Texas vs Kentucky Preview: Defensive Players to Watch

With new additions and versatility, Kentucky's defense is set to give opponents trouble.

Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key (5) hauled in a touchdown over defensive back Jeremiah Anglin, Jr. (15) during the Kentucky Wildcats' Blue White scrimmage at Kroger Field on Saturday afternoon in Lexington, Kentucky. April 13, 2024 / Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kentucky's defense in 2023 wasn't bad, but for the first time since 2016, it allowed more than 300 points.

Coming into the 2024 season, however, the Wildcats have a key element: rotation and versatility. Mark Stoops and defensive coordinator Brad White have multiple players who are fit to thrive in various positions across the field.

Here are three defensive players who make their names known in the Kentucky lineup ahead of Texas' last home game of the season.

1. DB JQ Hardaway

Junior defensive back JQ Hardaway has recorded 37 tackles, 26 solo and 11 assisted, in his second year with the Wildcats.

The Cincinnati transfer moved to Lexington as the No. 9 rated player out of the transfer portal and saw action in all 13 games for Kentucky in 2023.

Hardaway is fourth in the Wildcat roster in number of tackles, but leads the team in defensive stats.

2. DT Deone Walker

Walker is an almost certain first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but in the path to his professional career, he has it in him to have another solid season at Kentucky.

Walker is considered one of the best defensive tackles in the nation, and as a sophomore in 2023, he was named one of the seven team captains for the Wildcats. Walker has started in 24 consecutive games for Kentucky, with a total of 25 starts and 26 games played.

In his first season as captain of the team, Walker led the team in tackles for loss (12.5), quarterback sacks (7.5), and quarterback hurries (8), and ranked eighth in the SEC in sacks.

Walker has recorded 30 defensive tackles this season, as well as two sacks and 16 all purpose yards.

3. LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson

Dumas-Johnson has one thing his teammates don't: two national championships.

After three years at Georgia, the linebacker decided to transfer to Kentucky instead of declaring for the NFL Draft, and he is set to have a huge impact on the Wildcats.

Dumas-Johnson started in nine games for the Bulldogs in 2023, missing four due to injury. He totaled 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. His performance as a junior placed him in several national watch lists.

The linebacker has been proving himself since the start of the season, recording a team high 53 tackles, in addition to one defensive interception and four sacks.

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