Kentucky football’s week 1 depth chart signals competition remains at right tackle

UPDATED AUGUST 28, 2023 4:32 PM
As expected, Kentucky football’s most watched preseason battle will continue into the season.
Senior Jeremy Flax and junior Courtland Ford were listed as co-starters at right tackle on the week-one depth chart released Monday in advance of the Wildcats’ 2023 season opener vs. Ball State. That listing reflected recent comments from UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
“We may not know that for a little while here,” Coen said last week. “Those guys are in competition. It’s a competition I could see playing out through maybe even the first few games. We want to be able to have more depth, play more guys, get more guys involved. I think ultimately if somebody doesn’t fully emerge but even if they might fully emerge you still want to rotate.
“We still want to get some of those guys some good work in and try to get them chemistry with the different crews. But we’re going to need to do that. We’re going to need to play seven or eight guys at times. It’s just trying to get them as much chemistry with those groups as we can, but I don’t think that will sort itself out for a couple weeks here.”
Senior Jeremy Flax started 12 of 13 games at right tackle for Kentucky last season but is competing with USC transfer Courtland Ford to retain the starting job.
Senior Jeremy Flax started 12 of 13 games at right tackle for Kentucky last season but is competing with USC transfer Courtland Ford to retain the starting job. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
UK coaches also listed an “or” for the starting positions at tight end, nose guard, defensive end and free safety, signaling the intent to rotate heavily at those positions. There were four freshmen on the first two-deep depth chart of the season: wide receiver Anthony Brown-Stephens, tight end Khamari Anderson, strong safety Ty Bryant and snapper Walker Himebauch.
Here is the full week 1 depth chart, with jersey numbers, heights, weights and class.
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
▪ 13 Devin Leary (6-1, 217, SSr.).
▪ 12 Kaiya Sheron (6-3, 210, So.) OR 15 Destin Wade (6-3, 223, RFr.).
RUNNING BACK
▪ 1 Ray Davis (5-10, 216, SSr.).
▪ 4 JuTahn McClain (5-9, 198, Sr.) OR 0 Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (6-0, 210, Jr.) OR 26 Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210, SSr.).
WIDE RECEIVER (Z)
▪ 7 Barion Brown (6-1, 174, So.).
▪ 5 Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Fr.).
WIDE RECEIVER (F)
▪ 9 Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, SSr.).
▪ 18 Brandon White (5-9, 167, RFr.).
WIDE RECEIVER (X)
▪ 6 Dane Key (6-3, 195, So.).
▪ 3 Dekel Crowdus (5-10, 171, So.).
TIGHT END
▪ 80 Brenden Bates (6-4, 251, SSr.) OR 84 Josh Kattus (6-4, 231, So.).
▪ 82 Khamari Anderson (6-5, 238, Fr.).
TIGHT END/FB
▪ 85 Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, So.) OR 8 Izayah Cummings (6-3, 232, Sr.).
▪ 47 Justice Dingle (6-3, 261, SSr.).
LEFT TACKLE
▪ 75 Marques Cox (6-5, 311, SSr.).
▪ 73 Dylan Ray (6-6, 305, So.).
LEFT GUARD
▪ 68 Kenneth Horsey (6-3, 311, SSr.).
▪ 67 Paul Rodriguez (6-5, 324, Jr.).
CENTER
▪ 62 Jager Burton (6-4, 307, So.).
▪ 51 Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Sr.).
RIGHT GUARD
▪ 75 Eli Cox (6-4, 311, Sr.).
▪ 51 Tanner Bowles (6-5, 306, Sr.).
RIGHT TACKLE
▪ 77 Jeremy Flax (6-6, 325, Sr.) OR 74 Courtland Ford (6-6, 315, Jr.).
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
▪ 0 Deone Walker (6-6, 348, So.).
▪ 92 Saunders (6-5, 285, So.).
NOSE GUARD
▪ 97 Josaih Hayes (6-3, 317, Sr.) OR 9 Keeshawn Silver (6-4, 322, So.).
DEFENSIVE END
▪ 8 Octavious Oxendine (6-1, 276, Sr.) OR 90 Tre’vonn Rybka (6-4, 276, Jr.).
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
▪ 13 J.J. Weaver (6-5, 244, Sr.).
▪ 55 Noah Matthews (6-5, 237, RFr.) OR 42 Tyreese Fearbry (6-5, 233, RFr.).
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
▪ 54 D’Eryk Jackson (6-1, 245, Jr.).
▪ 17 Daveren Rayner (6-2, 217, Sr.).
WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER
▪ 32 Trevin Wallace (6-2, 241, Jr.).
▪ 44 Martez Thrower (6-2, 224, Jr.).
NICKEL BACK/STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER
▪ 3 Alex Afari (6-2, 214, So.) OR 20 Keaten Wade (6-5, 250, So.).
FIELD CORNERBACK
▪ 31 Maxwell Hairston (6-1, 181, So.).
▪ 6 JQ Hardaway (6-3, 194, So.).
STRONG SAFETY
▪ 11 Zion Childress (6-0, 201, Jr.) OR 4 Jalen Geiger (6-1, 199, Sr.).
FREE SAFETY
▪ 25 Jordan Lovett (6-2, 195, So.).
▪ 14 Ty Bryant (6-0, 187, Fr.).
BOUNDARY CORNERBACK
▪ 23 Andru Phillips (6-0, 187, Jr.).
▪ 28 Jordan Robinson (6-4, 208, So.).
SPECIALISTS
KICKER
▪ 16 Alex Raynor (6-0, 178, Sr.).
▪ 12 Chance Poore (6-2, 213, SSr.).
KICKOFF
▪ 12 Chance Poore (6-2, 213, SSr.).
▪ 16 Alex Raynor (6-0, 178, Sr.) OR 37 Michael Bernard (6-3, 205, Sr.).
PUNTER
▪ 93 Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, So.).
▪ 39 Jackson Smith (5-11, 204, RFr.).
LONG SNAPPER
▪ 46 Ron Gaines (6-5, 250, Sr.).
▪ 56 Walker Himebauch (6-0, 228, Fr.).
SHORT SNAPPER
▪ 56 Walker Himebauch (6-0, 228, Fr.).
▪ 46 Ron Gaines (6-5, 250, Sr.).
HOLDER
▪ 93 Wilson Berry (6-4, 213, So.).
▪ 12 Chance Poore (6-2, 213, SSr.).
KICKOFF RETURNER
▪ 7 Barion Brown (6-1, 174, So.).
▪ 5 Anthony Brown-Stephens (5-10, 168, Fr.).
PUNT RETURNER
▪ 9 Tayvion Robinson (5-11, 194, SSr.).
▪ 7 Barion Brown (6-1, 174, So.) OR 18 Brandon White (5-9, 167, RFr.).