Kentucky opened the season by rolling past Youngstown State 45-13 and piling up more than 500 yards of offense, but the bigger takeaway for the Wildcats might have been who didn’t have to play.
The list of sidelined names on Saturday was a meaningful one. Right tackle Malachi Wood, running back Jovantae Barnes, cornerbacks Terhyon Nichols and Hasaan Sykes all suited up but watched from the sideline on a hot afternoon. Even with those absences, Kentucky handled business, and Will Stein left the opener sounding confident about what comes next.
“We came out healthy, which is good. Obviously, getting the win was huge, but coming out healthy as a team, I thought was very beneficial as we move forward into conference play,” said the Kentucky head coach. “I’m expecting us to be at full strength for this game, which is really exciting as well for us as a team.”
That’s the kind of update Kentucky wanted heading into Alabama. Barnes, though, remains a more complicated case.
The Oklahoma transfer’s path has been interrupted by multiple injuries in Norman and another issue that surfaced this offseason in Lexington. On Saturday, Jason Patterson handled the backup role behind him and finished with 11 carries for 78 yards, but Stein made clear the Wildcats will need everyone available when the Crimson Tide come around.
“This is a game where depth is needed,” said Stein. “This is a season, a league where depth is needed. So those guys are able to go in there and provide us meaningful snaps and play winning football.”
Nichols and Sykes both got back on the practice field Tuesday, which points toward a return to the starting lineup this week. Kentucky also has a decision to make in the kicking game. Adam Zouagui handled placekicking in the opener after Jacob Kauwe suffered a soft tissue injury early in fall camp, and Stein said that job is still up for grabs.
“Adam did a great job when Jacob was out the last three weeks,” said Stein. “To me, it’s about going and earning it on the practice field, and so we’re going to continue to work Jacob in the kicking game and practice and see what happens.”
The next real update on Kentucky’s health should come Wednesday night, when the first SEC Availability Report is released.
In Other News...
Will Stein Gets An Early Kentucky Test Fans Will Obsess Over
The early part of Will Steins first season at Kentucky is about to meet the kind of barometer fans circle on the calendar. Alabama comes to Lexington in Week 2 as a 10.5-point favorite, with traders giving the Crimson Tide a 78% chance to win and the over/under sitting at 49.5 points, a number that suggests the matchup could still have plenty of movement if Kentucky can make it uncomfortable.
For Stein, the appeal is obvious. This is the sort of SEC test that can shape how a new coach is viewed in a hurry, especially against an Alabama program that has won eight straight in the series dating back to 2003. Kentucky does not need a miracle to make the game matter, but it does need a result that changes the conversation, and that is why this one will have fans watching every snap with a little extra edge. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Is Trusting Its Own Read On Alex Wilkins
Alex Wilkins arrived at Kentucky with the kind of rsum that invites debate. The 6-foot-5 guard showed real production as a freshman at Furman, scoring and creating for others in a way that made him an obvious transfer name, even as some of the broader analytics around his profile remained mixed because of his turnover rate and other red flags. That disconnect is part of what makes his move to Lexington interesting: Kentuckys staff did not simply chase the numbers, they layered them with scouting and their own eyes before deciding he was worth the bet.
For a program that lives under a microscope, trusting that internal read matters. Wilkins has already been the subject of the kind of analytical scrutiny that can follow a player from college to the NBA, with Jaylen Brown-style comparisons surfacing in the discussion, but Kentuckys evaluation leaned on more than spreadsheet debate. The Wildcats believed the fit was there, and now the question is whether that conviction holds up once Wilkins is asked to translate his skill set to a bigger stage. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Backfield Could Be A Real SEC Problem If It Holds Up
Kentuckys offense looked more like a group with answers than one searching for an identity in its win over Youngstown State, leaning on both the passing game and a steady ground attack to keep things moving. The backfield, in particular, stood out as a source of balance, with CJ Baxter and Jason Patterson both making their presence felt and Patterson finishing as the teams top rusher.
The bigger question is whether that kind of production can hold up once the schedule tightens and the physical toll starts to matter more. Will Stein sounded encouraged about the position group after the game, but he also knows the Wildcats need that depth to stay intact if they want the offense to keep looking this versatile against SEC competition. [Read more 🡒]