Old Guys Have DC Brad White Excited About This Season

Jordan Lovett (Vicky Graff Photo)

While most of the offseason excitement about Kentucky has focused more on an improved offense, don’t forget that UK’s defense could be one of the best not only in the Southeastern Conference but also in the nation.

Defensive coordinator Brad White certainly has a proven record and this year will have a group of veteran players to lead his unit.

Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson might be UK’s best-returning player that almost no one is talking about. He led Kentucky in tackles last season with 67.

What about Jordan Lovett? He was second on the team last year with 62 tackles. Linebacker Trevin Wallace had 54 tackles and could be the biggest breakout player on the defense this season.

And don’t forget seniors JJ Weaver and Octavious Oxendine are back to mentor younger players and hopefully have even better seasons now that they are both healthier and also heavier after off-season workouts.

“It’s huge when the older guys take charge because when they do, it shows you that they have assumed ownership,” White said after Thursday’s practice. “They don’t just rely on the coaches to make all the corrections because they have passed along the ownership to the coaches (that means players think) ‘I only worry about myself’.”

White doesn’t like this group. Instead, he said he loves his unit.

“I’m excited about this group. They like being around each other, they encourage each other,” the UK defensive coordinator said.

“The old guys help correct old guys. Old guys have to correct young guys, then they ask good, quality questions of the coaching staff. Practice would be really hard and dull if the coaches were the only ones coaching.”