ESPN has ranked the top 25 future college football defenses and Kentucky’s squad is ranked as one of the best in the country.
The Cats are ranked at #22.
22. Kentucky Wildcats
2019 future defense ranking: Not rankedScouting the Wildcats: Not surprisingly, Mark Stoops’ defense is a big reason for Kentucky’s 18-8 mark the past two seasons. The Wildcats return a good core from a unit that last season ranked second nationally against the pass and 14th in points allowed.
The linebacker group projects very well, as top pass-rusher Boogie Watson (11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) returns alongside juniors Chris Oats and DeAndre Square. Kentucky’s secondary remains strong as veteran cornerbacks Brandin Echols and Cedrick Dort Jr. are back, as is top tackler Yusuf Corker at safety. Senior Davonte Robinson provides depth at safety as he returns from an injury that sidelined him for all of 2019. Kentucky gets at least one more season from lineman Joshua Paschal (9.5 tackles for loss last season).
Interior lineman Justin Rogers headlines five ESPN 300 defenders that Kentucky signed in the 2020 class.
Read “College football’s top 25 future defense power rankings” by clicking here.
Anytime Kentucky is ranked ahead of Tennessee (#25) in anything it is good news to me.
