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Kentucky Football 2022 Spring Game Notes

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Photo by Jacob Noger | UK Athletics

Today’s spring game was cold and for about 40 minutes, looked like it was going to be a whiteout. However, 40 minutes later it looked much more “springish”.

Despite the weather, the Big Blue Nation got their best look at the Kentucky Football team so far. So let’s break it down.

Will Levis Has Improved

The offense came out with a bang on the first drive. Will Levis completed all four of his passes for 41 yards, with Chris Rodriguez and JuTahn McClain adding in 21 yards as they went on to score with ease. Levis even went for a touchdown dive towards the end of the drive, which Stoops did not particularly like.

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In just two drives, Levis already looked improved under new offensive coordinator and quarterback guru, Rich Scangarello. Outside of the general swagger, Levis looked poised in the pocket, showed excellent decision making, and displayed some improved footwork.

It has been a long time since Kentucky has had such a talented quarterback. Despite a limited playbook, there is a lot to be excited about what Levis can become this season.

Tayvion Robinson and Dane Key Continue to Impress

Kentucky lost their top three receiving options from last season and the 3,000 yards of offensive production that they were responsible for. However, they have brought in several talented wideouts via recruiting and the transfer portal.

Virginia Tech transfer Tavion Robinson and true freshman Dane Key have been the stand-out receivers in spring practice and that was only solidified after today. Both caught 20-yard passes and showed their ability.

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Robinson looked a bit like last season’s Robinson (Wandale) at times today. He notably moved well after the catch, showing his elusiveness and ability to get extra yards. Finishing with 3 catches for 42 yards.

Key, the top-rated prospect in the state of Kentucky in the class of 2022, made some spectacular catches including this dart from Will Levis for a touchdown.

With that said, there were several dropped passes that were on target. If Kentucky wants to have depth at the receiving position, this does need to be cleaned up.

Overall, with 22 different players making a catch today, Kentucky is in much better shape with its passing game compared to recent years.

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Mike Drennen and JuThan McClain

Chris Rodgriguez looked good, but as proven as he is he was only in for one drive. That gave way for Mike Drennen and JuThan McClain today, with each performing well.

Coming out of high school, Drennen was a four-star top-300 recruit in the 2020 class. Understandably, expectations have been high, but they have not been met. Today, Drennen came to play. Showing some impressive versatility and ball skills, he impressed with 10 carries for 43 yards, including two touchdowns.

McClain looked to be in much better shape and showed some nice runs today, totaling 6 runs for 24 yards. His game seems to fit better within Rich Scangarello’s offense as well, giving him the ability to go wide and use the field.

Expect both players to contribute this season and looking into the future, this could be a dangerous combination for SEC defenses.

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Defense Struggled but Had A Bright Spot

On Wednesday, Brad White voiced his frustration with his defense following practice. Early today, he had plenty to complain about today, but with good reason, being a general lack of depth.

With that said, as the scrimmage went on, the defense was able to find some footing, notably redshirt freshman Jordan Lovett. The six-foot-two in-state product, totaled nine tackles, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble.

Until the defense is able to get some of their key pieces healthy, they are not going to look very good.

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Kentucky Athletic Collectives Rank 11th of 16 Teams in SEC, Bring in over $11 Million

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Kentucky ranks 11th of 16 SEC teams in collective fundraising.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

For better or for worse of college sports, NIL is here to stay and it certainly gives an advantage to schools with more money. Just looking at the SEC alone, collectives raised more than $200 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year. Unfortunately, Kentucky is ranked in the lower half of that.

According to documents from the House v. NCAA proposed settlement, Kentucky raised $11,254,204 from athletics collectives for the 2023-24 fiscal year. That ranks 11th of the 15 public universities in the SEC and is just more than half of the top collective, Texas who raised over $22 million.

Full Rankings

Rank
School NameCollective Funding
1Texas22,272,474
2LSU20,137,141
3Georgia18,326,566
4Texas A&M17,228,714
5Alabama15,995,406
6Florida15,802,237
7Oklahoma14,817,595
8Tennessee11,602,164
9Auburn11,588,953
10Arkansas11,544,039
11Kentucky11,254,204
12S. Carolina9,554,700
13Ole Miss8,872,378
14Missouri7,146,859
15Mississippi St.6,467,166
NRVanderbiltNot Available (Private School)

While collective funding is low, Kentucky has been a top 20 athletic program in total revenue, partly thanks to being a school that profits from its basketball program. Looking ahead to 2025, Kentucky is expected to stay in the top 20 nationally in athletic revenue, fifth in the SEC by bringing in an estimated 131,139,792. Ahead of programs like Georgia, LSU, Florida, and Tennessee.

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With revenue sharing coming in the near future, even more money is going to be involved in roster and program building. Schools in the Big Ten and SEC have an even bigger advantage due to their new TV deals, giving them up to an extra $70 million or more.

A new era of college sports is here. It’s time to prepare and embrace it.

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Kentucky Wide Receiver Calls for “A Lot” More Leadership and Accountability from Staff

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Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops walks onto the field before the game against the Louisville Cardinals.
Jordan Prather | Imagn

A poor offensive line. Inconsistent quarterback play. A lot of things led to Kentucky football’s abysmal 2024 season. However, they had the talent to finish better than 4-8, only defeating one power opponent this season. So what could have helped?

Kentucky wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin was asked that question after the Wildcats’ loss to Louisville on Saturday. To his credit, he answered honestly and professionally.

“A lot more leadership,” Maclin said. “Holding guys accountable for things. A lot more discipline for all the guys… All around, players and coaches. We’re still a team, I don’t want to point at any one person or specific group. All around we need better leadership.”

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Maclin is a junior and could return for another season. Despite talking about Kentucky taking the next step, he has not made his decision and will be returning home to talk to his family to do so. If Maclin does return, it sounds like Kentucky will have a leader in the receiving room.

Despite being a 1,000-yard receiver at North Texas, Maclin was not targeted often. However, on his 13 receptions, he caught four for touchdowns, the most of any receiver on the team.

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Kentucky Player Seen At Concession Stand During Kentucky’s 41-14 Loss to Louisville

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A Kentucky football player was seen at buying food from the concession stand in Kentucky's 41-14 loss to Louisville.

Kentucky’s on-field product against Louisville was poor to say the least, sending 99% of Wildcat fans home early. It even sent an injured player from the sideline to get a snack…

Yes, offensive lineman Gerald Mincey, one of Kentucky’s most expensive transfer portal additions, was seen at one of the concession stands at Kroger Field during Kentucky’s 41-14 defeat.

Watching a 4-8 team is bad, but even worse to do on an empty stomach.

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Mincey is a senior and will not be returning next season, but it is nice to see him reinvesting some money back into the program.

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