Football

Another Week of Ranting After Kentucky’s 14-3 Loss to Georgia

Published

5 years ago

October 31, 2020

We have hit the bye week of this Kentucky football season and the Cats are 2-4. That is disappointing to say the least. What’s more disappointing than that is the fact Kentucky’s offense hasn’t look good for the majority of the season.

Coming into this year, there was a ton of hype that I have talked about extensively. But, like many other years, we have been let down.

What makes that so aggravating is this team may be one of the best Kentucky has ever had. They have a good QB room, a great RB, a great O-Line and D-Line, a good defense, and a great punter. The only position I think Kentucky is below average is at the WR spot. But, with all of those positions being strong, they are still 2-4.

The big problem though is obviously the offense. The defense has been out on the field a ton this season and I am surprised a couple guys haven’t passed out. Honestly, I would punch every offensive guy in the face and Eddie Gran if I were the defense, because the offense hasn’t shown up.

We were told during the week that the offense would “shake things up” and we would see Chris Rodriguez more. Well, one of those things happened today. C-Rod had 20 carries for 108 yards, which against a defense as good as Georgia, is really good.

But, Rodriguez isn’t going to win you games. He sure is going to help you out a lot, but there are ten other men on the field for a reason. You have to mix it up a little bit. Get the other team off-balance.

Mark Stoops commented on that, saying “We tried to mix it up a little bit, we called some big plays, but Georgia did a great job of taking those away.”

Georgia’s defense is great, but I can’t believe they held Kentucky in check the whole game. Gatewood dropped back 25 times. You’re telling me not once was there a guy open deep? I think that means one thing, which is our wideouts cannot get open. We’ve talked about this before, but I think it’s true. And that would be why they target Josh Ali so much.

However, I do think a lot of the struggles fall on Eddie Gran. Kentucky has a talented offense and I just cannot believe they can’t do anything to move the ball consistently. You have to mix things up, especially against a team like Georgia. You can beat the South Carolina’s and Missouri’s of the world by playing ground-and-pound football, but Georgia won’t let that happen. You have to surprise them with something to get them off-balance.

I know Gatewood completed 19 passes, but he only had 91 yards. A lot of the throws were short for 2-5 yards. I didn’t see many passes past the first down marker. Maybe I missed them, but I didn’t. Doing that, you aren’t going to beat anyone good.

Eddie Gran doesn’t need to go, but if Kentucky doesn’t look better against Vanderbilt, something has to change. You have a bye-week and the worst SEC team in the next two weeks. There has to be a sign of life in the offense.

Let’s be positive for a minute though. The defense played great. They only allowed two touchdowns the whole game. The first drive for Georgia in both halves, and after that first drive, I thought we were in for a blowout. But they stepped up and Kentucky had a chance. Kelvin Joseph and Phil Hoskins came away with two big interceptions and overall the defense played really well.

The offense is completely broken, so something has to change. The Cats are now 2-4 and are probably going either 3-8 or 4-6, which would be a huge disappointment after the preseason hype, but this whole season has just not worked out so far.

I am not quitting yet. If they come out and suck against Vanderbilt, I say we all throw in the towel and shift our focus toward basketball. But, if they come out and look good against Vanderbilt, who they need to blowout, I’ll be excited again.

Related Topics:Eddie Gran Georgia Mark Stoops

Football

Two More Wildcats Eye NFL Futures

Two more Wildcats are receiving opportunities to accomplish their NFL dreams.

Published

5 days ago

May 10, 2025

Israel Schill

UK Athletics

Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson and kicker Alex Raynor are the latest Kentucky Wildcats aiming to make their mark in the NFL.

Go be great at the @Seahawks, @Derykjackson4. pic.twitter.com/ZHvVsVonNr— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) May 9, 2025

Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 244-pound linebacker, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks after impressing during the team’s rookie minicamp.

In his five seasons playing college football, Jackson amassed 216 total tackles including 17 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and five interceptions.

The former Kentucky standout and the teams leading tackler from 2022 and 2023 will now compete for a spot on the Seahawks final 53-man roster.

Raynor, meanwhile, received an invitation to attend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie camp, which runs May 9–11.

Go be great at the @Buccaneers, @acraynor1. pic.twitter.com/M8UOxK9rOm— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) May 8, 2025

The Kennesaw, Georgia, native made 25 of 27 field-goal attempts in two seasons with Kentucky, including a school-record 55-yarder.

His performance earned him SEC Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2024 and a shot to prove himself at the next level.

With the addition of Jackson and Raynor to NFL rosters, the total number of Kentucky Wildcats now vying for a spot in the league has reached 10.

Football

Saskatchewan Roughriders Sign Octavious Oxendine to CFL Deal

Published

7 days ago

May 8, 2025

Isaiah Pinto

UK Athletics

On Wednesday, it was officially announced that former Wildcats defensive lineman Octavious Oxendine agreed to play with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

Oxendine becomes only the fifth player from Kentucky to take their talents up north. Those before him included fellow Roughrider Micah Johnson, Josh Ali of the Calgary Stampeders, Lynn Bowden of the BC Lions and Quandre Mosely Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Radcliff, Kentucky, native played five seasons in Lexington. Making 19 starts in 47 games played, Oxendine recorded 78 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

In 2024, Oxendine appeared in all 12 games for the Wildcats and made one start against Murray State, finishing his final season with a team-second best four sacks.

A key performance by Oxendine helped Kentucky defeat the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi, as the defensive lineman recorded three tackles and a career-high two sacks for a combined 10 yards lost. His first sack came on a third down play, forcing the Rebels to punt, and the second led to Ole Miss letting the clock run out to end the first half.

The standout performance led to Oxendine being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

In December 2024, Oxendine graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in social work. Additionally, the recent graduate was named the 2025 CATSPY Male Supporting Role Award.

Now in green, Oxendine will take the field with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they are set to kickoff the preseason on Saturday, May 24, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Football

Tre’vonn Rybka Signs With Dolphins As Undrafted Free Agent

Published

2 weeks ago

April 29, 2025

Israel Schill

John Clay | UK Athletics

Another Cat is heading to the NFL after defensive lineman Tre’vonn Rybka was signed by the Miami Dolphins in undrafted free agency on April 28, shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Go be great at the @MiamiDolphins, @trevonnrybka. pic.twitter.com/OkBHiubzyG— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 28, 2025

Rybka, who appeared in 48 games over five seasons with Kentucky, amassed 95 tackles including 5 sacks. As a senior, he started all 12 games, finishing with 34 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks.

He now joins a Dolphins defense that used their No. 13 pick in this year’s draft on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, meaning Rybka will have to compete for a roster spot in a deep defensive front rotation.

Off the field, Rybka, who was adopted by his grandparents as a child due to his mother’s battle with addiction, is an active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. He was awarded the “Big Ambassador of the Year” award in 2024 for his commitment to mentoring and supporting the youth.

His commitment to give back to the community and its youth reflects dedication to make a positive impact both on and off the football field.

Rybka will report to the Dolphins rookie camp on May 9-12, before he officially fights for a spot on the 53-man roster in June.