After being decimated by the South Carolina Gamecocks, Kentucky football is set to host the Georgia Bulldogs in week three.
As another game week Monday has arrived, it means another depth chart deep dive is upon us.
Starting with the offense:
Quarterback:
Starter- Brock Vandagriff
Backup- Gavin Wimsatt
It was an all-around rough performance for the offense, but Vandagriff in particular really struggled, which ultimately led to Wimsatt coming into the game. This posed the question of who would be the starter coming into week three. Despite potential push back, head coach Mark Stoops and co. will stick with Vandagriff.
Week two performance:
Vandagriff- 3/10, 30 yards, nine rushing yards, one interception.
Wimsatt- 3/7, 14 yards, 48 rush yards, one interception.
Running back:
Starter- Demie Sumo-Karngbaye
Backup- Jason Patterson
No changes to show at running back as DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum remains out with an injury. Sumo-Karngbaye was one of the few bright spots in the Cats’ loss and Patterson remains productive as a freshman.
Week two performance:
Sumo-Karngbaye- 73 yards, one catch, three receiving yards.
Patterson- 45 yards.
Wide receivers:
Starters- Barion Brown, Dane Key, Ja’Mori Maclin
Backups- Fred Farrier II, Anthony Brown-Stephens
No shakeups to show for a wide receiver room and offense that is looking to turn the page heading into week three.
Week two performance:
Brown- zero catches, -11 rush yards.
Key- two catches, 36 yards.
Maclin- one catch, two yards, 12 rushing yards.
Farrier II- two catches, three yards.
Tight ends:
Starters- Josh Kattus and Jordan Dingle
Backups- Willie Rodriguez and Khamari Anderson
It was a quiet week for the tight end room even though multiple saw action as both starters and even the backup, Rodriguez, touched the field. However, despite a few targets, no catches were hauled in by this group.
Week two performance:
N/A (no catches).
Offensive line:
Starters- Marques Cox (LT), Jager Burton (LG), Eli Cox (C), Jalen Farmer (RG), Gerald Mincey (RT)
Backups- Malachi Wood (LT), Aba Selm (LG), Koby Keenum (C), Dylan Ray (RG), Anfernee Crease (RT)
After some injuries and a really rough showing in week two, some changes might’ve been expected for the “Big Blue Wall,” but there are none on the depth chart heading into week three.
***
Moving over to defense:
Defensive end:
Starter: Tre’vonn Rybka
Backup: Octavious Oxendine
After an all-around rough showing from the defense, there are no changes at defensive end.
Week two performance:
Rybka- one assist.
Oxendine- one assist.
Nose guard:
Starter: Keeshawn Silver
Backup: Kendrick Gilbert
Nose guard was a potential place to look for change in the depth chart as Silver was unable to finish out the week two loss due to injury, but he is still inked in as the starter on the depth chart.
Week two performance:
Silver- one tackle
Defensive tackle:
Starter: Deone Walker
Backup: Kahlil Saunders
After not finding his way into the stat sheet in week one, Walker does appear on the week two stat sheet along with Saunders.
Week two performance:
Walker- one tackle, two assists.
Saunders- two tackles.
Strongside linebacker:
Starter: Alex Afari Jr. OR Tyreese Fearbry
No changes for the strong-side group as Afari Jr. continued to impress in week two by being all over the field along with Fearbry, who also was in on the action.
Week two performance:
Afari Jr.- four tackles, one assist.
Fearbry- one assist.
Outside linebacker:
Starter: J.J. Weaver
Backup: Noah Matthews
Weaver will remain the starter coming into week three.
Week two performance:
Weaver- one tackle, one assist, one sack.
Middle linebacker:
Jamon “Pop” Dumas-Johnson OR Daveren Rayner
Coming in with the same “or” designation, Dumas-Johnson and Rayner will continue to both see time as both have made their mark so far this season.
Week two performance:
Dumas-Johnson- three tackles, one assist.
Rayner- two tackles, two assists.
Weakside linebacker:
Starter: D’Eryk Jackson
Backup: Alex Afari Jr.
Completing the linebackers is the weak side position where Jackson will continue as the starter.
Week two performance:
Jackson- three tackles, three assists.
Field cornerback:
Starter: JQ Hardaway OR Jantzen Dunn
Switching gears to corners, Hardaway and Dunn enter with the “or” designation yet again and, as seen in week two, both men should see time.
Week two performance:
Hardaway- one tackle, two assists.
Dunn- one tackle .
Boundary cornerback:
Starter: Maxwell Hairston
Backups: DJ Waller Jr. or Nasir Addison
Hairston got his first turnover of the season in week two and he will remain the starter in unsurprising fashion.
Week two performance:
Hairston: three tackles, one sack, one forced fumble.
Strong safety:
Starter: Zion Childress
Backup: Kristian Story
Childress built upon his productive week one by having an even better week two, so it’s no surprise he’s expected to line back up at strong safety.
Week two performance:
Childress- four tackles, one assist, one sack, one forced fumble.
Free safety:
Starter: Jordan Lovett or Ty Bryant
Rounding out the defense are the free safeties, who both had productive week twos with Bryant getting his first turnover of the season. Even though the duo keeps the “or” designation, both men are expected to see playing time.
Week two performance:
Lovett- three tackles, two assists.
Bryant- one tackle, three assists, one interception.
***
Rounding out the depth chart is the specialist group:
Kicker:
Starter: Alex Raynor
Backup: Jacob Kauwe
Due to the offensive struggles, Raynor was the team’s offense as his two field goals were the only points on the board.
Week two performance:
Raynor- 2/2 field goals (32 and 39 yards).
Kickoff:
Starter: Aidan Laros
Backup: Jacob Kauwe
Laros continued his kickoff duties from week one to week two and is expected to roll into week three maintaining his duties.
Punter:
Wilson Berry OR Aidan Laros
Berry was a busy man on Saturday as the offense struggled mightily and, even though he shares the “or” designation with Laros, he has punted every opportunity for the Cats this season.
Week two performance:
Berry- six punts, 43.3 average yards per punt, 49 yard long.
Long and short snapper:
Starter: Alex McLaughlin
Backup: Walker Himebauch
Like the other parts of the depth chart, no changes at long and short snapper.
Holder:
Starter: Wilson Berry OR Aidan Laros OR Beau Allen
The holder position remains unchanged heading into week three.
Kickoff return:
Starter: Barion Brown
Backup: Demie Sumo-Karngbaye
Brown remains as the return man in week three as he did have a few chances in week two to return kicks but did not have any major returns.
Punt return:
Starter: Ja’Mori Maclin OR Barion Brown
Backup: Dane Key
In week two Maclin did muff a punt, but maintained punt return duties and is expected to do so in week three.
***
With another depth chart now set, Kentucky football will try to knock off the No. 1 team in the country at home on Saturday, Sept. 14, when it takes on the Georgia Bulldogs. The game is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will air live on ABC and ESPN+.
