After getting back in the win column with a 41-6 victory over Ohio, the Wildcats are now set to take on No. 6 Ole Miss in another week of college football action.
While the Cats are on the road for the first time all season, that does change the fact that it’s time to dive back into the depth chart.
Starting with the offense:
Quarterback:
Starter- Brock Vandagriff
Backup- Gavin Wimsatt
Due to the lopsided score, both Vandagirff and Wimsatt saw action in the week four win, but Vandagriff is expected to remain at the helm in week five.
Week four performance:
Vandagriff- 17/24, 237 yards, 34 rushing yards.
Wimsatt- 2/3, 45 yards, 43 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown.
Running back:
Starter- Demie Sumo-Karngbaye
Backup- Jason Patterson
DeaMonte “Chip” Trayanum is still off the depth chart despite being cleared to return to football action. Sumo-Karngbaye remains the lead back with Patterson still expected to be the backup.
Week four performance:
Sumo-Karngbaye- 47 yards, three catches, 38 receiving yards, two touchdowns.
Wide receivers:
Starters- Barion Brown, Dane Key, Ja’Mori Maclin
Backups- Fred Farrier II, Anthony Brown-Stephens
The wide receiver room remains the same heading into the first road test of the season.
Week four performance:
Brown- five catches, 28 yards.
Key- seven catches, 145 yards.
Farrier II- one catch, 20 yards.
Brown-Stephens- one catch, 25 yards, four rushes, 12 rushing yards.
Tight ends:
Starters- Josh Kattus and Jordan Dingle
Backups- Willie Rodriguez and Khamari Anderson
While the depth chart remains the same, Dingle was the only tight end to haul in a catch in the week four victory.
Week four performance:
Dingle- three catches, 26 yards.
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)
No changes to speak of when it comes to the “Big Blue Wall,” which is still looking to find its footing.
***
Moving over to defense:
Defensive end:
Starter: Tre’vonn Rybka
Backup: Octavious Oxendine
After a near shutout for the defense, Rybka remains the starter, but, like most games this season, both are expected to see playing time.
Week four performance:
Rybka- two tackles, two assists.
Oxendine- three assists.
Nose guard:
Starter: Keeshawn Silver
Backup: Kendrick Gilbert
The duo of Silver and Gilbert are expected to continue sharing time at nose guard like they have all season thus far.
Week four performance:
Silver- three assists.
Gilbert- two tackles.
Defensive tackle:
Starter: Deone Walker
Backup: Kahlil Saunders
Walker continues to be a force on the defensive line like he has all throughout his career at Kentucky with Saunders also seeing playing time.
Week four performance:
Walker- one tackle, three assists.
Saunders- one tackle, one assist.
Strongside linebacker:
Starter: Alex Afari Jr. OR Tyreese Fearbry
Moving over to the linebackers, the strong side group remains unchanged. Afari Jr. found his way back onto the stat sheet after a quiet week three.
Week four performance:
Afari Jr.- two tackles, one assist.
Outside linebacker:
Starter: J.J. Weaver
Backup: Noah Matthews
Weaver secured a fumble in the week four win and is expected to remain the starter.
Week four performance:
Weaver- one assist, fumble recovery.
Middle linebacker:
Starter: Jamon “Pop” Dumas-Johnson
Backup: Jayvant Brown OR Grant Godfrey
The only change on the depth chart this week is that Daveren Rayner is no longer on the depth chart. He has been replaced by Brown and Godfrey as he is expected to redshirt.
Week four performance:
Dumas-Johnson- three tackles, one assist.
Weakside linebacker:
Starter: D’Eryk Jackson
Backup: Alex Afari Jr.
Rounding out the linebackers with the weak side group, there are no changes to show, which means Jackson will remain as the expected starter.
Week four performance:
Jackson- three tackles, one assist.
Field cornerback:
Starter: JQ Hardaway OR Jantzen Dunn
Looking at corners, Dunn was the only field cornerback to record a stat, but both are still expected to see playing time moving into week five.
Week four performance:
Dunn- two assists.
Boundary cornerback:
Starter: Maxwell Hairston
Backups: DJ Waller Jr. or Nasir Addison
Hairston showed his ball-hawking ability that fans are used to seeing as he secured his third interception touchdown, which tied the Kentucky career record.
Week four performance:
Hairston: one assist, one interception touchdown.
Strong safety:
Starter: Zion Childress
Backup: Kristian Story
Childress did not have another monster game like he’d had so far, but he remains the starter into week five.
Week four performance:
Childress- two tackles.
Story- two tackles, one tackle.
Free safety:
Starter: Jordan Lovett or Ty Bryant
To finish off the defense, Bryant and Lovett still share the “OR” designation, but as indicated by the stats and gameplay so far, the duo are expected to continue to share time.
Week four performance:
Lovett- two tackles, one assist.
Bryant- one tackle, one assist.
***
Rounding out the depth chart is the specialist group:
Kicker:
Starter: Alex Raynor
Backup: Jacob Kauwe
Raynor made history for the second week in a row as he now holds the record for most consecutive field goals made in Kentucky football history with 12.
Week four performance:
Raynor- 2/2 field goals (30 and 34 yards).
Kickoff:
Starter: Aidan Laros
Backup: Jacob Kauwe
Laros continues his kickoff duties into week five as he has thus far the entire season.
Punter:
Wilson Berry OR Aidan Laros
The Wildcats were only forced to punt once against Ohio, and it was Laros who sent the punt away. They still hold the “OR” designation, so fans will have to wait and see who punts against the Rebels.
Week four performance:
Laros- one punt, 58 yards.
Long and short snapper:
Starter: Alex McLaughlin
Backup: Walker Himebauch
There are no changes at long and short snapper.
Holder:
Starter: Wilson Berry OR Aidan Laros OR Beau Allen
Like long and short snapper, the holder position stays untouched heading into week five.
Kickoff return:
Starter: Barion Brown
Backup: Demie Sumo-Karngbaye
Brown remains the returner despite not having many chances due to teams trying to keep the ball away from him.
Punt return:
Starter: Ja’Mori Maclin OR Barion Brown
Backup: Dane Key
Maclin fielded all punts in week four and that’s expected to continue in the Wildcats’ first road test.
***
With the depth chart now complete, Kentucky football will take on No. 6 Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 28, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET. The game will air live on ABC.
