# 2018 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 2018 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by sixth-year head coach Mark Stoops.
The season was one of the most successful in Kentucky's history. In Kentucky's second game of the season, the team ended the then-longest current losing streak in an uninterrupted series in FBS when they defeated Florida for the first time since 1986, and the first time in Gainesville since 1979, ending a losing streak of 31 games. Two weeks later, the Wildcats upset No. 14 Mississippi State, and entered the AP Poll for the first time since 2007. Kentucky ended the regular season tied for second in the SEC East Division with a conference record of 5–3. They were invited to the Citrus Bowl, where they defeated No. 13 Penn State, their first bowl win since 2008. Kentucky ended the season with a record of 10–3 and were ranked 12th in the final AP Poll, the most wins and highest poll finish for the program since 1977.
The team's highly touted defense was anchored by unanimous All-American linebacker Josh Allen, who was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and led the conference in sacks and tackles for loss. Allen won several national awards for defensive excellence, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Lott Trophy; he became the first Kentucky player to receive any of these awards. On offense, the team was led by first-team All-SEC running back Benny Snell, who finished second in the conference in rushing with 1,449 yards and 16 touchdowns. Offensive lineman Bunchy Stallings was also named first-team all-conference. Quarterback Terry Wilson led the team in passing, finishing with 1,889 yards and 11 touchdowns. Head coach Mark Stoops was named SEC Coach of the Year.

## Offseason
### Spring game

The spring game took place on April 13 at Kroger Field.
| Date | Time | Spring Game | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| April 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Blue vs. White | Kroger Field • Lexington, KY | SECN | Blue 45, White 32 | 36,090 |

### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Drew Barker | #7 | QB | 6'3" | 222 | Junior | Orlando, FL | Retired |
| Stephen Johnson | #15 | QB | 6'2" | 195 | Senior | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Graduated |
| Blake Bone | #6 | WR | 6'5" | 213 | Senior | Woodruff, South Carolina | Graduated |
| Garrett Johnson | #9 | WR | 5'11" | 175 | Senior | Winter Park, Florida | Graduated |
| Kayaune Ross | #19 | WR | 6'6" | 225 | Senior | West Chester, Ohio | Graduated |
| Charles Walker | #88 | WR | 5'11" | 203 | Senior | Louisville, Kentucky | Graduated |
| Greg Hart | #85 | TE | 6'5" | 245 | Senior | Dayton, Ohio | Graduated |
| Kyle Meadows | #73 | OT | 6'5" | 300 | Senior | West Chester, Ohio | Graduated |
| Nick Haynes | #68 | OG | 6'3" | 300 | Senior | Niceville, Florida | Graduated |
| Matt Elam | #69 | DT | 6'7" | 360 | Senior | Elizabethtown, Kentucky | Graduated |
| Jacob Hyde | #36 | DT | 6'2" | 320 | Senior | Manchester, Kentucky | Graduated |
| Naquez Pringle | #77 | DT | 6'3" | 320 | Senior | Georgetown, South Carolina | Graduated |
| Denzil Ware | #35 | DE | 6'2" | 240 | Junior | Opp, Alabama | Transferred to Jacksonville State |
| Eli Brown | #32 | LB | 6'2" | 208 | Sophomore | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Transferred to Western Kentucky |
| Bryant Koback | #24 | RB | 6'0" | 200 | Freshman | Holland, Ohio | Transferred to Toledo |
| Courtney Love | #51 | LB | 6'2" | 245 | Senior | Youngstown, Ohio | Graduated |
| Kendall Randolph | #5 | DB | 6'0" | 183 | Senior | Tallahassee, Florida | Graduated |
| Marcus Walker | #16 | DB | 6'1" | 208 | Junior | Lake Wales, Florida | Kicked off team |
| Austin MacGinnis | #99 | K | 5'10" | 172 | Senior | Wedowee, Alabama | Graduated |

### 2018 signing class

The 2018 football recruiting cycle was the first in which the NCAA authorized two signing periods for high school seniors in that sport. In addition to the traditional spring period starting with National Signing Day on February 7, 2018, a new early signing period was introduced, with the first such period falling from December 20–22, 2017.
Notably, the Wildcats did not sign a single in-state player in their 2018 class—the first time this had happened since 1940.
US college sports recruiting information for 2018 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Marvin Alexander #110 WR | Hollywood, FL | Chaminade-Madonna Prep | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Feb 21, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Brenden Bates #25 TE | Cincinnati, OH | Moeller High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) | Mar 10, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jamari Brown #74 CB | Pompano Beach, FL | Blanche Ely High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Aug 17, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Allen Dailey #111 WR | Pinson, AL | Pinson Valley High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jan 21, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Stanley Garner #46 DB | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Dillard High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Aug 16, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Davoan Hawkins #37 DE | Hollywood, FL | Chaminade-Madonna Prep | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Feb 21, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Akeem Hayes #82 ATH | Hollywood, FL | Chaminade-Madonna Prep | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jun 20, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kenneth Horsey #53 OG | Sanford, FL | Seminole High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 326 lb (148 kg) | Dec 12, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Darian Kinnard #22 OT | Cleveland, OH | St. Ignatius High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Apr 30, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Nick Lewis #70 OT | Jacksonville, FL | Bolles School | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 350 lb (160 kg) | Jan 22, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Jerquavion Mahone #69 DT | Manchester, GA | Manchester High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 299 lb (136 kg) | Dec 12, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Marquan McCall #6 OG | Oak Park, MI | Oak Park | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 320 lb (150 kg) | May 8, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Christopher Oats #22 LB | Cincinnati, OH | Winton Woods High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Feb 7, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Bryce Oliver #162 WR | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Dillard High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Dec 20, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. #64 RB | McDonough, Georgia | Ola High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jul 30, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Kavosiey Smoke #55 RB | Wetumpka, AL | Wetumpka High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Feb 7, 2018 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| DeAndre Square #37 S | Detroit, MI | Cass Technical High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jun 16, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Keaton Upshaw #34 TE | Lima, OH | Lima Senior High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jul 1, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Terry Wilson #3 QB (JUCO) | Oklahoma City, OK | Garden City Community College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Dec 10, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Quintin Wilson #12 C | Cincinnati, OH | Turpin High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | May 14, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| Domonique Williams #20 CB (JUCO) | Knoxville, TN | Highland Community College | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Jun 15, 2017 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: |||||||
| 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: "2018 Kentucky Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 1, 2017. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 1, 2017. "2018 Kentucky Wildcats football team". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 1, 2017. |||||||

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| Lott Trophy | Josh Allen | LB | SR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Josh Allen | LB | SR |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Mike Edwards | S | SR |
| Maxwell Award | Benny Snell | RB | JR |
| Doak Walker Award | Benny Snell | RB | JR |
| John Mackey Award | C. J. Conrad | TE | SR |
| Butkus Award | Josh Allen | LB | JR |
| Jim Thorpe Award | Mike Edwards | S | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Mike Edwards | S | SR |
| Paul Hornung Award | Lynn Bowden | WR/KR | SO |
| Wuerffel Trophy | C. J. Conrad | TE | SR |
| Walter Camp Award | Benny Snell | RB | JR |

### SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Wildcats predicted to finish in fifth place in the East Division.
Media poll (East) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Georgia | 1,977 (271) |
| 2 | South Carolina | 1,535 (8) |
| 3 | Florida | 1,441 (2) |
| 4 | Missouri | 1,057 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 874 (1) |
| 6 | Tennessee | 704 (1) |
| 7 | Vanderbilt | 392 |

### Preseason All-SEC teams

The Wildcats had four players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 3:30 p.m. | Central Michigan* | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | ESPNU | W 35–20 | 49,138 |
| September 8 | 7:30 p.m. | at No. 25 Florida | | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) | SECN | W 27–16 | 80,651 |
| September 15 | 12:00 p.m. | Murray State* | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | W 48–10 | 48,217 |
| September 22 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 14 Mississippi State | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | ESPN2 | W 28–7 | 60,037 |
| September 29 | 7:30 p.m. | South Carolina | No. 17 | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | W 24–10 | 63,081 |
| October 6 | 7:00 p.m. | at Texas A&M | No. 13 | Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX | ESPN | L 14–20 $^{OT}$ | 99,829 |
| October 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Vanderbilt | No. 14 | Kroger FieldLexington, KY (rivalry) | SECN | W 14–7 | 54,269 |
| October 27 | 4:00 p.m. | at Missouri | No. 12 | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | SECN | W 15–14 | 53,397 |
| November 3 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 6 Georgia | No. 9 | Kroger FieldLexington, KY (SEC Nation) | CBS | L 17–34 | 63,543 |
| November 10 | 3:30 p.m. | at Tennessee | No. 11 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | L 7–24 | 95,258 |
| November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Middle Tennessee* | No. 17 | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | W 34–23 | 47,535 |
| November 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisville* | No. 15 | Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY (Governor's Cup) | ESPN2 | W 56–10 | 49,988 |
| January 1, 2019 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 12 Penn State* | No. 14 | Camping World StadiumOrlando, FL (Citrus Bowl / SEC Nation) | ABC | W 27–24 | 59,167 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops enters his sixth season as the Wildcat's head coach for the 2018 season. During his previous five seasons he led the Wildcats to an overall record of 26 wins and 36 losses.
| Name | Position | Consecutive season at Kentucky in current position |
| Mark Stoops | Head coach | 6th |
| Eddie Gran | Offensive coordinator | 3rd |
| Darin Hinshaw | Co-Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks | 3rd |
| Matt House | Defensive coordinator, Inside Linebackers | 2nd |
| Michael Smith | Wide receivers | 1st |
| Vince Marrow | Tight ends, recruiting coordinator | 6th |
| John Schlarman | Offensive line | 6th |
| Derrick LeBlanc | Defensive line | 2nd |
| Steve Clinkscale | Defensive backs | 3rd |
| Dean Hood | Special teams, outside linebackers | 2nd |
| Corey Edmond | Director of performance | 2nd |
| Reference: ||||

### Roster
## Game summaries
### Central Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chippewas | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 1, 2018
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 49,138
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst)

### At No. 25 Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 27 |
| No. 25 Gators | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
* Date: September 8, 2018
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: ESE at 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h) • Weather: 81% humidity, partly cloudy
* Game attendance: 80,651
* Referee: David Smith
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)
This was Kentucky's first win over Florida since 1986.

### Murray State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Racers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 48 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 15, 2018
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 48,217
* TV announcers (SECN): Mike Morgan (play-by-play), John Congemi (analyst), Taylor Gray (sideline reporter)

### No. 14 Mississippi State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 22, 2018
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 60,037
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (analyst), Rocky Boiman (sideline reporter)

### South Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 17 Wildcats | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 29, 2018
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 63,081
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)

### At Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| No. 13 Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Aggies | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
* Date: October 6, 2018
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 99,829
* TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter)

### Vanderbilt

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Commodores | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 14 Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: October 20, 2018
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 54,269
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)

### At Missouri

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 15 |
| Tigers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
* Date: October 27, 2018
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 53,397
* TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline reporter)

### No. 6 Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
| No. 9 Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: November 3, 2018
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (CBS): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Rick Neuheisel (co-analyst), Aaron Taylor (co-analyst), John Schriffen (sideline reporter)

### At Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Volunteers | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 10, 2018
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST

### Middle Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Raiders | 0 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 23 |
| No. 17 Wildcats | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: November 17, 2018
* Game time: Noon EST
* Game attendance: 47,535
* TV: SECN Alternate

### At Louisville

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 15 Wildcats | 14 | 21 | 0 | 21 | 56 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky
* Date: November 24, 2018
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* TV: ESPN2

### Vs. Penn State (Citrus Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 14 Wildcats | 10 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 27 |
| No. 12 Nittany Lions | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
* Date: January 1, 2019
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* TV: ABC

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | — | RV | RV | 17 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 12 |
| Coaches | RV | RV | RV | RV | 17 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 11 |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 9 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | Not released |

## Players drafted into the NFL

Kentucky had five players selected in the 2019 NFL draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
| 1 | 7 | Josh Allen | LB | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 2 | 54 | Lonnie Johnson Jr. | CB | Houston Texans |
| 3 | 99 | Mike Edwards | S | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 4 | 122 | Benny Snell | RB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 7 | 232 | George Asafo-Adjei | OG | New York Giants |