition, it would really stink if “Terry Touchdown” does not get a chance to complete his comeback — and improve on his 12-3 record as UK’s starting QB — in 2020.
