Who's Up Next for Kentucky Football's Defense; Notes From Defensive Coordinator Brad White
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The 2022 Kentucky football defense was one of the best in the nation.
Defensive coordinator Brad White's group allowed an average of 19.2 points-per-game, the 11th-best mark in Division I. An average of only 170.8 passing yards allowed was the seventh best. Just 311.4 total YPG was the 12th best, signifying another successful season, even if it didn't yield as many wins as the Wildcats would've hoped.
White is entering year six in Lexington and year five as the DC. He's had to deal with turnover in the past, but this season's defense will feel especially new, as many important and popular faces have left the program.
On the defensive line, tackle Justin Rogers was perhaps the biggest transfer portal loss on either side of the ball, as he opted to remain in the SEC, but took his talents (60 career tackles) to Auburn.
In the middle of the park, DeAndre Square (58 tackles, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in 2022), Jordan Wright (62 tackles, 9.5 TFL, eight QB hurries) and Jacquez Jones (37 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 PBUs in seven games played) are all looking to hear their names called in the NFL draft.
Cornerbacks Carrington Valentine (48 tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack, an INT and 10 PBU) and Keidron Smith (46 tackles, five PBUs, two INTs, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a TFL) have also departed, leaving some room in the secondary.
Next man up. Here's what White had to say about potential up-and-comers as the UK defense revamps:
LB J.J. Weaver — 47 tackles, six TFL, three sacks, three QB hurries, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick in 2022
Weaver was right alongside the aforementioned linebackers and has become a fan favorite in Lexington. He's now the old head in the room and on the defense and is learning to own more of a leadership role.
"I think he's doing a great job thus far," White said of Weaver. "It's a consistency. We talked about that last week with him in terms of leading and really coming out of his shell vocally, which is good. Really been impressed."
LB Trevin Wallace — 54 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, two INTs and a QB hurry
LB D'Eryk Jackson — 67 tackles, four TFL, two PBU
Both inside backers got to play plenty as a result of injuries to Jones and Square. Jackson went on to lead the team in tackles, while Wallace proved he's still got that knack for a big play.
"I've been really pleased with how they've developed this far, maybe not quite yet as vocal, but they're getting more than they ever have," White said of the pair. "I don't think it has to be a one-man show, which is great ...I think we've got the ability to spread it around and that guy can not feel the weight of solo leadership. So it's been good thus far."
LB Martez Thrower — Saw action in 12 games, totaled five tackles and a blocked kick
Now, the backups behind Wallace and Jackson have to emerge. Junior Martez Thrower is expected to be one of those guys, in the eyes of White:
"I think Tez is going to be a guy that that's really going to help us this year. I think he's progressing. I think he understands the urgency. You know, I've prodded him a little bit to understand that urgency. In this league, you know, you look every year, we've got to play four or more inside linebackers, and it's a brutal game. Somebody's gonna get banged. They can't play every snap. So, he's gonna have to come along."
OLB Tyreese Fearbry — Saw action in three games vs. Miami (Ohio), Youngstown State and Iowa, had first career tackle in the win over Youngstown State, Got a PBU in the bowl game vs. Iowa
"His natural athleticism, it can be scary when he puts it all together," White said of Fearbry, who's expected to be one of the main outside backers alongside Weaver.
"They're doing what young outside backers do, they'll make a splash play, and then they'll do something that is less splashy ... it takes time at that position."
DB Maxwell Hairston — Played in 12 games and totaled two tackles, both of which came against Youngstown State.
Hairston was someone who caught the attention of those in attendance at Kentucky's open practice on Tuesday, as he not only had an interception, but he also had the look of someone that was ready to fill in for Valentine or Smith:
“He’s probably had his hands on more balls and had more interceptions than anybody so far in camp. But then he also probably has more mental mistakes," White said of the redshirt sophomore. "So, again, it’s the learning factor. And a lot of it is the hot stove; you gotta be able to know what you can and can’t do. Every day he progresses, and then we do a new install and then we’re gonna have mistakes and then we’re gonna have to correct him. But he has done a nice job of learning from those mistakes.”
DB Andru Phillips — 31 tackles, 1.5 TFL and five PBUs
Phillips cracked the starting lineup in the defense in week one and eventually made four starts. He played plenty at the nickel position and roamed around the secondary. Unlike Hairston, he'll enter the season with more valuable reps.
"I think just by pure reps and time in the defense, he probably has the most natural understanding of our defense, you know, from a corner perspective," White said. "He gained a lot of confidence with all those reps he played, you know, especially at nickel last year. So I think he's playing with the highest amount of confidence and is staying locked in all the time."
"Obviously really dynamic in the slot, but we need him to be able to play both spots."
DB Alex Afari Jr — 21 tackles, three TFL, a sack and a quarterback hurry
You could slot Afari anywhere from defensive end to safety, and he'd not look too out of place. Like Phillips, he earned plenty of reps, manning multiple positions, but mostly manning the nickel spot.
"I think his his permanent home is somewhere out there, right?," White joked. "I think the nice thing about Alex, is he gives you a lot of different options, he gives you some versatility in different areas that you can place all over the field. He can play in the box, he can play in coverage, you know, he can go ahead and match receivers."
"When you have that kind of guy, you know, it's gonna give us the ability to have some sort of unique looks that maybe we haven't had in the past."
For more spring practice coverage, click HERE to learn about Jager Burton's adjustment to the center position.
Devin Leary discusses his decision to transfer to Kentucky HERE.
Ray Davis isn't following former Kentucky RB's footsteps. More HERE.
Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.
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