Less than 24 hours before Kentucky and Florida kick off at Kroger Field, the SEC Availability Report has settled a few more names.
Friday night brought two changes for Florida: cornerback Dijon Johnson was moved to out, and DK Kalu was upgraded to probable.
Florida’s report now lists WR Vernell Brown III, S Bryce Thornton, LB Jaden Robinson, TE Evan Chieca, and CB Dijon Johnson as out. EDGE Kofi Asare is questionable, while DL DK Kalu is probable.
The Gators are missing several key pieces. Vernell Brown III was supposed to have a major role for this team, but he has not played since Week 4.
Thornton, a starting safety, is set to miss his second game of the season; he has 28 tackles and three pass breakups. Robinson, Florida’s LB3, is out for a third straight game.
Kalu and Asare are rotational players on the defensive front. Johnson, who was added Thursday as doubtful, has 10 tackles, three pass deflections and one interception this season, but has not played since Oct. 10 against South Carolina.
Kentucky’s situation is more straightforward, though not clean. Grant Grayton, Antwan Smith and Jaden Smith are all dealing with long-term injuries. Head coach Will Stein said this week that Jaden Smith tore his ACL.
The biggest update from Wednesday’s first report was that Nic Anderson will miss his second game of the season. The former Oklahoma and LSU receiver was also held out of the South Alabama game, and he’ll be inactive again Saturday. Anderson has dealt with injuries throughout his career and has 20 catches for 223 yards this season.
In Other News...
Mark Popes Postgame Message Added To Kentucky Fans Frustration
Kentucky escaped Northern Arizona 78-77 at Rupp Arena in a game that did little to calm the nerves around the program after the recent loss to Kansas. The Wildcats got the result they needed, but the way they got there left plenty of room for concern, with the contest tight from start to finish and the execution never quite matching the setting.
Mark Pope tried to frame the night as the kind of game people enjoy watching, even while acknowledging the issues on the floor. For Kentucky fans, though, the entertainment value was hard to separate from the frustration, and the mixed reaction around the win only underscored how much cleaner this group still needs to look before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Escaped Disaster At Rupp But Bigger Questions Just Started
Kentucky avoided a stunning home loss at Rupp Arena on Saturday night, but only just. No. 24 the Wildcats needed a late 3-pointer from transfer guard Alex Wilkins to slip past Northern Arizona 78-77 after the visitors had controlled the closing stretch and put the home team in real danger before missing key free throws.
Mark Pope will take the win, especially early in the season, but the way Kentucky had to survive it is bound to linger. The finish masked a shaky stretch in which the Wildcats were forced to lean on a single shot to erase a game that had slipped away, and Pope pointed to the teams defensive execution as an area that still needs to sharpen up. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Legend Just Put Mark Popes Start Under A Harsh Spotlight
Kentuckys narrow win over Northern Arizona did little to quiet the unease around the program, especially after another uneven showing that left fans and commentators focused less on the final score and more on the way the Wildcats got there. The ball movement has had its bright spots, but the larger picture has been hard to ignore, with defensive lapses and inconsistent play continuing to define the early stretch of the season.
Jamal Mashburn added to that pressure by taking aim at the defense and questioning where things stand under Mark Pope, a sharp critique that landed because it tapped into the frustration already building around the team. In a season where expectations were higher than what Kentucky has shown so far, the conversation has shifted from isolated mistakes to a broader concern about whether the program is headed in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]