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Recapping Kentucky’s Opening Season Win Over Ball State

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Tayvion Robinson and Brenden Bates celebrating with Dane Key after a Kentucky touchdown at Kroger Field.
UK Athletics/Elliot Hess

On Saturday afternoon, Kentucky kicked off the 2023 season facing off against the Ball State Cardinals.

Kentucky won the coin toss electing to take the ball with an explosive first play going 44 yards to Dane Key but quickly stalled after that settling for a field goal going up 3-0.

Following punts by both teams, Ball State put together a 14-play 73-yard drive to put the Cardinals up 7-3 at the end of a surprising 1st quarter.

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The next drive Kentucky was able to drive down the field to take the lead following Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis punching in the first score of the 2023 season. This would propel the Cats to wake up and take charge the rest of the game.

Shortly on Ball State’s next drive, a huge hit by Alex Afari Jr. led to a scoop and score by Jalen Geiger, a huge moment after his season was cut short last year due to a torn ACL.

Kentucky added 2 field goals before the half to make the score 23-7 going into the locker room.
Coming out of halftime Kentucky put together a stellar drive after a Ball State punt going up 30-7. Ball State then answered with a drive of their own shortening the lead to 16.

Then Barion Brown strikes in the opener again in back-to-back seasons with a 99-yard touchdown return which brought the score to 37-14. Then a late touchdown by Ray Davis brought the final score to 44-14.

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Let’s take a look at some takeaways from today’s game.

Special Teams Shine

One of the low spots of the team in 2022 was special teams whether that was the snaps or the placekicking. In the opener in 2023, Jay Boulware seems to have fixed a lot of that for the upcoming season.

Starting with the long snapper on field goals and punts not having one miscue is a great sign for the season. This in turn to fantastic kicks by senior kicker Alex Raynor with one of 41 and two of 46 yards looking very impressive in his debut this season.

This of course was followed by the always impressive Barion Brown and his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown down to the surprise of no one after he guaranteed it earlier this summer at football media days. Needless to say, teams should not be kicking to Brown and it’s a mistake if they do.

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Ray Davis Shows Out in Debut

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis, especially following his performance at Kroger Field last season as a commodore.

Davis showed out today racking 112 yards averaging 8 yards per carry along with 2 touchdowns. He also scored the first touchdown of the Cats season at the beginning of the 2nd quarter.

It’s clear that Kentucky has found a good running back to replace Chris Rodriguez, but will the offensive line be able to block well enough for Ray Davis to be able to be special?

Defense Improved at Stopping Run

With constant injuries last season in the front 7, it was hard for Kentucky to find a rhythm leading to being below average in stopping the run last season.

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With some new young leaders this season including Trevin Wallace, Keeshawn Silver, and Deone Walker, Kentucky looks much improved in this department in game one.

Wallace racked up 12 tackles including 2 tackles for loss proving to be maybe the best defender on the Cats defense. Kahlil Saunders also wreaked havoc against Ball State racking up 1.5 sacks taking a huge step forward into a bigger role this season for the defense.

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Two More Wildcats Eye NFL Futures

Two more Wildcats are receiving opportunities to accomplish their NFL dreams.

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UK Athletics

Linebacker D’Eryk Jackson and kicker Alex Raynor are the latest Kentucky Wildcats aiming to make their mark in the NFL.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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Saskatchewan Roughriders Sign Octavious Oxendine to CFL Deal

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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Tre’vonn Rybka Signs With Dolphins As Undrafted Free Agent

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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.

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.

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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.

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