Football
Four Wildcats Sign NFL Contracts in Undrafted Free Agency
Published
1 minute agoon

Within just a few hours from the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, four Kentucky Wildcats were picked up in undrafted free agency.
Eli Cox, Marques Cox, Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Zion Childress all signed contracts within an hour of each other, marking a total of six Wildcats moving on to the NFL since April 24. Kentucky football had a plethora of players sign to different NFL teams after the 2025 NFL Draft ended, including:
Zion Childress – Dallas Cowboys
Jamon Dumas-Johnson – Green Bay Packers
Marques Cox – Denver Broncos
Eli Cox – Houston Texans #BBN #KentuckyFootball #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Z90Yo4Xv9M— KY Insider (@KyInsider) April 27, 2025
Two senior offensive linemen, center/guard Eli Cox and tackle Marques Cox, secured undrafted free agent deals with the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, respectively.
Cox, who started 47 games for Kentucky, was a team captain and earned All-SEC honors in both 2023 and 2024.On the other side of the ball, linebacker Dumas-Johnson and defensive back Childress were brought on by the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.
Dumas-Johnson, who led Kentucky in tackles in 2024, also won back-to-back national championships with Georgia in 2021 and 2022. Childress played in 38 games for the Wildcats, amassing 148 tackles over three seasons.
With rookie minicamps set to begin in May, each player now has an opportunity to prove himself at the next level, looking to make strong first impressions with his new team.
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Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker has been selected No. 109 by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Round 4, pick 7 the @BuffaloBills select @deonewalker0.
📺 #NFLDraft2025 on NFL Network pic.twitter.com/nJ5JuitCAa— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 26, 2025
Walker stands at 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds, making the former Wildcat one of the biggest defensive lineman not only in the draft, but in the history of the NFL.
Since earning a starting spot as a true freshman, to now exploding with excitement when he heard his name called, Walker’s unique blend of mobility and enthusiasm will cement him as one of the most beloved Kentucky players in program history.
Earning All-SEC honors and letting his disruptive play become the Wildcats’ identity, Walker will now cause terror for defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to go alongside his former teammate Maxwell Hairston, who was selected by the Bills in the first round. LETS GET ITTTTTTTT😝😝😝— MadMax ¹ᵏ (@MHairston22) April 26, 2025
Ray Davis also welcomed BBN to Bills Mafia moments after the selection. UK fans welcome to the mafia 🫡🫡— Re'Mahn Davis (@Ray_Davis07) April 26, 2025
The main worry about Walker not only has been his back injury that he played with all of last season, but what technique he’ll be able to play due to his stature that’s unlike any other.
However, even the NFL admitted that Walker could dominate the league.
Kentucky DT Deone Walker could be a difference maker in the trenches 💪@deonewalker0 | @UKFootball
📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/MnxJnxEsfp— NFL (@NFL) April 15, 2025
Before the draft, Walker visited with the Buffalo Bills, who emphasized interior pressure heavily last season, which is right up his alley. He’s been evaluated as one that can be a high-level backup or a potential starter as the season goes on.
The Bills are taking a swing with Walker, but many who watched him every Saturday at Kroger Field will tell you that this is a home-run pick.
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Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston has officially started the next chapter of his career, selected No. 30 by the Buffalo Bills in the late first round.
At 6-foot-1 and 186 pounds, Hairston has come a long way since signing with the Wildcats as a 3-star prospect out of Michigan in 2021.
Although he missed five games this past season due to injury, Hairston was still selected to Second-Team All-SEC with 19 tackles, two forced fumbles, an interception and four deflections.
“Mad Max” took a huge jump in the draft boards after running the fastest 40-yard dash among cornerbacks in Indianapolis, completing the drill in just 4.28 seconds.
At 21 years old, Hairston brings a level of experience from the toughest conference in college football, the SEC, to go along with elite speed and length to make him a potential starter for defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.
As one of the few invited to the NFL Draft, Big Blue Nation had a good look at Hairston with his family before his name was called. Ready to hear our guy's name called.
📺 #NFLDraft2025 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Nlv0gG1oxp— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) April 25, 2025
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called the former Wildcats’ name just before the night ended, making the West Bloomfield native’s dreams come true.
WELCOME TO BUFFALO, MAXWELL!!#NFLDraft | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ao5F6Ui8LB— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 25, 2025
Ray Davis went to social media to share his excitement to have a familiar face in the locker room. Mannnnnn they got them UK boys out in Buffalo now 💙🤲🏾 @MHairston22 pic.twitter.com/dRBkrWqUZY— Re'Mahn Davis (@Ray_Davis07) April 25, 2025
The National Football League shared an emotional video of Hairston embracing his father after the Bills drafted him. Maxwell Hairston embraces his father after being drafted by the Bills.#NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/uAWwhSjirO— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025
Time will tell how Hairston’s role will pan out in the league, but rest assured, “Mad Max” will go down as one of the best defensive players in the Mark Stoops era.
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Football
Running Back Revamp: Kentucky Adds Former Oklahoma, New Mexico State Transfer
Published
4 days agoon
April 23, 2025The Wildcats bolstered their backfield with the addition of former Oklahoma and New Mexico State running back Seth McGowan on April 20, per KSR’s Nick Roush. Kentucky has its guy.
Former Oklahoma and New Mexico State running back Seth McGowan is transferring to Kentucky. https://t.co/rdHERDHkhP pic.twitter.com/zOgmZTFYxX— Nick Roush (@RoushKSR) April 20, 2025
Standing at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, McGowan brings size and downhill power to Kentucky’s offense. Coming off a productive season at New Mexico State, he rushed for 823 yards and three touchdowns while adding 23 receptions for 277 yards and three more scores through the air.
A former four-star recruit in the class of 2019, McGowan originally signed with Oklahoma and logged 370 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 201 receiving yards with one touchdown during his lone season with the Sooners.
On May 7, 2021, McGowan was removed from Oklahoma following his involvement in a legal case in which he was arrested and charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The charges were ultimately dismissed, but he pleaded guilty to larceny from a person at nighttime in December of that year.
After a stint at NAIA school Texas College in 2022, where he did not see game action, McGowan continued his path back to Division I football, playing six games with Butler Community College before transferring to New Mexico State for the 2024 season.
Now, with his past behind him, McGowan has a chance to turn the page and contribute in a major way to the Wildcats’ offense.
Running backs coach Jay Boulware, who helped Oklahoma sign McGowan out of high school, likely played a role in bringing him to Kentucky, where he is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining.
Along with Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell, McGowan could be a part of a versatile and punishing backfield tandem for the Wildcats. While Dowdell brings a physical, downhill rushing style, McGowan’s ability to contribute in both the run and pass game adds a dynamic layer to offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s pro-style system, which emphasizes balance and explosive playmaking.
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