As kickoff nears in Lexington, preseason award watch lists have been released and five Wildcats have made the cut.

Starting off the list is Incarnate Ward transfer quarterback Zach Calzada, who landed on the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List.

This award goes to a senior or upperclassman that is on track to graduate and exemplifies leadership on and off the field.

The most recent winners include Shedeur Sanders (2024, Colorado), Jayden Daniels (2023, LSU) and Max Duggan (2022, TCU).

Calzada will be entering his sixth season of college football after making trips to Texas A&M, Auburn and Incarnate Ward before landing in Lexington.

The next honors come for graduate offensive linemen Joshua Braun and senior punter Adian Laros. The pair landed on the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Third Team.

Braun transferred to Kentucky from Arkansas while Laros is entering his second season with the Wildcats.

Rounding out the list are defensive linemen Tavion Gadson and Josaih Hayes. Both men find themselves on the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Watch List.

Gadson was hit with a series of injuries in the spring of 2024 that caused him to miss eight games of his freshman season and ultimately redshirt that season. However, Gadson did manage to see action in the final four games of the 2024 season for the Wildcats.

Hayes also fell victim to a long-term injury in Spring of 2024 as and missed the majority of his junior season. Like Gadson, Hayes did make it back for minimal action as he did appear in the final three games of the season.

This award highlights an athlete who overcame an injury, illness or other circumstance and excelled on the field.

Gadson will be entering his redshirt sophomore year, while this will be Hayes’ senior season in 2025.

The Wildcats will begin their season on Saturday, Aug. 30, when they will host Toledo with kickoff scheduled for 12:45 ET.