Kentucky’s injury picture got a lot bleaker on Friday, and the biggest name on the list is DJ Miller.
Miller, who had been listed as doubtful, was officially moved to out in the latest SEC availability report ahead of Saturday’s 4:15 p.m. ET matchup at South Carolina on SEC Network. It’s a tough hit for Kentucky’s passing game, especially with Miller having put up five catches for 96 yards this season.
The Wildcats’ Friday update also confirmed a few other absences that had been trending in that direction. Linebacker Alex Afari Jr. is now out after Friday’s court ruling deemed him ineligible, and linebacker Tavion Wallace was also downgraded to out. Wallace has played in three of Kentucky’s four games, recording six tackles and two pass deflections.
There was one new addition to the report for Kentucky as well: offensive lineman Aba Selm is now listed as out. On top of that, Cole Marszalek is unable to go, which puts the long-snapping situation on watch. That may matter more than it usually does against a South Carolina team that can capitalize on special teams mistakes.
South Carolina’s report stayed unchanged from Thursday to Friday. The Gamecocks already knew Dylan Stewart would be sidelined by suspension for this one, and the other name drawing attention is Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.
He’s listed as questionable for the third straight day and did not play last Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The fifth-year interior defensive lineman remains a key status to monitor as kickoff gets closer.
In Other News...
Trent Noah Faces A Make Or Break Stretch At Kentucky
Trent Noahs freshman year in Lexington offered a glimpse of what Kentucky hoped it was getting, especially with that memorable showing against Arkansas, but the rest of the season made clear how quickly the margins tighten for a perimeter player. His shot from deep never really settled in after that, and the offseason brought another obstacle in the form of hamstring injuries, even as he continued to show the kind of eagerness to improve that keeps him in the conversation heading into the new season.
Now Noah enters a stretch that could say a lot about where he fits in Kentuckys rotation. The Wildcats roster additions should create better spacing and cleaner looks, which matters for a shooter trying to rediscover his rhythm, and Noahs own push to contribute more gives this fall a little extra weight. If he can take advantage of the room around him, he has a real chance to turn last years promise into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Big Blue Madness Gives Kentucky A Huge Chance With Elite Visitor
Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena is set to bring the usual mix of introductions, drills, skill competitions and scrimmaging, and this years version arrives with a little extra weight attached. Kentucky has already landed a commitment from Ryan Hampton and has offers out to 23 other players in the 2027 class, but the spotlight this weekend also falls on the kind of elite visitor who can shape how a recruiting pitch is remembered long after the lights go down.
CJ Rosser, one of the top names in the 2027 cycle, made the trip to Lexington for the festivities, giving Mark Pope and Kenny Brooks a chance to showcase Kentucky in front of a prospect who has already seen several other major programs. He has been around the recruiting block with visits to Arkansas, Miami, NC State and North Carolina, which makes this stop in Lexington especially important for a staff looking to make an early impression in a cycle that already has plenty of momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Fans May Not All Agree With Will Stein On This
Will Stein used his weekly radio show to make a familiar argument in modern college football circles: the game is drifting closer to the NFL, so the rules should probably follow suit. The Kentucky offensive coordinator pointed out that college football already operates as a developmental pipeline for the league, and he suggested the sport should align more closely with the pro game when it comes to how teams play and how the field is set up.
Stein also focused on kickoffs, a spot where the college game has changed dramatically in recent years. He said he would like to see more returns, but added that the current version of the play has become less exciting and remains too dangerous, a view that is sure to draw agreement from some fans and pushback from others who prefer college football to keep its own identity. [Read more 🡒]