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Brad White is still Kentucky’s defensive coordinator but defensive backs coach Chris Collins has been elevated to co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach.
Collins, 35, signed a two-year contract extension in February that included a $75,000 raise for the 2024 season. He coached SEC interceptions leader Maxwell Hairston and early NFL draft entrant Andru Phillips last season and in 2022 coached cornerback Carrington Valentine before he went on to start 12 games as a rookie for the Green Bay Packers last season. Keidron Smith was also in UK’s 2022 secondary and is now with the Denver Broncos.
“Brad (White) will still be the defensive coordinator and nothing in his role will change but it’s more to help Chris because he’s earned that,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Tuesday after UK’s first spring practice.
“I’m proud of Chris and proud to promote him in this role of defensive passing game coordinator.”
Stoops said he has seen a “lot of growth” from Collins that justified the promotion much like it did with former UK defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale. He left UK to join Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan coaching staff and has followed Harbaugh to the NFL.
“He needs to take that and run and have some more responsibility. That’s what guys are looking for in their career, more responsibility when you’re a position coach.”
One Response
He has done a tremendous job with the cornerbacks and safeties. This year we will be night and day better than last year. We have everyone back except andru Phillips who I thought would come back but now that I’ve seen how much work he’s put in and he’s going to be a surprise higher pick in the draft than expected and they know more than me so congratulations to him. I still think our secondary will be slot better this year and if Maxwell hairston can improve on his tackling he will be the next draft pick or someone could work their way to a draft pick with a big season. Hairston should be a pre sec 2nd team or maybe first team before the season starts. Its crazy because we have star players at every level on the defense. We have Hairston in the secondary. We have Dumas Johnson at linebacker and we also have JJ Weaver back for a 6th year he should dominate this year. We also have dyerek* Jackson who should be at least a 3rd team but I say 2nd team all conference. Weaver should be 3rd team or honorable mention. Then on the line we have Deone Walker who should be first team and Silver who could sneak in as a honorable mention. I’m telling you this defense is stacked. Easily a top 10 defense probably even top 5. If we have a halfway decent offense which I think we do we should be a headache every game for whoever we are playing. If the offense gives the defense time to rest by getting a couple first downs every possession then I think we can finish in the top 12 wouldn’t that guarantee a playoff bid? I don’t know how that works yet.