Photo by Keyli Chisesi | Go Big Blue Country
There are a lot of question surrounding Mark Stoops sixth season at Kentucky but the Wildcats should have all the answers to reach a bowl game for the third consecutive season. However, the ESPN Football Power Index doesn’t see it that way.
The SEC Network released the following tweet on Thursday which shows the projected number of wins for each SEC team. The Wildcats are ahead of Vanderbilt for last place but with a projection of 5.4 wins, not enough to reach a bowl game.
Kentucky has questions at quarterback after the graduation of Stephen Johnson and Drew Barker’s decision to transfer. Stoops’ did beat out Florida and Nebraska for JUCO quarterback Terry Wilson and former four-stars Gunnar Hoak and Danny Clark return. The only thing is none of the three have taken a snap of Division I football.
Regardless of who the UK quarterback will be, he will be handing the ball to star running back Benny Snell Jr., who is back to break whatever UK football records remain. The Wildcat offense will also return wide receiver Dorian Baker and tight end CJ Conrad to go along with an experienced offensive line. Receivers Lynn Bowden, Tavin Richardson, Josh Ali, Isaiah Epps, and Clevan Thomas will provide Eddie Gran’s offense with plenty of weapons.
Defensively, Kentucky struggled last season but should be significantly better after stars Mike Edwards, Josh Allen, Denzil Ware, and Jordan Jones passed on the NFL draft to return to Kentucky. Kentucky also has young stars in Jamin Davis, Boogie Watson, Josh Paschal and Quinton Bohanna that will look to take another step forward this season. Lonnie Johnson, Derrick Baity, and Chris Westry have plenty of experience in the secondary.
Kentucky has battled injuries throughout the spring but everyone should be healthy by the time fall camp comes around. The schedule includes tough road games with Florida, Texas A&M, Missouri, Tennessee, and Louisville, in addition to home dates with Central Michigan, Murray State, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and Middle Tennessee State. Kentucky should find at least six wins on that schedule but if Gran finds something at quarterback and the defense improves, there could be more for the taking.
