# 2012 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 2012 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team, led by third-year head coach Joker Phillips, played their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, US, and compete in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). On November 4, 2012, Kentucky Athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced that the university would not retain Phillips as head coach after the season.

## 2012 signing class

24 recruits signed letters of intent to Kentucky for the 2012 season.
US college sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Daron Blaylock LB | Marietta, Georgia | Walton | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 218 lb (99 kg) | 4.5 | Jun 5, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Shawn Blaylock DB | Stone Mountain, Georgia | Stephenson | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.5 | Jun 2, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 45 |||||||
| Zack Blaylock DB | Marietta, Georgia | Walton | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | N/A | Jun 5, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Thomas Chapman DT | Louisville, Kentucky | DuPont Manual | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Feb 26, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Landon Foster K | Franklin, Tennessee | Independence | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Aug 2, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Patrick Graffree DT | Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Central Hardin | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | N/A | Jun 13, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| J.D. Harmon WR | Paducah, Kentucky | Paducah Tilghman | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | N/A | Jan 22, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 45 |||||||
| Josh Harris LB | Maysville, Kentucky | Mason County | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | N/A | Feb 26, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Khalid Henderson LB | Austell, Georgia | Pebblebrook | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | N/A | Jan 30, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 80 |||||||
| T.J. Jones OT | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Myrtle Beach | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Aug 2, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| A.J. Legree DB | Fort White, Florida | Ft White | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | N/A | Dec 20, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Dy'Shawn Mobley RB | Powell, Tennessee | Powell | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 4.55 | Nov 21, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 74 |||||||
| Zach Myers OG | Miamisburg, Ohio | Miamisburg | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | N/A | Jun 30, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Langston Newton DE | Carmel, Indiana | Carmel | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | N/A | Aug 4, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Cody Quinn DB | Middletown, Ohio | Middletown | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | N/A | Jan 14, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Jonathan Reed DB | Indianapolis, Indiana | Pike | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.4 | Jun 8, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Daniel Ross DE | Louisville, Kentucky | Jeffersontown | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 255 lb (116 kg) | N/A | Aug 1, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| DeMarcus Sweat WR | Stone Mountain, Georgia | Stephenson | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 4.4 | May 29, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Jordan Swindle OT | Jacksonville, Florida | Creekside | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 303 lb (137 kg) | N/A | Aug 16, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Justin Taylor RB | Atlanta, Georgia | Washington | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | 4.5 | Feb 2, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Kadeem Thomas LB | Tallahassee, Florida | Godby | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | 4.7 | Sep 25, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Fred Tiller DB | Homerville, Georgia | Clinch County | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.5 | Sep 20, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Jon Toth OT | Indianapolis, Indiana | Brebeuf Jesuit Prep | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Jul 6, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Patrick Towles QB | Ft. Thomas, Kentucky | Highlands | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 232 lb (105 kg) | 4.7 | Apr 1, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Jordan Watson OG | Fayetteville, Georgia | Whitewater | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | N/A | Jul 5, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Jalen Whitlow ATH | Prattville, Alabama | Prattville | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | N/A | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Kentucky 2012 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012. "2012 Kentucky Football Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012. "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012. |||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 3:30 pm | at No. 25 Louisville* | Papa John's Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY (Governor's Cup) | ESPN | L 14–32 | 55,386 |
| September 8 | 7:30 pm | Kent State* | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | CSS | W 47–14 | 48,346 |
| September 15 | 7:00 pm | Western Kentucky* | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | ESPNU | L 31–32 $^{OT}$ | 53,980 |
| September 22 | 12:21 pm | at No. 14 Florida | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) | SECN | L 0–38 | 87,102 |
| September 29 | 7:00 pm | No. 6 South Carolina | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | ESPN2 | L 17–38 | 49,810 |
| October 6 | 12:21 pm | No. 20 Mississippi State | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | SECN | L 14–27 | 49,498 |
| October 13 | 7:00 pm | at Arkansas | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR | SECRN | L 7–49 | 67,153 |
| October 20 | 7:00 pm | No. 13 Georgia | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | SECRN | L 24–29 | 54,553 |
| October 27 | 12:00 pm | at Missouri | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | ESPNU | L 10–33 | 67,853 |
| November 3 | 12:00 pm | Vanderbilt | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY (rivalry) | ESPNU | L 0–40 | 44,902 |
| November 17 | 7:30 pm | Samford* | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | CSS | W 34–3 | 46,749 |
| November 24 | 12:21 pm | at Tennessee | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (Battle for the Barrel) | SECN | L 17–37 | 81,841 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Personnel
### Depth chart

Defense :
* FS
* 31 Benton
* 28 Dixon
| Strongside | Middle | Weakside | SLB |
| 94 Wyndham | 40 Williamson | 2 Dupree | ⋅ |
| 2 Dupree | 45 Thomas | 22 Henderson | ⋅ |
* SS
* 5 Lowery
* 7 Blaylock
* CB
* 1 Neloms
* 15 Harmon
| DE | NT | DE |
| 96 Ukwu | 97 Cobble | 99 Rumph |
| 91 Huguenin | 51 Johnson | 50 Douglas |
* CB
* 16 Quinn
* 35 Rice
Offense :
* WR
* 16 King
* 6 Legree
* WR
* 85 McCaskill
* 23 Collins
| LT | LG | C | RG | RT |
| 77 Miller | 75 West | 69 Smith | 67 Warford | 79 Mitchell |
| 70 Swindle | 76 Eatmon-Nared | 64 Godby | 71 Gruenschlaeger | 74 Woods |
* TE
* 80 Shields
* 89 T. Robinson
* WR
* 9 Robinson
* 83 Sweat
* QB
* 13 Whitlow
* 14 Towles
* RB
* 4 Sanders
* 25 George
* Special teams
* PK 93 McIntosh
* PK 88 Mansour
* P 9 Foster
* P 42 Wilmott
* KR 9 Robinson
* PR 23 Collins
* LS 59 Mason
* H 12 Newton

### Starters per game

Offense
| | QB | RB | WR | WR | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | OG | OT |
| Louisville | Smith | Williams | King | Collins | Fields | Shields | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Kent State | Smith | Sanders | King | Collins | Boyd | Shields | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Western Kentucky | Smith | Williams | King | McCaskill | Boyd | Shields | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Florida | Newton | George | King | Collins | Boyd | George | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| South Carolina | Smith | Sanders | King | Collins | D. Robinson | Shields | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Mississippi State | Whitlow | George | King | McCaskill | D. Robinson | Fields | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Arkansas | Whitlow | George | King | Collins | D. Robinson | Fields | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Georgia | Whitlow | George | King | Warren | Boyd | T. Robinson | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Missouri | Whitlow | George | King | Ligon | D. Robinson | T. Robinson | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Vanderbilt | Whitlow | George | Fields | McCaskill | Boyd | Ligon | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Samford | Whitlow | George | King | McCaskill | Boyd | Warren | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
| Tennessee | Whitlow | Sanders | King | Boyd | McCaskill | T. Robinson | Miller | West | Smith | Warford | Mitchell |
Defense
| | DE | DT | DT/DE | DE/LB | LB | LB | LB/DB | DB | DB/S | S | S |
| Louisville | Ukwu | Cobble | Rumph | Dupree | Williamson | Brause | Simpson | Neloms | Rice | Benton | Lowery |
| Kent State | Ukwu | Cobble | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Neloms | Rice | Benton | Lowery |
| Western Kentucky | Ukwu | Cobble | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Neloms | Rice | Benton | Lowery |
| Florida | Ukwu | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Neloms | Quinn | Benton | Lowery |
| South Carolina | Ukwu | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Rice | Quinn | Benton | Neloms |
| Mississippi State | Ukwu | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Lowery | Rice | Quinn | Benton | Neloms |
| Arkansas | Ukwu | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Rice | Quinn | Z. Blaylock | D. Blaylock |
| Georgia | Ukwu | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Rice | Quinn | Z. Blaylock | Lowery |
| Missouri | Ukwu | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Rice | Quinn | Z. Blaylock | Lowery |
| Vanderbilt | Ukwu | Johnson | Cobble | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Rice | Harmon | Neloms | Lowery |
| Samford | Ukwu | Johnson | Cobble | Wyndham | Williamson | Dupree | Simpson | Rice | Harmon | Neloms | Benton |
| Tennessee | Huguenin | Johnson | Rumph | Wyndham | | | | | | | |

### 2013 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2013 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40$^‡$ | Commit date |
| Alvonte Bell DE | Miramar, Florida | Everglades | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | N/A | Jun 5, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Javess Blue WR | Babson Park, Florida | Butler CC | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | N/A | Jan 13, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Ander Bodkin OT | Marianna, Florida | Marianna | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | N/A | Oct 2, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Steven Borden Jr. TE | Waxahachie, Texas | Kilgore College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 19, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 77 |||||||
| Justin Day OT | Aiken, South Carolina | South Aiken | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Jun 29, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 40 |||||||
| Darren Dowdell TE | Atlanta, Georgia | Grady | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | N/A | Mar 10, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Jacob Hyde DT | Manchester, Kentucky | Clay County | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) | N/A | Mar 1, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| Jaleel Hytchye DB | Cincinnati, Ohio | LaSalle | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | N/A | Jan 5, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 81 |||||||
| Austin MacGinnis K | Prattville, Alabama | Prattville | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | N/A | Jun 23, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Kyle Meadows OT | West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio | Lakota West | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Jan 12, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Ramsey Meyers OG | Jacksonville, Florida | Ridgeview | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) | N/A | Jun 23, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Blake McClain DB | Orlando, Florida | Winter Park | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | N/A | Jun 27, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 75 |||||||
| Lovell Peterson DT | Dayton, Ohio | Wayne | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 280 lb (130 kg) | N/A | Jan 11, 2013 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Reese Phillips QB | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Signal Mountain | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | N/A | Jun 6, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 69 |||||||
| Khalid Thomas RB | Tallahassee, Florida | Godby | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.5 | Aug 7, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 79 |||||||
| Za'Darius Smith DE | Scooba, Mississippi | East Mississippi CC | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | 4.5 | Dec 19, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 83 |||||||
| Nate Willis DB | Pahokee, Florida | Arizona Western College | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 4.4 | Jan 16, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 78 |||||||
| DeAngelo Yancey WR | Atlanta, Georgia | Mays | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | 4.5 | Jul 31, 2012 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 76 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Kentucky 2013 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012. "2013 Kentucky Football Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012. "2013 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012. |||||||