< PreviousKENTUCKY 18 @UKFootball 2022 - %Super Senior n Elected to return for a sixth year, taking advantage of the NCAA's ruling to grant an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic n Four-year letter winner who has played in 49 career games with 23 starting assignments n Has totaled 121 tackles, nine pass breakups and four interceptions in his career 2021 - Senior n Saw action in all 13 games with 11 starts at safety n Totaled 46 tackles, four pass breakups and one of UK's nine interceptions n Had a career-high tying eight tackles and a career-best two pass breakups in the win over No. 10/9 Florida n Had a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter vs. UTC ... Marked his first collegiate score and the fourth interception of his career ... Marked the longest UK interception return in Commonwealth Stadium/Kroger Field history 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 2019 - Sophomore n Played in 12 games with two starting assignments (Florida and Miss. State) at safety n In his first career start, had two tackles and an interception vs. Florida, his second career INT 2018 - r-Freshman n Saw action in all 13 games n Finished the season with 10 tackles, three PBUs and one INT 2017 - Freshman n Redshirt season Personal n Name is pronounced "Ajian (a-jun)" n Born in Ashland, Ohio n Son of Nikki Ajian and Burton Hester n Graduated in May of 2022 with a degree in family science and a minor in coaching ... Currently working on a second degree in communication with a minor in sociology TYRELL AJIAN 6-0 n 190 n Sr-4L n Mansfield, Ohio #6 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 pretended to be Terrell OwensKENTUCKY 20 @UKFootball 2021 - Junior n Has seen action in 34 career games with six starting assignments n Played in all 13 games with six starts in 2021 n Had 11 receptions for 70 yards (5.4) and one score n Earned his first career start vs. ULM and also started vs. Missouri, LSU, Tennessee, Louisville and Iowa n Caught a season-high tying two passes at No. 1 Georgia and vs. Tennessee n Caught his first collegiate touchdown with a four-yard catch vs. ULM n Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll 2020 - Sophomore n Has seen action in 6 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 Caught 17 passes for 305 yards with 11 touchdowns as a senior at Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati 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 n Major is consumer economics and family financial counseling BRENDEN BATES 6-5 n 264 n Sr-3L 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 If he could only eat three foods for the rest of his life, he would choose spicy chicken sandwiches, carrots with ranch, and Philly cheese steaks n The best part of being a Kentucky Wildcat is meeting great people and being a part of something specialSupport your dog’s health with GREENIES ™ . Supplement your love © 2022 Mars or Affiliates.KENTUCKY 22 @UKFootball 2021 - Sophomore n Midseason All-American (ESPN, AP) n Started at right guard in the first nine games of the season before suffering a season-ending hand injury vs. Tennessee n Named SEC Co-Offensive Line Player of the Week in the win over LSU ... Played every offensive snap and graded at 91 percent ... Led the offensive line with seven knockdown blocks and had 15 blocks at the point of attack n Earned his first career start vs. ULM n Recovered a fumble in the end zone vs. Missouri, giving him his first career score n Also recovered a fumble at South Carolina 2020 - r-Freshman n Back up at left guard behind Kenneth Horsey n Saw action in eight games n Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll 2019 - Freshman n Redshirt season n Saw his first collegiate action vs. UT Martin n Mid-year enrollee High School n A three-star recruit by 247sports.com and Rivals.com n Ranked as the No. 14 Kentucky prospect in the class of 2019 by 247Sports n Has the versatility to play at either offensive guard or tackle n Coached by John Gilliam n Chose UK over Cincinnati, Marshall, Ohio and Toledo Community Cats n Volunteered at Rosewood Elementary (2020) n Volunteered at LexCity Church and Florence Baptist Church (2020) n Participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athlete's Men's Conference at Southland Christian (2020) Personal n Born in Nicholasville, Kentucky n Son of John and Katherine Cox n Siblings are Avery and Ellie n Major is integrated strategic communications with a business minor n One of three representatives for UK football on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the second straight year (2021-22) ... Also elected to the SEC Football Leadership Council ELI COX 6-4 n 298 n Jr-2L n Nicholasville, Ky. #75 n OL Eli SAYS n He chose Kentucky because he wanted to represent his state n His hidden talent is his Photoshop skills n His dream job is to go into sports broadcasting n One word to describe him on the field is "aggressive" n If he could create a holiday he would call it "National Super Bowl Monday" and everyone would have the day off after the Super BowlKENTUCKY 24 @UKFootball 2022 - Junior n Changed jersey numbers from No. 84 to No. 8 2021 - Sophomore n Moved from wide receiver to tight end during fall camp n Played in all 13 games with two starting assignments (Missouri and Georgia) ... Got his first career start vs. Missouri n Totaled 14 receptions (fourth on the team) for 195 yards (third on the team) and three scores n Averaged 13.9 yards per catch n Caught his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 31-yard play in the fourth quarter, vs. UTC n Caught first career pass for seven yards in the season opener vs. ULM n Dean's List (Fall 2021) n Named to SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll 2020 - Freshman n Saw action in nine games (Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina) n Charted first career tackle on special teams in the win over South Carolina n 2020-21 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll High School n Three-star prospect by all three major recruiting services n A top-10 prospect in the state of Kentucky and rated the No. 86 wide receiver by 247Sports n Named Kentucky Football Coaches Association 6A Player of the Year n Candidate for Kentucky’s Mr. Football award n Named to the 2019 Class of the Commonwealth by the Lexington Herald-Leader n First-team All-State by the Courier-Journal n Chose Kentucky over Louisville, Indiana, Purdue, Virginia, Cincinnati, Missouri and others Personal n Born in Louisville, Kentucky n Son of Andra and Natasha Cummings n Has two sisters, Mia and Nia n Major is undecided n One of three representatives for UK football on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) IZAYAH CUMMINGS 6-3 n 240 n Jr-2L n Louisville, Ky. #8 n TE Izayah SAYS n He chose Kentucky because it was close to home and because of his relationship with the coaches n Three words to describe him are smart, quiet, and talented n The best advice he's ever received is "someone right now is working to take your spot" n His dream job is to own his own business and help out the next generationThe Mark Stoops Show Behind Kentucky Football presented by SUBSCRIBE TO PODCASTS TODAY! SPORTS NETWORKSPORTS NETWORKKENTUCKY 26 @UKFootball 2022 - Junior n AFCA Good Works Team nominee n Wuerffel Trophy nominee n Changed jersey numbers from No. 34 to No. 4 2021 - Sophomore n Played in all 13 games with two start starts (Vanderbilt and Louisville) n Totaled 18 tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry, a pass breakup and an interception for a touchdown n In his first collegiate start at Vanderbilt, made his first collegiate interception and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown n Got a career-high four tackles at Louisville n Playing in front of his hometown fans at South Carolina, made two tackles, including one for loss 2020 - r-Freshman n Saw in action in six games (Georgia, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and NC State) and totaled three tackles n Had a career-high two tackles at Alabama and also charted a tackle vs. NC State 2019 - Freshman n Redshirt season n Saw action in three games (Missouri, Vanderbilt and UT Martin) n Charted his first pass breakup in the win at Vanderbilt and got a tackle vs. UT Martin n First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll High School n Considered the No. 9 overall recruit and No. 2 corner in the state of South Carolina by Rivals.com n Chose UK over South Carolina, Virginia, and UNC Community Cats n Mentor at Liberty Elementary (2021 - present) n Citrus Bowl Volunteer Project (2021) n Belk Bowl Volunteer Project (2020) n God's Pantry (2020) n Lighthouse Ministries (2020) Personal n Last name is pronounced “GI-ger” n Born in Columbia, South Carolina n Son of Tony and Ramona Geiger n Siblings are Erique and Ja'nia n Brother, Erique, played football at Bowling Green from 2009-12 n Major is health, society and populations JALEN GEIGER 6-1 n 197 n Jr-2L n Columbia, S.C. #4 n S Jalen SAYS n He chose Kentucky because of the great coaching staff and the family feel n Most people don't know he lived in Korea from age 5 to 9 n The people he admires most are his parents because of their work ethic n Three words to describe him are humble, quiet, and competitive n His favorite thing about football is competing against the best in big gamesMark Stoops Radio Show Tune in all season long to the UK Sports Network for official coverage of Kentucky Wildcats Football. 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