Vicky Graff Photo
While Kentucky football is looking nationally for transfer portal additions, coach Will Stein got a significant boost Thursday when sophomore tight end Willie Rodriguez said he would be back for the 2026 season.
The former four-star recruit from Covington Catholic played in every game in 2024 and had 23 catches for 310 yards and one touchdown in 2025. He was the first Kentucky tight end to have 300 or more yards receiving in a tight end since 2018.
Rodriguez was 2025 starting quarterback Cutter Boley’s roommate and close friend. He thrived with Boley at quarterback and there was some speculation Rodriguez might leave UK after Boley transferred to Arizona State earlier this month.
New offensive coordinator Joe Sloan made it clear at his introductory press conference that he wanted Rodriguez on the team.
“He’s a really good player. The vision is we’re going to throw him the ball, and Willie knows that. I’ve shown him many ways,” Sloan said then. “Willie is a really good talent. He’s a really good talent. I think when you look at both coach Stein’s offense at Oregon and what we did at LSU, the tight end has been a focal point of the offense in the passing game. I think you can create really good matchups with tight ends.”
Kenyon Sadiq earned First Team All-Big Ten honors after picking up 531 yards and leading Oregon in receptions (46) and touchdowns (8) this season and is a likely NFL first-round draft pick. Former UK player Jordan Nevels, a personal fitness trainer in northern Kentucky, believes Rodriguez also has NFL potential.
OT Darrin Strey transferring
Four-star offensive lineman Darrin Strey of Michigan was one of UK’s top-ranked recruits in the 2025 class and was ranked as a top 300 player overall by On3. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Strey put his name into the transfer portal Friday even though he had been expected to compete for the starting job at right tackle before coach Mark Stoops was fired
Currently redshirt junior Malachi Wood is the only offensive tackle with in-game snaps remaining on the Kentucky roster.
2 Responses
Stein is cleaning house. All the guys who have announced they are staying are all the better guys on the roster. Losing Strey hurts from a developmental stand point but I doubt he would have played much in 2026. There is no way he would start over the tackle we got from Alabama. I also believe Malachi Woods will end up starting the other tackle position. He was the 6th best lineman on last year's team and will be a redshirt junior. It's time for him to earn his money. I think Wood will be one of the surprise lineman this year. I thought in 2024 he would start in 2025. I was a year off. Also I wouldn't be surprised to see Aba Selm start as a redshirt sophomore. He was a highly ranked guard coming out of high school in Kentucky. The 2027 class in Kentucky might be the deepest class ever coming out of Kentucky. We will have to win the state in 2027. In 2026 Louisville dominated the state. They also took all the 2024 and 2025 recruits from Kentucky in the transfer portal. Whoever wins the state usually wins in the Kentucky Louisville series. Next year anything can happen. Look at Indiana two years ago they were considered the worst power 4 conference team in America. Just two years later they've been to two playoffs and are now in the national championship. To say a coach can't make a difference is a lie. Indiana plays smart and efficient that's how they win. Cignetti just showed the Kentucky's how to win now.
Willie Rodriguez will be all confrence this year. I guarantee he plays in the NFL. I can see him being second team all confrence in 2026. Then first team as a senior and possibly a all American. He was the best sophomore tight end in college football last year.
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