Chip Trayanum (UK Athletics Photo)
Preseason watch lists do not overly impress me because there really is no set criteria for who goes on the lists. Often it is more speculation/guesswork than anything else in many instances.
However, Kentucky football fans still have to be excited about the upcoming season after the Reese’s Senior Bowl released its watch list that includes 13 UK players. The game on Feb. 1 in Mobile, Ala., normally features elite draft prospects who have completed their collegiate eligibility.
Most consider the Reese’s Senior Bowl as the top college football all-star game and it can give a player a big boost in the NFL draft process. the first stage in the NFL Draft process. More than 900 NFL personnel from all 32 teams and over 1,100 media members from around the country attended last year’s event.
In the 2024 NFL draft there were 110 picks from the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
These Kentucky players are on the preseason Reese’s list:
Barion Brown, WR
Jager Burton, OL
Eli Cox, OL
Marques Cox, OL
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB
Maxwell Hairston, DB
D’Eryk Jackson, LB
Aidan Laros, P
Ja’Mori Maclin, WR
Gerald Mincey, OL
Chip Trayanum, RB
Deone Walker, DL
J.J. Weaver, LB
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Hairson 32nd on his first draft rankings which would make him a first-round pick (Walker is 17th on his list).
“With his competitive mindset, Hairston is wired the right way for the cornerback position and also has the fluid movements and run-game toughness required to be an NFL starter next year,” Brugler wrote.
One Response
All these players who are preseason selections for a Senior Bowl plus Brock Vandergriff, Dane Keys, TEs & a few other special players, then UK has a team loaded with quality talent. 4 of those names are OL so that problem area should be solved.
Now it’s time for the coaches and players to get in the same page with a desire to raise the level of performance in every statistical category on both sides of the ball. If UK can match some stats which elite programs produce, then the W-L record will make a jump up from the 7-win total.
Goals need to be set for points scored, completion %, receiver yards per catch, sacks, etc to motivate the players each and every series.
This season should be a season where excuses are not needed at the end of the season.