(UK Athletics Photo)
Kaiya Sheron signed with Kentucky thinking he was going to be playing for offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
Sheron was redshirted in 2021 in Coen’s first year at UK when the Wildcats won 10 games. In 2022, he started one game when quarterback Will Levis was hurt but Rich Scangarello was the offensive coordinator then after Coen returned to the NFL.
However, Coen is now back at UK as offensive coordinator and Sheron is excited but says things are a little different.
“I was a whole new person when he (Coen) came back,” Sheron said. “I have put weight on. My game mentality and game experience and knowledge has really grown since I got here.”
Sheron is part of a three-way battle to be the backup to North Carolina State transfer Devin Leary this season.
“We are getting as much work as we can because if Devin does go down we have got to be there for the team,” Sheron said.
Sheron said he focused on himself during the offseason. He put on 10-15 pounds and has continued to try and maintain “good” weight. He’s also watched a lot of extra film with the other quarterbacks. He also says even though UK lost to South Carolina in his only start, he learned a lot from that game and by re-watching film from that performance.
Coen has encouraged Sheron to be more demonstrative and make teammates have to be confident in him.
“I have always been that I talk with my play. It is something I am working on. I have got better since my freshman year,” Sheron said. “I have to rally the guys behind me as I rally myself internally.”
