Emotional leader did all the “Wright” things to help UK win

Jordan Wright (15) had an interception and strip sack in UK’s win at Florida.(UK Athletics)

Getting fifth-year linebacker Jordan Wright eligible to play against Florida after he was suspended for Kentucky’s opening game figured to be a big plus for the UK defense. However, Wright’s play was even better than most could have expected.

“Yeah, it was very important. I think Jordan, just, as we talk about the experience that he has, the length that he has on the edge, the energy that he brings, the experience, it was really good having him back,” said Kentucky coach Mark Stoops.

Wright might have been UK’s most valuable player in the 26-16 win at then No. 12 Florida.

The 6-5, 231-pound linebacker from Fort Lauderdale was named SEC co-Defensive Player of Week after he had an interception, six tackles, a quarterback sack, a tackle for loss and one caused fumble in the win.

Kentucky trailed 16-7 late in the first half when he made a spectacular, one-handed interception he returned to the Florida six-yard line before being stopped by Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. However, UK still scored to cut the halftime deficit to 16-13.

His eight-yard sack of Richardson in the third quarter forced a Florida punt. He also had another five-yard tackle for loss. Kentucky held Florida to no points, five first downs and 91 total yards in the second half — the first time Florida had been shut out in the second half since 2017.

Wright said on the UK Radio Network postgame show that he really was not a contributor when UK won at Florida in 2018. This time he was in a big way.

“The interception was just natural, just trying to help my team. I’ve got to make plays,” he said.

He also joked he was dropping passes in preseason practice when Stoops “had to teach me how to catch.”

Kentucky associate coach Vince Marrow said having Wright back was “huge” and credited executive associate athletics director/compliance director Rachel Baker for working to get him back on the field.

“I felt good going in but he is our emotional leader and really a good football player,” Marrow said. “He told me on the sideline when we were playing Miami that he was ready to go down there (Florida) and do damage.”

“It made my confidence level go up after getting him back. You just do not know what all that young man brings to the team.”

Marrow credited defensive coordinator Brad White and his staff for calling a “great game” and predicted Florida “will beat some good teams we need them to beat” this year.

“That quarterback is good but we had two long SEC linebackers (Wright and JJ Weaver) that could contain him and good inside linebacker play,” Marrow said. “The speed he (Richardson) saw from the first week (against Utah) to the second week was a lot different. One play he broke out and here comes a blur out of nowhere to make the tackle. Against Utah that play might have gone for 50 yards.”

“Having Jordan coming back home, we knew he would be ready and we were so excited when he got cleared to play.”