< Previous18 @UKFootball 2020 - Junior n Started at safety in 10 of 11 games played n Totaled 48 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a PBU and a blocked kick n Blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter vs. No. 23 NC State in the Gator Bowl, the first blocked kick of his career and UK’s second blocked field goal of the season, also Jamin Davis vs. Georgia n Made a career-high seven tackles vs. the Wolfpack n Had his third career interception in the win over No. 18 Tennessee 2019 - Sophomore n Played in 12 games with two starting assignments (Florida and Miss. State) at safety n Totaled 17 tackles, an INT and a PBU n In his first career start, had two tackles and an interception vs. Florida, his second career INT n Dean's List (Fall 2019) n Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll 2018 - r-Freshman n Saw action in all 13 games n Finished the season with 10 tackles, three PBUs and one INT n Made his first career interception and also had a pass breakup in Kentucky’s 28-7 win over Mississippi State n His long return set up a touchdown run on the next play, giving UK a two-TD lead n Recorded two tackles vs. Murray State, his first career action 2017 - Freshman n Redshirt season High School n Combination athlete in high school, playing defensive back, wide receiver and quarterback n Rivals ranked him the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Ohio and the No. 23 athlete in the class of 2017 n ESPN had him as the No. 8 safety in the country n Chose Kentucky over Michigan, Michigan State, and West Virginia Personal n Name is pronounced "Ajian (a-jun)" n Born in Ashland, Ohio n Son of Nikki Ajian and Burton Hester n On track to graduate in August with a degree in family science and a minor in coaching TYRELL AJIAN 6-0 n 190 n Sr-3L n Mansfield, Ohio #23 n DB Tyrell SAYS n His nickname is "Ty" n He chose Kentucky because it felt like home n One word to describe him on the field is "ball hawk" n The one thing he's looking forward to this season is continuing what the guys started last year n When he played football as a kid he pretend to be Terrell Owens20 @UKFootball 2021 - Senior* n Elected to return for a fifth year, taking advantage of the NCAA's ruling to grant an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic n Preseason Fourth-Team All-SEC Specialist (Athlon) n Has started in 24 straight career games n Has caught a pass in 12 consecutive games n Has 846 receiving yards and needs just 154 to become the 31st player in school history with 1,000 or more yards receiving. He also has 90 career receptions. 2020 - Senior (Team Captain) n UK's leading receiver with 54 catches for 473 yards and a score... Averaged 8.8 yards per catch n Led the team in receptions with five catches for 11 yards in the win over No. 23 NC State in the Gator Bowl n Caught a 26-yard TD pass at Missouri, his first TD of the season and fifth career n Paced the Wildcats receiving with four catches for 38 yards in the win over No. 18 Tennessee n Led the Wildcats in receiving with nine catches for 98 yards, both career highs, at Auburn ... Marked the most receiving yards in a top-10 opponent road game since Chris Matthews at Florida in 2010 n Elected as one of 10 team captains n Preseason Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele) 2019 - Junior n Started in all 13 games at Z receiver n Second on the team with 23 catches for 233 yards (third on the team) and three TDs (team high) n Led the Wildcat wide receivers with four catches for 52 yards in the Belk Bowl, including two huge plays on the final drive – a nine-yard contested catch on 4th-and-7 and what proved to be the game-winning 13-yard touchdown grab n Attempted his first career pass at Georgia n Caught five passes for 61 yards, both career highs, vs. Mississippi State Personal n Born in Miami, Florida n Son of Katrina Gray and Faheem Ali n Dad, Faheem, was a WR at Louisiana Tech n Graduated in May of 2021 with a degree in community and leadership development ... Currently working on a second degree in communication JOSH ALI 6-0 n 190 n Sr-4L n Hollywood, Fla. #6 n WR Josh SAYS n His nickname is "Jayboogie" n He chose Kentucky because it was away from home, in a great conference and he wanted to help change the program n One word to describe him on the field is "smooth" n Other than playing in the NFL, his dream job is to be a real estate agent n His hidden talent is cooking22 @UKFootball 2020 - Sophomore n Has seen action in 21 career games, six in 2020 n Missed five games with injury n Made his first collegiate catch, a 14-yarder in the third quarter, vs. Mississippi State 2019 - r-Freshman n Saw action in 13 games, mostly on special teams 2018 - Freshman n Saw action in two games n Redshirt season n First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll High School n One of the nation’s top-20 tight ends by Rivals n Noted for his receiving ability, a difficult skill to find among tight ends in the high school ranks n Caught 17 passes for 305 yards with 11 touchdowns as a senior at Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati n Totaled 250 yards receiving on 14 catches with five scores as a junior n Two-time first-team All-Greater Catholic League selection n Accepted an invitation to the 2018 Team USA Under-19 National Team for International Bowl IX n Coached by John Rodenberg n Three-year letter winner in track in the 200-meters and discus throw and was a power forward/center for two seasons on the basketball team n Was a member of the Improv Club n Received offers from the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference, including schools such as Vanderbilt, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, West Virginia, Louisville and Pittsburgh Personal n Born in Cincinnati, Ohio n Son of Doug and Kelly Bates n Has two siblings, Morgan and Doug Jr. n Comes from a family of athletes as father played football at Indiana, mother played volleyball at Morehead State, brother, Doug, played tight end at Toledo, sister, Morgan currently plays lacrosse at Cincinnati and grandfather, Gene Neff, played basketball at Kentucky under Coach Adolph Rupp from 1951-52 BRENDEN BATES 6-5 n 255 n Jr-2L n Cincinnati, Ohio #80 n TE Brenden SAYS n His nickname is "Batesy" n Most people don't know that he is extremely good at the worm n A muscular Will Ferrell or Chris Pratt would play him in a movie about his life n The best part of being a Kentucky Wildcat is meeting great people and being a part of something special24 @UKFootball 2020 - r-Freshman n Played in all 11 games, finishing with 20 tackles and 2.0 TFL n Had five tackles and a TFL at Alabama ... Also had a TFL at Missouri n Totaled a career-best six tackles vs. Mississippi State n Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll 2019 - Freshman n Redshirt season n Saw action in three games (Missouri, UT Martin and Louisville) n Charted first career tackle vs. UT Martin n Mid-year enrollee n FWAA 2019 Freshman All-American Team and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watch List n First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll High School n A four-star prospect n Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 15 outside linebacker nationally n As a senior, totaled 70 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, three sacks and one forced fumble in 11 games for head coach Adrian Morton n Played two seasons at Trinity before transferring to Ballard n Chose UK over Oregon and Louisville Personal n Born in Louisville, Kentucky n Son of Melissa Gaines and Craig Shively n Major is community leadership and development JARED CASEY 6-3 n 217 n So-1L n Louisville, Ky. #6 n ILB Jared SAYS n He chose UK to play for his home state and because of the coaching staff n Most people don't know he can cut hair and he can sew clothes n His sports hero is Muhammad Ali n His hidden talent is making a duck noise n The three famous people he would invite to his fantasy dinner are Muhammad Ali, Spider-Man, and Kobe BryantThe UK HealthCare Mark Stoops Show Behind Kentucky Football SUBSCRIBE TO PODCASTS TODAY! SPORTS NETWORKSPORTS NETWORK26 @UKFootball 2021 - Senior n Preseason third-team All-SEC defense (Athlon) n Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List n Has played in 37 career games with 24 consecutive starting assignments 2020 - Junior (Team Captain) n Second-Team All-SEC, Safety (Pro Football Focus, Phil Steele) n Dean's List (Fall 2020) n Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll n Played in all 11 games, finishing second on the team in tackles with 77 n Also had 2.5 TFL, two interceptions, two PBUs and a forced fumble n Had 10 tackles vs. Vanderbilt, his third double-figure game of his career n Posted a career-high 18 tackles at Missouri, along with a career-high two tackles for loss ... Marked the most tackles for a Wildcat since Jordan Jones had 19 stops vs. Southern Mississippi in 2016 ... 16 of the tackles were solo which tied the single-game school record set by Larry Smith vs. Tulane in 1984 and Jeff Zurcher vs. Georgia in 1998 n Elected as one of 10 team captains n Preseason Third-Team All-SEC (Coaches) n Preseason Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon Sports) 2019 - Sophomore n Started in all 13 games n Team's leading tackler with 74 n Earned first career start vs. Toledo in the season opener 2018 - r-Freshman n Saw action in all 13 games, totaling eight tackles 2017 - Freshman n Redshirt season High School n Four-star defensive back and receiver at Woodland High School in Stockbridge, Ga., where he was coached by Steve Davenport n The nation's No. 26 cornerback by ESPN and Scout n Chose UK over Tennessee and Michigan State Personal n Name is pronounced "Yusuf (YOU-suf)" n Got married in February of 2021 to long- time girlfriend, Tarryn Todd-Long, and the couple has one daughter, Amirah n Son of Robin Meadows-Ragin and Yusuf Corker YUSUF CORKER II 6-0 n 204 n Sr-3L n McDonough, Ga. #29 n S Yusuf SAYS n His nickname is "Deuce" n He chose Kentucky because it was the best fit n One word to describe him on the field is "ballhawk" n Other than playing in the NFL, his dream job is to be a pediatric surgeon n His sports hero is Richard Sherman because he's a ballhawk, tooMark Stoops Radio Show Tune in all season long to the UK Sports Network for official coverage of Kentucky Wildcats Football. Visit UKathletics.com/UKSportsNetwork for radio and tv affiliates Monday Nights this Fall 6-7 p.m. on the UK Sports Network. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for complete UK Sports Network coverage of the Cats. UKATHLETICS.COMUK SPORTS NETWORK@UKSportsNetworkuk_sportsnetwork KENTUCKY FOOTBALL@UKFOOTBALLUKFOOTBALLNext >