Ty Bryant, right, is one of four safeties that Brad White really likes. (UK Athletics Photo)
Ask Kentucky defensive coordinator Brad White what he likes best about Alabama transfer Kristian Story and he has a quick response about the senior defensive back.
“We have a guy who is long, athletic. Obviously, playing in a system like Alabama, he knows how to adjust to a lot of different coverages, checks, run fits, so that’s not going to be something that was going to overwhelm him, and it hasn’t,” White said.
“Personality‑wise, he has come in and he fits with that room.”
The even better news is that White likes the entire secondary — a lot.
“The safeties are another group that you just feel really good about in terms of having Zion Childress, Jordan Lovett, Ty Bryant, Kristian Story, you have four guys who are SEC safeties,” White said.
“They have played and have been really successful in SEC games, so it gives you the opportunity to be multiple in what you do. And it also allows you to absorb ‑‑ when an injury occurs within a game or maybe it’s a multiple game deal, you’ve got the ability to absorb that.
“Depth is always important and to be able to have the ability within a game to keep guys fresh, so that you don’t wear out through a game, it’s a huge advantage for us.”
White admits that Bryant, a sophomore, surprised the UK coaching staff last season.
“I will readily admit, I thought Ty played at a level that I didn’t anticipate Ty playing as a true freshman,” White said about the Frederick Douglass graduate. “We knew he was a mature young man, we knew he was conscientious, all the things we loved about him, but to be able to step up in the moments that he stepped up in, was huge.
“And it’s a testament to him, a testament to his work ethic, he has taken another step. This spring, there was a confidence and command in his game. He is bigger and stronger and he is still really fast, so a guy that we are really excited about.”
2 Responses
We have never had 4 capable safeties here at Kentucky. We usually have a couple fair safeties. Then after our starters their is a major fall off. We actually have 4 safeties that could start for any team in the SEC. Hairston our starting corner would start for any team. I think it’s a toss up between Dunn and Waller who starts opposite of Harrison then again Hardaway is a good corner as well. Our secondary is very very deep. Our front 7 is even better. I just hope that the offense doesn’t disappoint us. Ive heard from a inside source that Wimsatt actually looks better than Brock V. In these early practices. Maybe because Wimsatt has been a starter for 2 out of the 3 years he’s been in college. He was the captain of Rutgers at 19 years old. Even tho Brock and Gavin are the same age it’s Gavin who has more experience. I think if the offense stumbles out the gate you could see a QB change. I don’t think this happens. I just dont count my chickens before they hatch. Gavin is a big QB who can run the ball better than Brock. Brock supposedly has a much better arm but we will see very soon. I said last year that Leary was overrated and that was because he didn’t have much time to gel with the offense and he was just coming off a surgery that the average healing time is a little more than a year. He was playing contact football in the best football conference just 9 months later after his surgery. Brock is better than Leary. He actually has more touch on his throws than Levis. So we will see soon enough. I can’t waitttt.
Brock is THE PRIMARY OFFENSIVE KEY to get UK “out of the gate” with some impressive plays – in the air (using various & multiple receivers – WR, TE, RB) & on the ground (including himself as well as RB).
The play calling is extremely important and the execution of every play by EVERY player, including OL and downfield blockers must be energetically precise. Nothing else will PREVAIL & UK must prevail with BIG margins of victory the 1st 2 games in order to be mentally and play-wise ready for UGA!
The UGA game is positioned where it could be one of the biggest games in UK FB history, just as the TX A&M game several years ago was a make-or-break game if UK was going to make a SERIOUS run at the elite SEC level. UK gave that game away when Stoops & his OC (on a leash) refused to change the QB with Wilson having one of the lowest QBR of any QB anywhere at any time! It was less than 20!!! And to make it even worse, Snell never touched the ball when UK could have won in regulation and never touched the ball in OT !!! Instead, pseudo QB ran the ball multiple times &/or passed for little or not yards, with his “almost a lateral” sideways passes.
I do not have a clue about the new UK OC. I’m tired of trying to check out a new one every year, so I will wait to see. In order for UK to win and win BIG games, then Stiops needs to be handcuffed, tied to a chair and gagged every time UK has the FB. Yea, extreme, and only meant as a metaphor.
Let the OC lead UK to greatness or let him lead the offense to collapse – but let him have the reigns!!!
Brad White with Giant Walker & many solid defenders on the DL & LB group will get their job done. Questions legitimately remain concern the secondary which was almost absent during some key plays in 2023 which cost UK possible wins. UK has some outstanding DB’s and also has some who should simple be out standing someplace besides on the field! UK has some of the best and some of the worst.