Ja’Mori Maclin didn’t need long to remind people what kind of burst he brings.
The former Kentucky wideout broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown Saturday for the Buffalo Bills, turning a preseason opportunity into the kind of highlight that travels fast. On the day, Maclin finished with two catches for 108 yards against the Cleveland Browns, and the big play came the way explosive plays often do: one defender beaten, another collision left behind, and a wide-open lane down the left sideline.
That showing came after a quieter start to his preseason. In Buffalo’s first exhibition game against the Carolina Panthers last week, Maclin had one catch for nine yards. Ray Davis also saw action in that one, finishing with four receptions for 32 yards and three carries for 21 yards.
Maclin’s path to this point has been a long one. His Kentucky career did not unfold the way he hoped, and the offense around him never really took off during his two seasons in Lexington in 2024 and 2025.
Over that stretch, he caught 26 passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns. Across his college career, which also included stops at Missouri and North Texas, he finished with 100 catches for 1,891 yards and 17 scores.
That production was not enough to get him drafted this spring, but it did land him a shot with Buffalo in training camp. He joined a Bills group that also includes fellow Kentucky alums Ray Davis, Deone Walker and Maxwell Hairston.
After Saturday’s game, Maclin talked about the adjustment he’s making at the pro level.
“The biggest thing is just slowing the game down, ” Maclin said after the game, regarding where he’s grown the most. “Transitioning from college to the NFL, the speed is a lot faster.
Hearing the play one time in the huddle is a lot different than what I’m used to. My coaches and teammates, the vets we have in that room, they help me out a lot.
It’s been a good process for me. … It’s definitely a blessing, man.
I haven’t really soaked it all in yet, but I’m definitely grateful. God has definitely blessed me.”
Buffalo wraps up its preseason next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 27 at 7 p.m. ET, with the game set for NFL Network.
As for Maclin’s roster outlook, a spot on the 53-man group sounds like a long shot unless he turns in another eye-opening performance on Thursday. Still, people around the Bills wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up on the practice squad, which would be a strong outcome for a player who never quite found his rhythm in Lexington under Bush Hamdan.
And the numbers from Saturday are hard to ignore: Maclin picked up 57 percent of his 2025 yardage at Kentucky in just two catches for Buffalo, along with 22 percent of his full two-year total and 25 percent of his scoring total as a Wildcat.
However this shakes out, the bigger takeaway is simple: Maclin is getting his shot, and the start of the Will Stein era in Lexington is right around the corner. September 5, here we come.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Ceiling Just Changed Again With Mark Popes Latest Addition
Mark Pope keeps reshaping Kentuckys roster with proven production, and the latest addition might be one of the most important yet. Mark Mitchell, a five-star transfer forward from Missouri, has committed to the Wildcats after landing an injunction for a fifth year of eligibility, giving Kentucky another experienced piece with a track record in the SEC and the kind of all-around game that can fit into a high-end lineup.
Mitchell arrives after a season in which he averaged 18.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists, earning All-SEC Second Team honors along the way. For Kentucky, the appeal is obvious: he gives Pope a major option at the four-spot and raises the ceiling of a roster that already had plenty of intrigue, even if the final shape of the frontcourt is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Counting On A Homegrown Lineman In A Huge Way
The push to rebuild Kentuckys offensive line this offseason has put a spotlight on one of the rosters homegrown pieces, and Malachi Wood is right in the middle of it. The junior has spent much of his time in Lexington waiting for a bigger opportunity, but after sticking with the program through limited playing time and coaching changes, he has positioned himself to take over as the starting right tackle when the season opens.
For a line that will lean heavily on transfers, Woods presence matters even more. Coaches have been encouraged by his talent and work ethic, and Kentucky is counting on him to provide some continuity next to newcomers, including Baylor transfer Coleton Price at center. If Wood holds down that edge spot, it would give the Wildcats a developed in-house piece they can trust in a unit still coming together. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky May Have A Real Answer To Its Running Back Depth Concern
Kentuckys backfield picture has been one of the quieter questions of the offseason, but a possible solution has surfaced in TJ Harden. The former UCLA and SMU running back was granted injunctive relief by a Louisiana judge, opening the door for a fifth year of college eligibility, and Kentucky is reportedly among several schools keeping tabs on him. For a roster that could use more certainty at running back, Hardens background makes him an intriguing name to monitor.
Harden brings a profile that fits modern offense needs: he has shown he can contribute both as a runner and as a receiver out of the backfield. After going undrafted in the NFL, the path back to college football gives him another chance to make an impact, while also giving interested programs a proven veteran option. Whether Kentucky can turn that interest into something real is still to be seen, but the fit is obvious enough to make this one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]