Football

Day After: Tennessee Win

Published

5 years ago

October 17, 2020

Waking up on Sundays after a win is nice. Doing it two weeks in a row is awesome. Doing it two weeks in a row after losing two weeks in a row is even better. Make one of those wins a beatdown of the Vols in Knoxville and it sounds almost too good to be true. But, here we are.

Before yesterday I had seen Kentucky beat Tennessee twice in my lifetime. The snoozer back in 2011 and Stephen Johnson laying his life on the line in 2017. Neither game I saw in-person, which I still haven’t gotten over.

But, yesterday sure helped. For the first time in my lifetime, Kentucky beat the Vols in Knoxville.

Something that I thought I would only see in my dreams and even then that would’ve been a pretty far-fetched dream.

Kentucky had three interceptions, including two pick-six’s. They dominated both halves defensively and ran it down Tennessee’s throat in the second half. No flukes. Kentucky beat Tennessee, straight up.

How many times were we thinking “Oh no. Here we go.”? I know I said it after Upshaw dropped the touchdown pass in the end zone, after the Vols marched it down the field and scored, after the backup QB came in twice, and even when it was 27-7, I still hadn’t convinced myself Kentucky was going to win.

I do hope fans will get off the Joey Gatewood bandwagon and get behind Terry Wilson. I shouldn’t have to say this, but after reading Twitter threads, I definitely do. For some reason, fans think Gatewood is Tom Brady. He’s not. This is Terry Touchdown’s job and if you don’t think so you can shut up and go be for another team.

The man has beaten both Florida and Tennessee on the road in his career. We haven’t had that happen since my dad was in high school. What else do we want? I mean yeah, an undefeated national title season would be nice, but money growing on trees would be too.

I was really worried one side of the ball wouldn’t show up, which was the case in the first half. But, in the second half, the Cats made adjustments, yeah we haven’t said that in awhile, and both the offense and the defense showed up.

Yesterday’s win is something I never thought I would see, especially in that fashion, but it did, and it was awesome.

Now Kentucky is 2-2 with a very winnable game against Missouri coming up. If the Cats are 3-2 going into the Georgia game, we can get excited. That’s definitely an upset game.

But for now, we celebrate yesterday’s special win.

Before I go, I’ll leave you with these texts from my grandfather:

“Is there a mistake on my television? It says Ky is ahead of Tennessee 34 to 7. I am really confused.”

Followed by…

“This is totally unbelievable. Better go to church tomorrow. The end is coming soon!”

Related Topics:Joey Gatewood Knoxville Tennessee Terry Wilson

Football

Two More Wildcats Eye NFL Futures

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

Published

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

1 month 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.