Quarterback Will Levis could lead the most potent offense Mark Stoops has had at UK. (Vicky Graff Photo)
How good will Kentucky Football be this season? That’s the $64,000 question. Can they be better than the 2018 team that finished with a 10-3 record and beat traditional Big 10 power Penn State in the Citrus Bowl? Or better than the 2021 team that also finished 10-3 and beat Big 10 runner-up Iowa in the Citrus Bowl?
The “half-empty” crowd would say no, 8-4 is likely with 9-3 being the top end for this 2022 team. They would cite the loss of Mr. Clutch, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson; a boatload of talent on the offensive line including NFL-bound Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard; plus the loss of some key individuals on defense, including nose guard Marquan McCall, all-world edge rusher Josh Paschal and safety Yusuf Corker.
They would also say that the off-the-field troubles of star running back Chris Rodriguez could lead to some struggles for the offense early in the season — most notably against Florida the second week of the season — and that loss of production out of the backfield might be enough to cost the Cats a game or two early on depending on how many games Rodriguez might have to miss. Throw in a new offensive coordinator and that makes the situation even more sticky for the Wildcats.
On the contrary, the glass “half-full” crowd might say yes, absolutely they can be better than either one of those teams. They would say 10-2 is the floor and this team really should be at least 11-1 with an outside shot at beating Georgia in late November in Lexington for all the marbles.
That crowd would mention that UK has what some believe is the No. 1 draftable quarterback in the country in Will Levis, a big, nasty runner at 6-3 and 235 pounds that can also make all the throws with his cannon-like arm. Throw in the aforementioned Rodriguez, the No. 1 returning running back in the SEC and a talented and experienced group of backups, an offensive line that still has several potential All-SEC players including Eli Cox and a plethora of speedy wide receivers including transfer Tayvion Robinson, freshmen four-star players Dane Key and Barion Brown plus tight ends Keaton Upshaw, Brenden Bates, Izayah Cummings and Jordan Dingle and one has the recipe for an offensive machine the likes of which Big Blue Nation hasn’t seen for quite so time.
The “half-full” crowd would also say don’t sleep on Mark Stoops’ defense. Each year Kentucky loses stalwart defensive players that go on to be star players in the NFL and Mark Stoops along with defensive coordinator Brad White continue to reload. This year should be no exception.
The Cats have a great crop of linebackers, probably the best group in the SEC, led by super experienced DeAndre Square, Jacquez Jones and Jordan Wright to go along with younger phenoms Trevin Wallace and D’Eryk Jackson. Throw in edge rusher JJ Weaver, former four-star defensive linemen Octavius Oxendine, Justin Rogers, Tre’vonn Rybka and Josaih Hayes and one has the makings of a great front seven.
The secondary, led by a very experienced safety group of Tyrell Ajian and Jalen Geiger to go along with some inexperienced but talented younger players at cornerback should still be enough to push this defense to at least as good as it was last year — a defense that ranked 26th in the country giving up only 22 points per game.
After looking at both sides of the argument, although I am normally a glass half-empty person, I would have to lean toward the “half-full” side of the equation with one caveat.
I don’t think the Wildcats can win 11 games even with the schedule they have, which shapes up very nicely for a team that wants to win a lot of games.
It will be extremely difficult for Kentucky to beat Georgia, even in Lexington, and the Cats haven’t proven to me that they can consistently win games against Tennessee in either Knoxville or Lexington. I would look at both of those games as losses.
If that happened UK would finish 10-2 during the regular season. I could see that happening if Mark Stoops can get his team to stop losing one game each year that falls into the “what were you thinking” category. Last year Kentucky lost to a very average Mississippi State team in Starkville and the year before they had a head scratching loss to Missouri at Columbia. That type loss cannot happen in 2022 if UK wants to be a team that is in the hunt for a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.
I would think that the Wildcats will finish the regular season at 10-2 provided they don’t have any season ending injuries to key players.
If they do reach 10 wins that would signal a new trend in Kentucky Football — one that raises the bar for Mark Stoops and company. It’s a great testament to Mark Stoops and his staff to see a program that has always been a perennial doormat in the SEC finally start making some consistent headway in the race to become relevant in college football.
Look out September 3rd, here we come.
7 Responses
It’s not so much what we think, does this team believe it can be Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia without having ataboy letdowns against the teams we are supposed to beat? Belief, gameplan execution, and a few breaks will answer this question that any reloading team has to answer. Realizing the glass half full vision would establish Stoops as a top tier team builder. He doesn’t need to think about taking a "better" job. Kentucky gives him the best stage to evolve into a top 10 coach.
Right on!
WDRB’s Rick Bozich and Eric Crawford at the Louisville Quarterback Club yesterday predicted 8 – 4 with good chance of 9 – 3
I think I would go 9-3 with great chance of 10-2
I have to say that I believe in this team and I believe Mark Stoops will get to 11 and 1 and might also see 12 and 0.. I don’t see why people don’t remember that barring 4 plays last year at Georgia that costed Kentucky the game. UK hung tough with the dogs last year and it was at Georgia and their home coming game. 31 to 13 and should have been in reach of winning at the end but about 4 plays they didn’t make got em behind and they lost their giddy up and go..
Love your thinking York
It’s good to see something is ‘expected’ from Stoops’ team.
We usually go into the season hoping we can win 3 games, plus the ‘baby seals’ and get to a bowl.
BUT NOW, beating Tennessee, Florida, and possibly Georgia is expected.
You would almost think losing to any of those three would be considered an upset.
Can’t wait until 2025 when we can play more of the West Division so we can show we can handle LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi, and the other schools.
Yep, we’re at least a 10-2 team annually now.