Will Stein keeps pointing to the same thing when people ask why Kentucky has turned heads this season: it’s not some coaching magic trick, and he’s not trying to make himself the story. He says the Wildcats have “a lot of really good players, who are going to play a long time in the NFL.”
That line is starting to look less like a compliment and more like a scouting report.
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic recently released his top five players at every position for the 2027 NFL Draft in Washington D.C., and several Kentucky names showed up exactly where the Wildcats have been building their case all fall.
Tavion Gadson is one of them. The interior defensive lineman has been one of the players Kentucky has been talking up since last fall, and Baumgardner now has him sitting third at his position in the 2027 class. Lance Heard is also ranked third among offensive tackles, a spot that would place him in the middle of the first round.
Two more Wildcats have climbed quickly on the strength of strong fall seasons. Willie Rodriguez has emerged as a major piece in Stein’s offense, leading all SEC tight ends with 39 catches for 324 yards and three touchdowns. That production has him ranked as TE4, two spots behind another former Stein tight end, Jamari Johnson.
Then there’s Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace, who has done the most to cash in on his new role. He has directly forced three interceptions, including a pick-six on a screen pass against Alabama, and he added a forced fumble last week against Vanderbilt.
He also has 5.0 sacks, good for sixth in the SEC, along with 7.5 tackles for loss, which ranks 10th in the league. Baumgardner has him at No. 4 at his position, which points to a day two or better selection in next spring’s draft.
“The 6-foot-3, 269-pound Humphrey-Grace is a versatile edge with huge mitts and great length,” writes Baumgardner. “His unique build makes him a problem inside and outside.”
Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace has a chance to be drafted on day two this year. The Kentucky edge player has great size at 6’4” and 270 pounds. He moves well for that size, is a violent finisher, and can play end in a 3-4 or a 4-3 base defense. pic.twitter.com/TTcxouwutM
- Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) October 25, 2026
With the season now deep enough to give scouts real tape to study, Kentucky’s top players have already made their mark. If they keep stacking performances over the next month, they’ll have a chance to show it off on college football’s biggest stage, the Playoff.
In Other News...
Former Kentucky Players Are Making Some Departures Look A Lot Different
Kentuckys roster turnover has become easier to judge with a little distance, and the 2026 season is offering a revealing look at what some of those departures have meant elsewhere. The list of 38 former Wildcats now playing for other FBS programs shows just how widely the talent has scattered, with players turning up at new schools at every position and carving out roles that range from depth pieces to steady contributors.
For Kentucky, the interesting part is not just where those players landed, but how much they are playing once they got there. The article tracks their current schools, positions and production, and the range of impact makes the exodus look different depending on the name involved. Some departures have barely registered, while others have become much more noticeable reminders that roster management does not stop when a player leaves Lexington. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Biggest Question Before Kentucky Still Has No Clear Answer
Tennessee heads into its bye week with the same quarterback uncertainty that has hovered over much of the season. Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre have both gotten starts and neither has settled the job, with the offense sputtering at times and the turnovers piling up enough to keep the Vols near the bottom of the SEC in several key passing categories.
Josh Heupel said both quarterbacks are practicing well, but he stopped short of signaling any immediate change, leaving the competition open as Kentucky approaches. For Tennessee, the off week is a chance to sort through the options and try to find some stability before a game that could go a long way toward defining the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]
What An Opposing Coach Already Sees In This Kentucky Team
Johnny Dawkins got a close look at Kentucky in an exhibition setting, and the former Duke star and current Central Florida coach came away impressed. He said the Wildcats already have the kind of talent, coaching and chemistry that can make them a much better team as the season unfolds, and he pointed to their length and versatility as traits that stand out right away.
For Kentucky, that kind of early read from an opposing coach matters because it suggests the ceiling is still ahead of them. Exhibition games only tell part of the story, but Dawkins view was clear enough: this group has the pieces to grow into something more dangerous once the season gets rolling, even if the best version of the Wildcats is still to come. [Read more 🡒]