< PreviousTalbott Todd Way is the site of UK’s pregame Cat Walk, where fans cheer the Wildcats on their arrival to Kroger Field each game day. Play- ers and coaches walk from outside Gate 1 down Talbott Todd Way to the Joe Craft Football Training Facility two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff. The alley was dedicated to former Wildcat Talbott Todd (1963-65). Todd, who passed away from ALS in August 2017, was an avid supporter of the program. GAME DAYThanks to Nike’s extensive research and product development, the Kentucky Wildcats stay on the cutting edge of quality and style with all of their gear. All 23 sports use Nike shoes and equipment and over the course of the current eight-year contract, one of the lengthiest contracts in collegiate sports, the Wildcats will receive MILLIONS of DOLLARS worth of clothing and equipment. In 2023, the Wildcats received new football uniform combinations. Each uniform features a blue collar which signifies Kentucky’s working-class background. The classic “Kentucky” wordmark reads across the chest, the pants feature classic stripes and the Wildcat logo adorns the sleeves. “We’ve got a state that is all about hard work and effort, and we want people to understand that that’s what it takes. If you put that jersey on, that’s part of what it means at the University of Kentucky to represent the Commonwealth.” — UK Athletics Director, Mitch Barnhart NIKE SWAGCareer Combine • PRO Career Institute • PRO Pathways • My New Kentucky Home Visit - UKathletics.com/the-kentucky-road STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE The UK Athletics Department has intensified its commitment to providing best-in-class experiences and opportunities for student-athletes through The Kentucky Road, which describes the incomparable developmental experience provided for student-athletes during their time as Wildcats. Benefits include, but are not limited to: Impact leadership, career and professional development, pro pathways, alumni and employer network, community engagement, student-athlete career combine, NIL, and more!Financial Education is fundamental to the developmental experiences at the University of Kentucky. Student-athletes can deepen their understanding of financial wellness, practice financial investing and receive monetary rewards for institution-identified healthy behaviors through the UK Invests program. This program exists in collaboration with third parties, such as Fidelity Investments and its Fidelity Bloom app, ensuring students will reap a lifetime of benefits for themselves, their families and their communities. Student-athletes also have access to the iGrad Financial Literacy platform for further educational resources. Whether crafting a budget for the current week or strategizing for the future, The Kentucky Road equips you with the necessary skills. Former Wildcat and NFL veteran, Avery Williamson (2010-13), returned to Kentucky in the spring of 2019 and graduated with a degree in integrated strategic communication (pictured above). In December of 2020, cornerback Derrick Tatum, who played from 1999-2002, and wide receiver Steve Johnson, who played at UK in 2006-07 and went on to an eight-year career in the NFL, came back to earn their degrees. Financial Education Lifetime Scholarships Impact Leadership As the Director of the Impact Leadership Program for UK Athletics, Shawn Umbrell (pictured above) is dedicated to empowering coaches and their programs through comprehensive leadership education, personalized one-on-one coaching, and the establishment of effective systems. His expertise lies in optimizing staff communications, coordination, cooperation, and accountability to help teams achieve the head coach’s vision.ACADEMIC DRAKE JACKSON AND LANDON YOUNG Class of 2019 LUKE FORTNER Class of 2019 PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE PHIL HOSKINS Class of 2020 CHRIS RODRIGUEZ JR. Class of 2022 T.J. CARTER Class of 2020 CHRIS WESTRY Class of 2024Kentucky was the first school in the nation to open an academic center dedicated exclusively to student-athletes. The mission of the Center for Academic and Tutorial Services is to create an environment where all student- athletes have the opportunity to maximize their academic, personal and social growth to improve their post-college quality of life. CATS has one of the largest advising staffs in the country, consisting of nine full-time counselors and over 10 part-time peer advisors. In addition, the center annually maintains a corps of more than 100 tutors who average over 2,000 hours of tutoring and mentoring each week of the academic year. The Center for Academic and Tutorial Services is unique in that it is located in close proximity to the central academic campus inside Memorial Coliseum. This means that student-athletes have ready access to CATS before, after, and between classes. The Joe Craft Football Facility also houses an additional full-service academic center for football players to access computers, tutors, quiet study rooms and academic counselors. n In 1981, Kentucky became the first university in the nation to open an academic center dedicated to student-athletes. n In 1998, CATS moved to its current location located in Memorial Coliseum adjacent to the Joe Craft Center. n Funded by the Ohio Casualty Group Insurance, the Center for Academic and Tutorial Services has: • 20,000 square feet of space, 2 levels • A computer lab houses 37 state-of-the-art computers with universal access to software • A study area accommodates 60 seats in a quiet atmosphere • 25 private tutor rooms housing computers with internet access • Over 1,000 hours of tutoring computed per week • Over 100 tutors employed each semester • Scheduled tutor sessions assigned at the beginning of each semester as a proactive measure CATS 35 PLAYERS ON THE 2024 SEC FALL ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL 9 PLAYERS ARE SET TO GRADUATE IN DECEMBER OF 2025 13 PLAYERS WERE ON THE SEC FIRST-YEAR HONOR ROLL 3 PLAYERS HAVE A MASTER’S DEGREE BUD DUPREE Class of 2015 RANDALL COBB Class of 2016 17 PLAYERS HAVE ALREADY EARNED AT LEAST ONE DEGREE AND WILL BOAST THE SEC GRADUATE PATCH ON THEIR UNIFORMSJO EN WILL LEVIS MAXWELL HAIRSTON n Kentucky had two NFL Draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft - DB Maxwell Hairston (Buffalo Bills - first round) and Deone Walker (Buffalo Bills - fourth round). n UK has had a defensive back drafted in three straight NFL Drafts - Maxwell Hairston, Andru Phillips and Carrington Valentine. n The 2025 NFL Draft marked the seventh straight draft UK has had at least one player taken in the first three rounds. n Head coach Mark Stoops has had 30 players drafted in his 12 seasons at Kentucky, four in the first round. Twenty-six of those selections have come in the last seven drafts. WAN’DALE ROBINSON RAY DAVISAt the time of this printing, a total of 30 former Kentucky Wildcats are currently on National Football League rosters. Here is the list, along with their years at UK. BUD DUPREE CARRINGTON VALENTINE LANDON YOUNG Baltimore Ravens Devin Leary, QB (2023) Buffalo Bills Ray Davis, RB (2023) Maxwell Hairston, DB (2022-24) Deone Walker, DL (2022-24) Carolina Panthers Trevin Wallace, LB (2021-23) Cincinnati Bengals Tashawn Manning, OL (2022) Cleveland Browns Brenden Bates, TE (2019-23) Dallas Cowboys Zion Childress, DB (2022-24) Denver Broncos Marques Cox, OL (2023-24) Keidron Smith, DB (2022) Detroit Lions Josh Paschal, DE (2017-21) Green Bay Packers Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB (2024) Carrington Valentine, DB (2020-22) Houston Texans Eli Cox (2020-24) Jacksonville Jaguars Josh Hines-Allen, DE/LB (2015-18) Luke Fortner, C (2017-21) Kansas City Chiefs Mike Edwards, S (2015-2018) LA Chargers Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14) Las Vegas Raiders Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB (2017-18) New Orleans Saints Landon Young, OT (2016-17, 19-20) New York Giants Dru Phillips, DB (2020-23) Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (2021) New York Jets Jamin Davis, LB (2018-20) Philadelphia Eagles Darian Kinnard, OT (2018-21) Pittsburgh Steelers Brandin Echols, CB (2019-20) Seattle Seahawks Quinton Bohanna, DL (2017-20) D’Eryk Jackson, LB (2020-24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Edwards, S (2015-2018) Tennessee Titans Will Levis, QB (2021-22) Washington Commanders Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB (2019-22) Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard is the most recent Super Bowl champion as his Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIX, 40-22, on Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. It marked Kinnard’s third straight Super Bowl ring after winning two with the Kansas City Chiefs (2023 and 2024).SEC in the NFL Draft n The SEC led the nation’s conferences in NFL Draft picks for the 19th consecutive year in 2025 with 79 selections. n The 79 selections set a record for a conference in a single NFL Draft, shattering the previous mark of 65 (which was also held by the SEC). n For 11 straight years, the SEC has had 50 or more players taken in the NFL Draft. Only four times in the last 30 years has another conference other than the SEC seen 50 or more players drafted. n The SEC has averaged over 50 selections per draft since 2006. Total 2025 NFL Draft Picks: 13 THE SEC HAS WON OF THE LAST 19 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THE SEC WON FOUR STRAIGHT CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BY THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS (LSU, ALABAMA, GEORGIA), FROM 2019-2022. THE SEC IS HOME TO HEISMAN WINNERS 18 Since 2006, the SEC has accrued more bowl wins (114) and appearances (185) than any other conference. The SEC, its member institutions and sports teams are on an international stage with brand recognition in every cor- ner of the country and around the globe. The SEC finished the 2024 season as the most-watched conference in college football based on total minutes consumed for a third-straight year. The SEC was also #1 in average audience for the 14th consecutive year. The SEC on ABC accounted for more than two-thirds of the 50 most-watched games in the 2024 regular season. 2025 SEC Football has led the nation in football attendance for 26 consecutive seasons and enjoys over a 13 thousand per game and half million overall edge over its next closest conference peer. The SEC’s average attendance (79,805) was nearly 3,000 more per game than 2023, a season which saw the highest average attendance in the league since 2016. The SEC is up nearly 10% over the last three seasons. Big Ten: 71 ACC: 42 Big 12: 31 FCS: 8 Independent: 7 AAC: 6 Mountain West: 6 MAC: 4 Sun Belt: 1 CUSA: 1 Pac 12: 1 FANS PER GAME 79,805OPPONENTS 2520Next >