From vets to newcomers, grading Kentucky football position groups heading into 2023 season

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky football spent all offseason addressing its weaknesses and bolstering its strengths.

It needed a new starting quarterback and found one in transfer Devin Leary. The offensive line required reinforcements after a forgettable 2022, so coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats added multiple linemen via the transfer portal. And the wide receiver room, already one of the best units on the team, could ascend to an even higher level this fall.

Here are The Courier Journal's grades for each position group heading into the 2023 season, heavily predicated upon college production to this point:

Quarterbacks

The group: Deuce Hogan (6-foot-4, 217 pounds, junior), Devin Leary (6-1, 217, sixth-year senior), Kaiya Sheron (6-3, 210, sophomore), Destin Wade (6-3, 223, redshirt freshman).

Grade: B

Analysis: The entirety of this grade is due to Leary. When healthy, he's shown he's among the best quarterbacks in college football. The problem is, remaining healthy hasn't been easy for him — that's the only reason this grade isn't higher. In two of his three years as North Carolina State's primary starter, injuries cut his season short. If history repeats itself this fall, that might not bode well for the Wildcats. The trio behind him has combined to throw just 67 passes in college, with more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two).

Running backs

The group: Ray Davis (5-10, 216, fifth-year senior), Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210, sixth-year senior), JuTahn McClain (5-9, 198, senior), Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-foot, 210, junior), Jamarion Wilcox (5-10, 184, freshman), La’Vell Wright (6-foot, 214, third-year sophomore).

Grade: B+

Analysis: After losing one of the best tailbacks in school history (Chris Rodriguez), UK deftly restocked the position, particularly with Davis. In 2022, he became only the seventh Vanderbilt player ever to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. Like Leary, Sumo-Karngbaye started his college career at N.C. State. And like Leary, he battled injuries with the Wolfpack. But Sumo-Karngbaye is a threat when healthy, quickly impressing Kentucky's coaches and teammates with his receiving skills during preseason camp. Jefferson, who has bounced all over the place (Maine, Sam Houston State, Garden City Community College), always has contributed when able, but is coming off a knee injury suffered in last year's season opener. McClain, who has played in 30 games as a Wildcat, will have his share of reps. Wright hopes to work his way into the rotation. Wilcox could see reps in special packages built to take advantage of his top-tier playmaking ability. Unless injuries hamper upperclassmen, however, Wilcox should be able to redshirt this fall.

Wide receivers

The group: Ardell Banks (6-3, 187, freshman), Anthony Brown (5-10, 168, freshman), Barion Brown (6-1, 166, sophomore), Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 171, sophomore), Dane Key (6-3, 195, sophomore), Shamar Porter (6-3, 205, freshman), Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, fifth-year senior), Brandon White (5-9, 167, redshirt freshman).

Grade: A+

Analysis: Arguably the Wildcats' best, and deepest, position on the team. Barion Brown and Key should be even better in Year 2. Robinson is determined to have a bounce-back season after his debut campaign in Lexington didn't go according to plan. Crowdus will back up Robinson in the slot. Anthony Brown was a standout in spring and carried that form into preseason camp. Porter will take the field this fall, too.

Tight ends

The group: Khamari Anderson (6-5, 238, freshman), Brenden Bates (6-5, 251, sixth-year senior), Izayah Cummings (6-3, 232, senior), Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, sophomore), Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, sophomore).

Grade: A-

Analysis: All five players are in line to play this fall. (The only uncertainty is Dingle's health.) Offensive coordinator Liam Coen said during preseason camp he isn't worried about having too many options at tight end, noting he'll find room for all of them provided they're not injured.

Offensive line

The group: Grant Bingham (6-5, 321, redshirt freshman), Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, senior), Jager Burton (6-4, 307, sophomore), Ben Christman (6-6, 321, sophomore), Eli Cox (6-4, 311, senior), Marques Cox (6-5, 311, senior), Jeremy Flax (6-6, 325, senior), Courtland Ford (6-6, 315, fourth-year junior), Nik Hall (6-6, 314, redshirt freshman), Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 311, fifth-year senior), Koby Keenum (6-4, 295, freshman), Austin Ramsey (6-4, 335, freshman), Paul Rodriguez (6-5, 324, sophomore), Malachi Wood (6-8, 283, freshman).

Grade: C-

Analysis: In time, this grade can improve. But until the season arrives and the line proves it on the field, this is the biggest question mark offensively — by a sizable margin. The line couldn't protect the quarterback last season (it allowed the most sacks in the SEC) and the lack of push up front contributed to the unit's overall struggles (UK finished last in the league in points and yards per game). The Wildcats believe they addressed some of the issues that plagued the group in 2022, adding four transfers (Bowles, Christman, Ford and Marques Cox). Ford is fighting to start at right tackle and Marques Cox already has the left tackle spot locked up. Perhaps it will help Horsey and Eli Cox to return to the positions they played in 2021 — left guard and right guard, respectively — after playing one spot to their left last season.

Defensive line

The group: Jamarius Dinkins (6-5, 280, sophomore), Tavion Gadson (6-5, 275, freshman), Kendrick Gilbert (6-5, 292, freshman), Josaih Hayes (6-3, 317, senior), Darrion Henry-Young (6-4, 264, junior), Octavious Oxendine (6-1, 276, senior), Tre'vonn Rybka (6-4, 276, fourth-year junior), Kahlil Saunders (6-5, 285, sophomore), Keeshawn Silver (6-4, 322, sophomore), Deone Walker (6-6, 348, sophomore), Tommy Ziesmer (6-2, 257, freshman).

Grade: A

Analysis: Walker is arguably the best player on the team regardless of position. Oxendine wants to end his career on a high note. Silver is expected to have a breakout season after transferring in from North Carolina, while Rybka aims to continue making progress at end. There is plenty of depth behind that quartet, too, making this group the lodestar of the defense.

Linebackers

The group: Alex Afari (6-2, 214, sophomore), Jayvant Brown (6-foot, 226, freshman), Tyreese Fearbry (6-5, 233, redshirt freshman), Luke Fulton (6-4, 225, senior), Grant Godfrey (6-3, 227, freshman), D'Eryk Jackson (6-1, 245, senior), Noah Matthews (6-5, 237, redshirt freshman), Daveren Rayner (6-2, 217, senior), Martez Thrower (6-2, 224, junior), Keaten Wade (6-5, 250, sophomore), Trevin Wallace (6-2, 241, junior), J.J. Weaver (6-5, 244, senior).

Grade: B+

Analysis: The starting trio of Jackson, Wallace and Weaver leads the way here. That triumvirate just needs some other Wildcats to step up. One of them likely will be Rayner, a transfer who joined UK after spring practice concluded, giving this group a player who was ultra-productive in three seasons at Northern Illinois. Fearbry should showcase his progress after redshirting last season. Afari, one of UK's most athletic players, mans the nickel spot, which is a hybrid defensive back/linebacker position.

Defensive backs

The group: Nasir Addison (6-foot, 187, freshman), Jaremiah Anglin Jr. (6-1, 185, freshman), Ty Bryant (6-foot, 187, freshman), Zion Childress (6-foot, 201, junior), Jantzen Dunn (6-foot, 182, sophomore), Jalen Geiger (6-1, 199, senior), Maxwell Hairston (6-1, 181, sophomore), JQ Hardaway (6-3, 194, sophomore), Jordan Lovett (6-2, 195, sophomore), Andru Phillips (6-foot, 187, junior), Elijah Reed (6-3, 185, redshirt freshman), Jordan Robinson (6-4, 208, sophomore), Avery Stuart (6-2, 186, freshman).

Grade: C+

Analysis: By the end of 2023, this grade might look laughably low. But that's where the group stands at the outset of the season, because while it boasts plenty of talent, it is largely inexperienced. Lovett is the only returnee who started more than four games in 2022 — and he might not even be in the lineup this fall, given that Geiger (who began last season at the top of the free safety depth chart before tearing his ACL in Week 2) is back to optimum health. Childress is primed for a breakout campaign at strong safety. Phillips started four games at corner last season and will start at one of the spots this fall, with Dunn, Hardaway and Hairston fighting for the other job.

Special teams

The group: Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, sophomore), Chance Poore (6-2, 213, sixth-year senior), Alex Raynor (5-11, 190, senior), Jackson Smith (5-11, 204, redshirt freshman).

Grade: D+

Analysis: The only thing saving this unit from an even lower grade is the presence of Barion Brown and Tayvion Robinson and their explosiveness in the return game. Otherwise, this group is trying to find itself. The Wildcats are replacing both starting specialists (placekicker Matt Ruffolo and punter Colin Goodfellow), adding Raynor this offseason to push Poore for the starting kicking job. Kentucky's special teams also has to cut down on mistakes: It had five kicks blocked last season; only two schools in the 131-team FBS allowed more.

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Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky football roster 2023: Preseason grades for position groups