Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, several former Wildcats have made an impact across the league. Players such as Josh Hines-Allen and Za’Darius Smith continue to make plays on defense, while some younger former Cats such as Deone Walker and Maxwell Hairston have begun to show their potential in the league.

Walker has been one of the most noticeable former Cats through the first two weeks. In week one, Walker recorded six tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss, showing the same defensive ability that made him a defensive star at Kentucky.

He followed that with another strong performance in week two. Even though it didn’t show up in the box score, the 6-foot-7 defense tackle created consistent pressure on the front end. His early play has given Buffalo another young lineman capable of competing with the best of the best.

Smith has made an impressive return to the NFL, returning after he retired five games into the 2025 season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He later explained he felt he needed to spend time with his mother after learning she was seriously ill, but returned this offseason with the Atlanta Falcons and has quickly shown that he can still make an impact.

The former Wildcat recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss in week one before adding another half-sack in week two, giving him 2.5 sacks through the first two games back in the league. Over a decade removed from his time as a Cat, he is still showing the league why he is a threat to any quarterback dropping back for a pass.

Hines-Allen is another name that has continued to show why he is one of the most successful former Wildcats in the NFL. The Jacksonville pass rusher opened his season with a dominant performance against the Cleveland Browns, recording five tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 34-10 win.

He added three more tackles in week two against Denver, bringing him to eight tackles and 1.5 sacks through two games. Now in his eighth NFL season, the former Kentucky standout continues to be a centerpiece of the Jaguars’ defense.

Several other former Wildcats have also found ways to contribute early in the season. Hairston has stepped into a starting role in Buffalo’s secondary, while Luke Fortner has continued to see significant snaps on the offensive line for Carolina.

On offense, Wan’Dale Robinson has remained involved in Tennessee’s passing game, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. has received carries in Jacksonville’s backfield. Ray Davis has also contributed for Buffalo, primarily on special teams and in a reserve offensive role.

While their numbers may not stand out as much as some of Kentucky’s defensive stars, each has continued to carve out a role at the next level and that’s all you can ask for.

The season is still young, but through week two, the former Cats have already given Kentucky fans plenty to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Kentucky Football pulled off an upset over the 9th ranked team in the nation, Texas A&M, taking them down on its home turf by a score of 31-21. Following the Wildcats’ performance, head coach Will Stein commented on the victory.

“I’m not shocked… This is what Kentucky football is supposed to look like,” Stein said.

Stein is beginning to establish new standards for Kentucky under his new leadership. While the win may have caught the attention of people outside of the program, Stein’s reaction showed that Kentucky entered the matchup believing it was capable of competing with and defeating a talented Texas A&M team.

“It’s what I expect us to do, that’s how I expect us to play,” Stein said. “That is the physicality, toughness, competitiveness and grit that I expect us to play with every single Saturday.”

For the Wildcats, that mentality could become increasingly important as expectations continue to grow. Stein has emphasized building a competitive culture since taking over the program, and the victory over the Aggies offered an early example of what that approach can look like on the field.

Those expectations are only continuing to rise as Kentucky now sits sixth in the SEC. The Wildcats’ position in one of college football’s most competitive conferences adds even more significance to the win. Rather than simply pulling off an upset, Kentucky is beginning to put itself in a position to compete near the top of the conference as the season progresses.

The Wildcats will face South Alabama next this Saturday at Kroger Field, giving Kentucky another opportunity to build on its momentum and continue meeting the expectations Stein has set for the program.

Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET

After a blowout loss to then-ranked No. 12 Alabama in the week prior, many questioned if Kentucky was capable of being competitive in Will Stein’s first season as head coach. After stunning No. 9 Texas A&M by a score 31-21 on the road on Saturday, Sept. 19, it seems that the Wildcats may have found their footing and can compete within their conference.

Stein’s first win against a ranked opponent comes in historic fashion, as he becomes the first head coach in Kentucky Football history to defeat a top-ten opponent on the road in his first season.

The first half was highlighted by another strong performance by the Wildcat defense, as outside linebacker Sam Greene led the way with a crucial tackle on 4th and 1 to put an end to the Aggies’ opening drive. After a brief Kentucky possession that ended in a punt, another Aggie drive was ended by Greene, this time with an interception at the UK 22-yard line.

Ending the first quarter in a scoreless tie, Kentucky failed to capitalize in the red zone for the first time this season. A false start pushed the Wildcats back to the Aggie 21-yard line, leading to a missed 39-yard field goal.

An Aggie touchdown put the Wildcats behind 7-0, but a quick drive in response ended in a receiving touchdown to tight end Henry Boyer, leading to a 7-7 tie to end the first half.

In front of 102,000 at Kyle Field, a strong second half by the offense proved to be too much for the Aggies to recover. In just the third quarter, two rushing touchdowns by running back CJ Baxter and a receiving touchdown by freshman wide receiver Kenny Darby stretched the Kentucky lead to 28-7 before the fourth quarter.

Despite a rushing touchdown by Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, the Aggies’ comeback efforts were too little, too late. A 52-yard field goal by senior kicker Adam Zouagui padded the Wildcats’ lead at 31-14.

A late receiving touchdown by Aggie tight end Micah Riley trimmed the lead to 10 at 31-21, where the score stood for the remainder of the game. Needless to say, Stein was overcome with exhilaration after the game’s final snap, securing his first win in the SEC.

“This is what Kentucky football is supposed to look like,” Stein exclaimed after the game. “This is what we wanted, BBN. Let’s go!”

Kenny Minchey bounced back from a rough performance against Alabama on Sept. 12, with a very strong outing against a tough Aggie defense. He threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-18 passing.

Minchey finished the game on a high note, completing his last 11 passes of the game.

Leading the way on the ground, Baxter finished with 87 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. In the air, Sophomore wideout DJ Miller led all Wildcat receivers with 95 yards on only five receptions.

After the improbable victory, Kentucky improves to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. The Wildcats will return home rejuvenated on Saturday, Sept. 26 facing off against South Alabama, with kickoff scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET and streaming live on the SEC Network.