BREAKING: Key position battles for Kentucky football ahead
The Kentucky Wildcats might not be among the top contenders in the competitive SEC this season, but Mark Stoops’s team boasts a lot of veteran talent and continuity as they head into 2024, following a 7-6 record last year. Stoops has also effectively utilized the transfer portal, bringing in players like wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin, linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, and essentially an entirely new quarterback room.
Many starting positions in Lexington are already secured as summer approaches, with players like left tackle Marques Cox, center Eli Cox, and D’Eryk Jackson making the most of their remaining college eligibility. However, a few intriguing roster battles remain, especially at the most critical position on the field, where the depth chart recently seemed set in stone.
Brock Vandagriff / Gavin Wimsatt
When Kentucky wrapped up its spring game, Brock Vandagriff, a transfer from Georgia, was firmly positioned as QB1 for 2024, with Beau Allen from Georgia State as his clear backup. Despite being an inexperienced quarterback room, it showed promise under the leadership of the former five-star recruit. However, Stoops significantly reshaped the quarterback situation.
Gavin Wimsatt, a native of Kentucky, entered the transfer portal after losing the starting quarterback battle at Rutgers to Athan Kaliakmanis and subsequently signed with the Wildcats. Wimsatt has 19 collegiate starts under his belt, in contrast to Vandagriff’s mere 21 career pass attempts since joining Georgia in 2021.
While Wimsatt didn’t particularly excel as a passer at Rutgers, his athleticism and ability to make plays with his legs could introduce a new dimension to Kentucky’s offense if given the chance by Stoops and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan. Though it seems unlikely that Stoops will initiate a full-scale QB competition this summer, making Vandagriff the probable starter, Wimsatt’s arrival certainly adds intrigue to the offseason in Lexington.
Gerald Mincey / Courtland Ford
Gerald Mincey was a strategic addition by Stoops through the transfer portal, as protecting Vandagriff (or Wimsatt) will be crucial for the season’s success. Mincey’s recruitment might imply he has been given playing time assurances that could prevent any offseason competition for the starting right tackle position. If not, Kentucky might face a challenging decision at right tackle.
Last season, Mincey played 578 snaps, with 430 at right tackle, allowing 17 pressures and two sacks. In 2022, during his second year as a starter for the Vols, he played at left tackle, surrendering 12 pressures and one sack in 454 snaps. Conversely, Ford served as Kentucky’s swing tackle in 2023 after spending three seasons at USC, including one as a starter.
Ford hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2021 for the Trojans, where he allowed 20 pressures in 535 snaps at left tackle. Even in limited action last year, playing just 204 snaps, he gave up 11 pressures. This positions Mincey as the front-runner for the right tackle spot, although he isn’t a guaranteed starter for Week 1. While neither Mincey nor Ford might offer elite right tackle performance, having two experienced linemen competing for the lone open spot on the line is a favorable situation for the program.
JQ Hardaway / Jantzen Dunn
Kentucky had four players from last season’s team selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, with cornerback Andru Phillips being the first off the board. Selected in the third round by the New York Giants, Phillips left a significant void in Kentucky’s defense after playing 710 snaps and leading the team with six pass breakups.
On the opposite side of Phillips last season was Maxwell Hairston, who led the Wildcats in defensive snaps and had five interceptions. Hairston returns for his junior season, but the cornerback position opposite him is now open. The top candidates to fill this role are JQ Hardaway and Jantzen Dunn.
JQ Hardaway, who was CB3 last season, could step up into the starting role as a junior. Last season, Hardaway played 357 snaps, allowing 18 receptions on 26 targets and making three breakups. Jantzen Dunn, a 6-foot junior, will also be in the mix. Although Dunn saw limited action last season with just 91 snaps, he emerged towards the end of his sophomore campaign, playing primarily as an outside corner in the Gator Bowl against Clemson.
Jordan Robinson, who had a case for some starting reps, transferred to Cincinnati during the spring portal window, narrowing the competition to Hardaway and Dunn. While neither option is a clear frontrunner yet, the competition should be intense as they vie to fill the significant gap left by Phillips.