Kentucky has filled the new player management role created under J Batt, naming Mitchell Moorer as the program’s Executive Associate Athletics Director for Player Management.
Batt announced the hire Friday, putting Moorer in charge of a broad portfolio that stretches across all sports. The job will center on student-athlete management, roster development, revenue-sharing and name, image and likeness opportunities, all while keeping Kentucky aligned with the rules that govern the modern college sports world.
Moorer will also be expected to work hand-in-hand with administrators, coaches, staff and student-athletes as Kentucky tries to stay ahead in an environment that keeps shifting.
“We’ve made building a comprehensive player management strategy a priority since arriving at Kentucky,” Batt said in a statement. “In this rapidly changing era of college athletics, the ability to effectively build teams, manage resources and create competitive advantages has never been more important.
“Mitchell’s experience across college and professional sports, athlete representation and the legal profession makes him uniquely qualified to lead those efforts. This is a significant addition to our leadership team and another important step in positioning Kentucky for long-term success.”
The move also keeps the Michigan State-to-Kentucky connection going after Batt’s arrival from East Lansing. Moorer had been serving as Executive Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Management and Administration at Michigan State since August 2025, following work in athlete representation, corporate law and professional football.
“I am incredibly grateful to the University of Kentucky and J Batt for this opportunity,” Moorer said. “Kentucky has a proud tradition, passionate fan base and a clear vision for pursuing success. The commitment to investing in player management as a priority necessary to continue competing at the highest level was evident throughout this process.
“I look forward to collaborating with our coaches, staff and student-athletes as we build systems and strategies that create opportunities, support achievement and position Kentucky for sustained success in this changing era.”
At Michigan State, Moorer was part of the leadership team focused on player management, performance analysis, legal and contractual matters. He also oversaw the administration of institutional benefits after the House settlement and worked across the department on solutions that stayed within governance rules.
Before that, he was a vice president at SportsTrust Advisors, where he served as an NFLPA-certified agent and negotiated more than $1.3 billion in NFL contracts. His work there included player contracts, marketing agreements, NIL opportunities and long-range career planning, along with compliance with NFL, NFLPA and NCAA regulations.
Moorer’s background also includes business and corporate law as an associate attorney at Manier & Herod. He spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles as a Salary Cap and Legal Analyst and also held positions with the NFL league office, the Southeastern Conference, Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns.
A former two-sport student-athlete, Moorer earned eight varsity letters in football and track and field at Sewanee. He later received both a law degree and an MBA from the University of Alabama.
In Other News...
Kentucky Gets One Big Boost As LSU Test Meets Injury Trouble
Kentucky heads into its matchup with LSU dealing with a thin defensive chart, with Alex Afari, Tavion Wallace, Antwan Smith, Jaden Smith and Grant Grayton all set to miss the game. The Wildcats are also expected to be without offensive lineman Aba Selm, a hit that only adds to the challenge of matching up physically in a game where depth and versatility already matter plenty.
The one encouraging note for Kentucky is on special teams, where long snapper Cole Marszalek is expected back after sitting out. Kalen Edwards, meanwhile, has slipped from questionable to doubtful, leaving the Wildcats with even fewer options as they prepare for one of the seasons tougher tests. On the other side, LSUs biggest injury issue centers on linebacker Whit Weeks, who is out with a leg injury. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's LSU Shot Has Real Upset Energy For One Big Reason
Kentuckys next shot at a signature win comes with a familiar kind of pull: a ranked opponent coming into Kroger Field and the chance to turn an ordinary Saturday into something the fan base remembers. Since 2021, the Wildcats have handled this sort of stage better than the broader narrative suggests, going 4-8 straight up against top-10 teams and 9-3 against the spread in those games, with a home win over Florida in 2021 still standing as the clearest example of what this place can feel like when everything lines up.
The interesting part now is that this will be the first time a top-10 team has visited Kroger Field in the Will Stein era, which gives the matchup a different edge even before the ball is snapped. Kentucky has already shown it can pop up with a top-10 upset in 2023, 2024 and 2026, including one against a Lane Kiffin-coached team, so the question is less about whether the Wildcats have ever belonged in this kind of conversation and more about whether they can finally deliver another home breakthrough when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys First LSU Availability Report Brings Relief And Real Concern
The SECs new availability report is already giving Kentucky fans something concrete to scan ahead of the LSU matchup, and the early returns are a mixed bag. The Wildcats updated list shows linebacker Alex Afari Jr. and Antwan Smith as out, while defensive tackle Kalen Edwards lands in the doubtful category, a combination that leaves obvious questions for a defense trying to sort itself out before a tough conference test.
There is some relief in the same report, though, because wide receiver DJ Miller and longsnapper Cole Marszalek are expected to be available after dealing with their own uncertainty in recent weeks. Even with those small positives, the overall picture still matters for Kentuckys depth and game-day planning, and the rest of the report will be watched closely as kickoff gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
