Vicky Graff Photo
Zion Childress seemed like a bit of a reach when Kentucky picked him up as a transfer from Texas State for the 2022 football season.
He had nine pass breakups and an interception at Texas State and Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White thought he could play in the Southeastern Conference. However, I’m not sure White or any other UK coach expected Childress to be in the starting lineup last season when Kentucky played defending national champion Georgia but he was.
He played in all 13 games and had a career-best nine tackles against Georgia and then came back with five tackles and one sack against rival Louisville. In the bowl game against Iowa, he had three tackles and a pass breakup.
Now he’s being counted on as a major piece in the UK secondary next season.
“He’s shown a great willingness to tackle,” White said last week. “Even at Texas State, the thing that got me really excited was that he had a penchant for ball production, stripping, punching. He’s just got a natural feel for that. We need that kind of playmaker on the field.”
The junior is now one of UK’s most experienced defensive backs and White credits Ty Ajian, Jalen Geiger and Jordan Lovett for helping him get acclimated quickly last year after he transferred to Kentucky.
“Zion didn’t feel like he had to be thrust into the day one starting role,” White said. “He gained confidence through the reps he got. Then he got more, then he was starting by the end of the season and now, that confidence is through the roof. We need to keep it there.”
White seems more than content with what Childress has done this spring even though any coach would always like to see more improvement.
