< PreviousACADEMIC DRAKE JACKSON AND LANDON YOUNG Class of 2019 LUKE FORTNER Class of 2019 PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE T.J. CARTER Class of 2020 PHIL HOSKINS Class of 2020 CHRIS RODRIGUEZ JR. Class of 2022Kentucky 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 198 1, 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 34 PLAYERS ON THE 2022 SEC FALL ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL 17 PLAYERS HAVE ALREADY EARNED AN NDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND WILL BOAST THE SEC GRADUATE PATCH ON THEIR UNIFORMS 7 MORE PLAYERS SET TO GRADUATE IN DECEMBER 14 PLAYERS WERE ON THE SEC FIRST-YEAR HONOR ROLL 7 PLAYERS ALREADY HAVE A MASTER’S DEGREE OR ARE WORKING ON A MASTER’S DEGREE BUD DUPREE Class of 2015 RANDALL COBB Class of 2016n Kentucky had three NFL Draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft - Will Levis (2nd Round - Titans), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (6th Round - Commanders) and Carringon Valentine (7th Round - Packers). n 2023 marked the fifth straight year UK has had at least one player taken in the first three rounds. n Head coach Mark Stoops has had 24 players drafted in his 10 seasons at Kentucky. Twenty of those selections have come in the last five drafts. WILL LEVIS JAMIN DAVIS QUINTON BOHANNA JOSH ALLENAt the time of this printing, a total of 26 former Kentucky Wildcats are currently on National Football League rosters. Here is the list, along with their years at UK. BUD DUPREE BRANDIN ECHOLS LANDON YOUNG TWO WILDCATS, DEFENSIVE LINEMAN PHIL HOSKINS AND OFFENSIVE LINEMAN DARIAN KINNARD, EARNED A SUPER BOWL RING AS THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS DEFEATED THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES IN 2023. ATLANTA FALCONS Josh Ali, WR (2017-2021) Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14) BALTIMORE RAVENS Tashawn Manning, OL (2022) CAROLINA PANTHERS Marquan McCall, DT (2018-21) CINCINNATI BENGALS Yusuf Corker, S (2018-21) CLEVELAND BROWNS Za’Darius Smith, OLB (2013-14) Chris Westry, DB (2015-18) DALLAS COWBOYS Quinton Bohanna, NT (2017-20) Kelvin Joseph, DB (2020) DETROIT LIONS Josh Paschal, DE (2017-21) Logan Stenberg, OG (2016-19) GREEN BAY PACKERS Carrington Valentine, DB (2020-22) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Josh Allen, DE/LB (2015-18) Luke Fortner, C (2017-21) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Mike Edwards, S (2015-2018) Darian Kinnard, OT (2018-21) Phil Hoskins, DT (2017-20) LA RAMS T.J. Carter, DT (2016-19) DeAndre Square, ILB (2018-22) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Quandre Mosely, DB (2019-2021) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Lynn Bowden, WR (2017-19) Landon Young, OT (2016-17, 19-20) Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB (2017-18) NEW YORK GIANTS Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (2021) NEW YORK JETS Brandin Echols, CB (2019-20) Randall Cobb, WR (2008-10) TENNESSEE TITANS Will Levis, QB (2001-22) Justin Rigg, TE (2017-21) WASHINGTON COMMANDERS Jamin Davis, ILB (2018-20) Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB (2019-22)102 @UKFootball Ball State Cardinals September 2 n 12:00 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Game Sponsor Players to Watch #80 n R-Sophomore n TE Brady HUNT Clayton COLL #32 n Senior n LB 2023 Schedule @Kentucky September 2 @Georgia September 9 vs. Indiana State September 16 Georgia Southern September 23 @Western Michigan September 30 @Eastern Michigan October 7 Toledo October 14 Central Michigan October 21 @Bowling Green November 1 @Northern Illinois November 7 Kent State November 18 Miami (Ohio) November 25 In his eighth season as head coach, Ball State has made steady improvement during Neu's tenure. A member of the Cardinals' 1989 and 1993 MAC championship teams, Neu guided Ball State to its first MAC championship since 1996 and its first MAC West Division title since 2008 during the 2020 campaign. BSU capped the 2020 season with its first bowl win in program history. Mike Neu 102 @UKFootball Quick Facts Location: Muncie, Ind. Head Coach: Mike Neu (Ball State, ‘94) Stadium: Scheumann Stadium (22,500) Last Meeting with UK: 9/8/01 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 28, Ball State 20 2022 Record: 5-7 Overall; 3-5 Mid-American Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/3-4 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/7 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8/4 BALL STATEEastern Kentucky Colonels September 9 n 3 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field @UKSportsNetwork 103 2023 Schedule @Cincinnati September 2 @Kentucky September 9 Western Carolina September 16 Southeast Missouri September 23 @North Alabama September 30 Tarleton State October 14 Gardner-Webb October 21 @Utah Tech October 28 Austin Peay November 4 @Central Arkansas November 11 Stephen F. Austin November 18 ® Quick Facts Location: Richmond, Ky. Head Coach: Walt Wells (Belmont, ‘93) Stadium: Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) Last Meeting with UK: 9/9/17 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 27, EKU 16 2022 Record: 7-5 Overall; 3-2 ASUN Base Offense/Defense: Multiple Spread/4-3 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 3/8 In his third season at EKU, Wells led the Colonels to their first NCAA FCS Playoff berth since 2014 and a share of the 2022 ASUN regular-season championship. EKU defeated Bowling Green, 59-57, in seven overtimes, which tied the record for second-longest game in Division I football history, and was the Colonels first win over an FBS team in eight seasons. EKU finished 2022 ranked second in the FCS in punt re- turns and third in passing offense. Walt Wells Players to Watch #18 n R-Senior n QB Parker M c KINNEY Ryan JACKSON #97 n Junior n DL EASTERN KENTUCKY Game Sponsor104 @UKFootball Akron Zips September 16 n 7:30 p.m. n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Players to Watch #7 n Junior n WR Alex ADAMS Nate THOMPSON #16 n R-Senior n DB 2023 Schedule @Temple September 2 Morgan State September 9 @Kentucky September 16 @Indiana September 23 Buffalo September 30 Northern Illinois October 7 @Central Michigan October 14 @Bowling Green October 21 Kent State November 1 @Miami (Ohio) November 8 @Eastern Michigan November 14 Ohio November 24 An inspirational leader of student-ath- letes and one of the most ingenious offen- sive minds in football, Joe Moorhead enters his second season as head coach at Akron. Moorhead had served as a member of the Zips coaching staff from 2004-08, including its offensive coordinator from 2006-08. He has served as play caller for five programs that have won conference championships (Oregon, Penn State, Fordham, Connecticut and Akron). Joe Moorhead 104 @UKFootball Quick Facts Location: Akron, Ohio Head Coach: Joe Moorhead (Fordham, ‘96) Stadium: InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (30,000) Last Meeting with UK: 9/18/10 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky 47, Akron 10 2022 Record: 2-10 Overall; 1-7 Mid-American Base Offense/Defense: Pro-Style/4-3 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 8/3 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/6 AKRON Game SponsorVanderbilt Commodores September 23 n TBA n Nashville, Tenn. n FirstBank Stadium @UKSportsNetwork 105 2023 Schedule Quick Facts Location: Nashville, Tenn. Head Coach: Clark Lea (Vanderbilt, ‘04) Stadium: FirstBank Stadium Last Meeting with UK: 11/12/22 in Lexington, Ky. Vanderbilt 24, Kentucky 21 2022 Record: 5-7 Overall; 2-6 SEC Base Offense/Defense: Pro Style/4-3 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 9/2 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 Entering his third season at his alma mater, Clark Lea's Commodores saw con- tinued development last season. In 2022, VU doubled its win total from the season prior and won multiple SEC games for the first time since 2018. Off the gridiron, the Commodores achieved in the classroom earning the Academic Achievement Award from the American Football Coaches Association for its 100 percent graduation rate. Clark Lea Players to Watch #14 n Senior n WR Will SHEPPARD Jaylen MAHONEY #23 n Graduate n S Hawai'i August 26 Alabama A&M September 2 @Wake Forest September 9 @UNLV September 16 Kentucky September 23 Missouri September 30 @Florida October 7 Georgia October 14 @Ole Miss October 28 Auburn November 4 @South Carolina November 11 @Tennessee November 25 VANDERBILT106 @UKFootball Florida Gators September 30 n TBA n Lexington, Ky. n Kroger Field Players to Watch #2 n Junior n RB Montrell JOHNSON JR. Princely UMANMIELEN #33 n Junior n Edge 2023 Schedule @Utah August 31 McNeese State September 9 Tennessee September 16 Charlotte September 23 @Kentucky September 30 Vanderbilt October 7 @South Carolina October 14 Georgia (Jacksonville, Fla.) October 28 Arkansas November 4 @LSU November 11 @Missouri November 18 Florida State November 25 TM Billy Napier enters his second season with the Gators in 2023. During his first year at Florida, Napier established a new culture that emphasizes teamwork, toughness and discipline, set- ting a sturdy foundation for the future of Florida football. In 2022, Florida finished the regular season as the third-most productive of- fense in the nation and best in the SEC in yards per carry (5.84). Billy Napier 106 @UKFootball Quick Facts Location: Gainesville, Fla. Head Coach: Billy Napier (Furman, ‘02) Stadium: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548) Last Meeting with UK: 9/10/22 in Gainesville, Fla. Kentucky 26, Florida 16 2022 Record: 6-7 Overall; 3-5 SEC Base Offense/Defense: Spread/3-4 Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/7 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 5/7 FLORIDA Photo by: Jordan McKendrick Photo by: Brieanna Andrews Photo by: Courtney Culbreath Game SponsorGeorgia Bulldogs October 7 n TBA n Athens, Ga. n Sanford Stadium @UKSportsNetwork 107 2023 Schedule Quick Facts Location: Athens, Ga. Head Coach: Kirby Smart (Georgia, ‘98) Stadium: Sanford Stadium (92,746) Last Meeting with UK: 11/19/22 in Lexington, Ky. #1 Georgia 16, Kentucky 6 2022 Record: 15-0 Overall; 8-0 SEC 2022 Final Rankings: 1 CFP/1 AP/ 1 USA Today Base Offense/Defense: Multiple/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Players to Watch #19 n Junior n TE Brock BOWERS Javon BULLARD #22 n Junior n DB UT Martin September 2 Ball State September 9 South Carolina September 16 UAB September 23 @Auburn September 30 Kentucky October 7 @Vanderbilt October 14 Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.) October 28 Missouri November 4 Ole Miss November 11 @Tennessee November 18 @Georgia Tech November 25 Back-to-back national College Football Championship titles (2021, '22), a 2017 CFP title game appearance, SEC Champi- onships in 2017 and 2022, five SEC Eastern Division titles and seven bowl victories are more than respectable awards over a sev- en-year period. That's what UGA got when it hired former Bulldog player Kirby Smart as head coach in 2015. Smart's Bulldogs enter the 2023 season having won 33 of their last 34 games. Kirby Smart GEORGIANext >