At his weekly press conference Monday morning, UK head football coach Joker Phillips released the coaching staff’s first post-training camp depth chart for this Thursday’s season opener against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Despite only listing two-deep at each position, 12 freshmen made their way onto this week’s depth chart, five on offense, six on defense, and one on special teams in Kelly Mason, the team’s backup long snapper.

“We got to play the best players that are going to give us the best chance to win. Some of these freshmen are talented enough and mature enough,” Phillips said.

“We wouldn’t have signed them if we didn’t expect those guys to come in here and help us.  That’s just being honest.  We expect every time we go out and recruit a class that we’ve got to get better than we have every year.”

The depth chart also revealed who Phillips’ decisions concerning the return game, a position which was left unsettled after the departures of Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb following last season. Phillips chose senior safety Winston Guy and sophomore running back Raymond Sanders as his kickoff returners to start the season, with senior cornerback Randall Burden returning punts.

The depth chart does not take into account injuries that might affect starter’s playing status for Thursday’s game. Senior guard Stuart Hines, who has been battling a sprained knee for most of August, is expected to play on Thursday but will not start, according to Phillips. In his place, sophomore Kevin Mitchell will get the start up front, with Hines rotating in throughout the game. Center Matt Smith was held from Monday’s practice with a foot injury, and will also be held out of the starting lineup against Western. Senior Jake Lanefski will start at center against the Hilltoppers, with Smith possibly rotating into the game similarly to Hines. Starting free safety Taiedo Smith will make the trip to Nashville, but will not start and may not play. Junior Mike Benton will start in Smith’s place.

Wide receiver Gene McCaskill and defensive tackle Donte Rumph, who have both battled injuries this summer, should be at full strength and ready to contribute for Thursday’s game in Nashville.

UK Football Depth Chart (as of Friday, August 26)

Tight End

86 Jordan Aumiller- Sophomore

89 Tyler Robinson- Sophomore

42 Nick Melillo- Senior

Left Tackle

66 Chandler Burden- Senior

77 Darrian Miller- Freshman

Left Guard

70 Stuart Hines- Senior

79 Kevin Mitchell- Sophomore

Center

69 Matt Smith- Junior

63 Jake Lanefski- Senior

Right Guard

67 Larry Warford- Junior

74 Trevino Woods- Junior

Right Tackle

52 Billy Joe Murphy- Senior

76 Teven Eatmon-Nared- Freshman

Wide Receiver

3 Matt Roark- Senior

87 Brian Adams- Sophomore

Wide Receiver

85 Gene McCaskill- Junior

9 Demarco Robinson- Freshman

Wide Receiver

16 La’Rod King- Junior

19 E.J. Fields- Junior

Quarterback

12 Morgan Newton- Junior

11 Maxwell Smith- Freshman

Fullback

39 D.J. Warren- Freshman

37 Cody Jones- Sophomore

Running Back

4 Raymond Sanders- Sophomore

20 Josh Clemons- Freshman

26 CoShik Williams- Junior

Defensive End

96 Collins Ukwu- Junior

45 Antwane Glenn- Senior

Defensive Tackle

99 Donte Rumph- Sophomore

51 Tristan Johnson- Sophomore

Defensive Tackle

68 Luke McDermott- Senior

97 Mister Cobble- Sophomore

Defensive End

94 Taylor Wyndham- Junior

60 Mike Douglass- Freshman

Sam Linebacker

48 Ridge Wilson- Junior

2 Alvin Dupree- Freshman

Mike Linebacker

46 Ronnie Sneed- Senior

40 Avery Williamson- Sophomore

Will Linebacker

22 Danny Trevathan- Senior

54 Malcolm McDuffen- Freshman

Cornerback

14 Anthony Mosley- Senior

35 Cartier Rice- Junior

Safety

21 Winston Guy- Senior

32 Miles Simpson- Freshman

Safety

15 Martavius Neloms- Junior

5 Ashley Lowery- Freshman

Free Safety

6 Taiedo Smith- Senior

31 Mikie Benton- Junior

Cornerback

24 Randall Burden- Senior

34 Dale Trimble- Freshman

Long Snapper

57 Jon Thomas- Senior

59 Kelly Mason- Freshman

Punter

9 Ryan Tydlacka- Senior

88 Joe Mansour- Sophomore

Holder

9 Ryan Tydlacka- Senior

87 Brian Adams- Sophomore

Place Kicker

93 Craig McIntosh- Junior

88 Joe Mansour- Sophomore

Kickoff Returner

21 Winston Guy- Senior

4 Raymond Sanders- Sophomore

26 CoShik Williams- Junior

9 Demarco Robinson- Freshman

Punt Returner

24 Randall Burden- Senior

9 Demarco Robinson- Freshman