Football

Kentucky Football Has “A Serious Problem” In the Best Way Possible

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2023

Kentucky football coach VInce Marrow on the sidelines at Kroger Field

Drew Brown - A Sea of Blue

Ever since Vince Marrow arrived on the scene in Lexington as UK’s Tight Ends Coach, he has always had a room of guys who could contribute here and there when needed. For the most part, guys like CJ Conrad and Justin Rigg were one-man wrecking crews that carried the load at the tight end spot.

However, Marrow believes that this year’s tight-end group is the best in his decade-plus tenure at Kentucky, and for good reason. There are a handful of capable guys who could get valuable reps at tight end this year.

When asked about who the BBN can expect to be the primary tight end, Coach Vince Marrow had to rave about his position players.

Marrow said, “I have a serious problem right now, and I’m really being serious. I was talking to a scout (Assistant GM for the Chiefs), and Dane [Key] happened to come in my room, and he asked Dane, ‘Hey, how good are the tight ends?,’ and Dane said what I just said a week ago. I could close my eyes, and we got 12 personnel, and I can pick any four of them guys.”

There is a plethora of talent in the tight end room, and Marrow sees true potential in each and every one of his guys. As mentioned earlier, while there has been a a lot of talent at tight end, there has been a top dog, TE1 going into each season.

This season, Marrow believes anyone can and will see the field with some significant minutes. Marrow went on to explain, “With Khamari [Anderson] being a freshman, he’s coming along. If that was four years ago, Khamari would be our starter, but I think what people forget about, you know, I read the paper, and I see projected starters, and they got [Josh] Kattus and [Brenden] Bates.”

The praise didn’t stop there, however. Marrow had more to say about the quality of the tight end group, next talking about sophomore Jordan Dingle.

“Did y’all see Jordan Dingle play last year? Jordan Dingle’s a pretty good tight end. Now that he’s back (and he was pretty good out there today), it’s just a good problem to have.”

Setting a Good Example

Part of why the tight end room has expanded into this loaded group of young talent is because of the leadership within the group. Marrow opened up about what it’s like to have locker room leaders for his tight ends.

“With Bates being the veteran there, we have three really good young guys, and Izayah Cummings, now that Liam is back. Izayah Cummings was probably the best tight end in training camp. So, it’s a good problem to have.”

With the leadership of experienced upperclassmen, the newcomers are able to be molded into the contributors that we are now all so familiar with, which obviously bodes well for Marrow and the tight end lineage at UK.

To put it simply, why have one superstar tight end when you can have several? With Coach Vince Marrow hitting the recruiting trail and the transfer portal hard, UK has managed to develop an excellent core of tight ends who can help reawaken the Kentucky football offense this fall.

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.