There has long been a stigma when it comes to men’s mental health. Traditionally, men are taught to be tough and not show their emotions, but JJ Weaver has a message. “You can be tough, but you’re still going to cry.”
Weaver, a redshirt junior and star outside linebacker for the Kentucky Wildcats has had to battle and overcome on and off the field the last two years.
Following a redshirt season in 2019, Weaver’s father, Terrance Weaver, was murdered during a home robbery in June 2020. In response, JJ poured everything he had into football to distract himself from the pain and grief, but nine games into an impressive season he suffered a torn ACL.
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Without football, Weaver no longer had that primary emotional outlet and was faced with the challenges of grieving the loss of his father as well as coming back from a major knee injury.
“I wasn’t myself,” said Weaver during last week’s media day. “It took me a while to open up. I couldn’t play football and my father just got killed. I am a young black man and I was going through it.”
Through the pain and hurt, Weaver felt the need to reach out and he let pride aside and did just that. “One night, it really hit me. I was crying in my room and I called Coach White [Brad] at 3 o’clock in the morning. I needed to talk to somebody,” said Weaver.
With Weaver open to receiving help, the Kentucky staff was able to get Weaver into therapy and helped him find a therapist he related with, and helped him cope with the trauma he had endured.
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Along with a professional therapist, Weaver noted that he leaned on former teammate Josh Paschal, who overcame a cancer diagnosis during his time at Kentucky. “He [Paschal] took me underneath his wing… He took me to church sometimes, just knowing what I was going through. He had to work on his mental health just as I was.”
Still attending therapy, Weaver is in a much better place emotionally and is now able to reflect and is an advocate for mental health. “I wish everybody would just talk to somebody,” Weaver said. “A lot of my friends back home, they don’t know how to cope with things.”
Weaver has also made it a point to use his experience and to help his teammates, saying, “They know and I tell them, ‘Talk to me if you need anything. Just talk to me. I’m here for you.’”
Weaver made his return to the field last season, being named the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year and Third-Team All-SEC by Phil Steele, but was still missing some of his explosiveness.
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This Spring, Weaver took off his knee brace for the first time since his injury and defensive coordinator Brad White took note. “You can see that that twitch is back, that that pop he had pre-injury… You see him brimming with confidence,” White said.
With the amount of talent on the roster and Will Levis behind center, the Wildcats have high expectations for this season, and so does Weaver. Calling this defense the best the Wildcats have had since 2018, Weaver will continue to be a defensive leader and aims to break Josh Allen’s sack record.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, please talk to someone and seek help. If you are unsure where to start, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline can be reached at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
In addition to Weaver’s media day conversation, he also sat down with UK Healthcare and you watch below.
A unanimous 4-star prospect and top 20 safety nationally, Carter chose the Cats over finalists Auburn Tigers, Colorado Buffalo, and Louisville. He also held offers from some of the biggest programs in the sport, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Oregon among others.
Originally from Chattanooga, TN, Carter moved to Paducah last summer where he starred for Paducah Tilghman High School, helping them to an undefeated regular season and a deep run in the 4A state playoffs, falling in the semifinals.
While it’s okay to celebrate his commitment, it will still be a battle until signing day. Auburn is seen as Kentucky’s biggest threat with Carter planning multiple visits, and he also has a family connection to Deion Sander’s Colorado program.
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That said, he will almost certainly take an official visit to Kentucky this fall. Vince Marrow has made Carter a priority of this class and will do everything in his power to retain the talented defensive back.
Carter makes the sixth commitment for Kentucky’s 2025 class, to go along with two talented offensive players and fellow four-star recruits Quintin Simmons Jr (WR) and Marquise Davis (RB).
On the eve of a huge recruiting weekend for Kentucky football, the program has received some bad news. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen is leaving for the NFL again, this time taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator position.
The #Buccaneers are working on a deal to hire Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, sources tell me and @RapSheet. After bouncing between the #Rams and Kentucky the last six years, Coen likely heads to Tampa for a possible reunion with pending free agent Baker Mayfield. pic.twitter.com/ijwtJel2RE— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 2, 2024
When Coen returned to Kentucky last offseason from the Los Angeles Rams, for his second stint as offensive coordinator, he talked about Lexington being a place that he and his wife had missed. In his return press conference, on January 12, 2023, he went as far as saying he wanted to be somewhere for a “few years”, at least.
“I want to go somewhere, make a real impact. Plant some roots for a little bit. Be somewhere for a few years — at least — that you feel really good about. I’m excited about being back in Lexington… I’m not in a rush to go anywhere.”
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That “few years” was just a year, but to be honest, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise. After many games last season, Coen talked to the media with frustration about fundamental things such as lack of discipline and dropped passes. Even then, it always felt he was holding his words back. With his name circulating around multiple NFL jobs, it was clear this was the direction it was heading.
Now for Kentucky, it’s about getting the next hire right. In a time where offense is becoming the premium in college football, going through five offensive coordinators in ten seasons is not ideal. Paying $1.8 million to Coen, they have shown they will pay amongst the top in the country. Now, go get someone who keeps this core of offensive talent, can recruit, and brings much-needed consistency.
During last year’s NFL Draft, Will Levis was one of the last players left in the green room after dropping to the second round. That moment fueled Levis, and he’s since earned the starting quarterback spot with the Tennessee Titans, appearing to have a bright future with the team.
Entering the season with no shortage of motivation, Levis entered the franchise as QB3 and wasn’t even on the active roster for the first six weeks of the season, being deemed the “emergency quarterback.” However, following an ankle injury to Ryan Tannehill in Week 6, the Titans gave their rookie quarterback an opportunity.
Levis certainly capitalized and had one of the best debuts in NFL History, throwing for 238 yards (19/29 passing) and four touchdowns. From the game, Levis has been put in the Hall of Fame. Well, at least his Houston Oiler throwback helmet from the performance has been placed on display in the Hall of Fame’s “Pro Football Today Gallery.”
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🗣️ New to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Oilers-styled helmet that @Titans QB Will Levis wore in Week 8, when he became only the third player in NFL history to throw four TD passes in his NFL debut.
Levis started his career with a bang and had his moments. The former Kentucky Wildcat will look to build on his rookie campaign, going into a year where he should be the starter under new head coach Brian Callahan.
