# 2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team (variously "Kentucky", "UK", or "Wildcats") represented the University of Kentucky in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the program's 123rd overall and 83rd as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fourth-year head coach Mark Stoops and the played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Division. They were invited to the TaxSlayer Bowl where they lost to Georgia Tech.

## Preseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Daron Blaylock | #7 | LB | 6'1" | 226 | Senior | Marietta, GA | Graduated |
| Zack Blaylock | #17 | DB | 6'0" | 193 | Junior | Marietta, GA | Graduated |
| Glenn Faulkner | #18 | DB | 6'2" | 201 | Junior | East St. Louis, IL | Graduated |
| Ryan Flannigan | #33 | LB | 6'2" | 225 | Senior | Missouri City, TX | Graduated |
| Josh Forrest | #45 | LB | 6'3" | 230 | Senior | Paducah, KY | Graduated |
| Jason Hatcher | #6 | DE | 6'3" | 247 | Junior | Louisville, KY | Transferred to West Georgia |
| Khalid Henderson | #22 | LB | 6'1" | 235 | Senior | Austell, GA | Graduated |
| Farrington Huguenin | #91 | DE | 6'4" | 271 | Senior | Columbia, SC | Graduated |
| Cory Johnson | #67 | DT | 6'3" | 300 | Senior | Columbia, SC | Graduated |
| Jabari Johnson | #47 | LB | 6'1" | 250 | Senior | Stone Mountain, GA | Graduated |
| Melvin Lewis | #90 | DT | 6'4" | 311 | Senior | Compton, CA | Graduated |
| Cody Quinn | #16 | DB | 5'11" | 185 | Senior | Middletown, OH | Graduated |
| A.J. Stamps | #1 | DB | 6'1" | 205 | Senior | Vicksburg, MS | Graduated |
| Jordan Swindle | #70 | OL | 6'7" | 304 | Senior | Jacksonville, FL | Graduated |
| Fred Tiller | #3 | DB | 6'0" | 196 | Senior | Homerville, GA | Graduated |
| Patrick Towles | #14 | QB | 6'3" | 235 | Junior | Fort Thomas, KY | Transferred to Boston College |
| Zach West | #67 | OL | 6'3" | 305 | Senior | Lexington, KY | Graduated |

### 2016 signing class

Prior to National Signing Day on February 3, 2016, five players enrolled for the spring semester in order to participate in spring practice and included four former high school seniors and one junior college transfer.
On National Signing Day, Kentucky signed an additional twenty players out of high school and junior college that completed the 2016 recruiting class. The class was highlighted by three Army All-American's as well as Kentucky's Mr. Football.
College recruiting information (2016) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight |
| Jaylin Bannerman #62 DE | Pickerington, OH | Pickerington Central High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jordan Bonner #4 LB (JUCO) | Lyndhurst, OH | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| T. J. Carter #57 DE | Mableton, GA | Whitefield Academy | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| JaQuize Cross #83 DT | New Market, AL | Buckhorn High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 310 lb (140 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kash Daniel #11 LB | Paintsville, KY | Paintsville High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 227 lb (103 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Luke Fortner #117 OT | Sylvania, OH | Sylvania Northview High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 278 lb (126 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Tobias Gilliam #69 DB | Dayton, OH | Wayne High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jordan Griffin #37 DB | Jonesboro, GA | Jonesboro High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Gunnar Hoak #40 QB | Dublin, OH | Dublin Coffman High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Dakota Holtzclaw #42 TE | Columbus, OH | Worthington Kilbourne High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Zy'Aire Hughes #52 ATH | Paducah, KY | McCracken County High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Drake Jackson #2 C | Versailles, KY | Woodford County High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Stephen Johnson #5 QB (JUCO) | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | College of the Desert | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Tate Leavitt #5 OT (JUCO) | Thornville, OH | Hutchinson Community College | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kordell Looney #57 DT | Springfield, OH | Springfield High School | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Grant McKinniss #5 P/K | Findlay, OH | Findlay High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Naquez Pringle #28 DT (JUCO) | Georgetown, SC | Itawamba Community College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 330 lb (150 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Justin Rigg #64 TE | Springboro, OH | Springboro High School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Davonte Robinson #92 DB | Lexington, KY | Henry Clay High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| A. J. Rose #80 RB | Cleveland, OH | Garfield Heights High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Kayaune Ross #18 WR (JUCO) | West Chester, OH | Phoenix College | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Benny Snell #56 RB | Westerville, OH | Westerville Central High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Roland Walder #36 LB | Dayton, OH | Trotwood-Madison High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Jamar Watson #112 LB | District Heights, MD | Bishop McNamara High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Landon Young #6 OT | Lexington, KY | Lafayette High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| 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: "2016 Kentucky Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 3, 2016. "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 3, 2016. "2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 3, 2016. |||||||

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops enters his fourth season as the Wildcat's head coach for the 2016 season. During his previous three seasons he led the Wildcats to an overall record of 12 wins and 24 losses.
On December 18, 2015, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson announced he would not return to the program for the 2016 season as the offensive coordinator. In his place Kentucky hired Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran as the assistant head coach of offense at Kentucky. Cincinnati quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw has also joined the UK staff as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator.
| Name | Position | Consecutive season at Kentucky in current position |
| Mark Stoops | Head coach | 3rd |
| Eddie Gran | Offensive coordinator, Running backs | 1st |
| D. J. Eliot | Defensive coordinator | 3rd |
| Steve Clinkscale | Defensive backs | 1st |
| Jimmy Brumbaugh | Defensive line | 3rd |
| Lamar Thomas | Wide receivers | 1st |
| Vince Marrow | Tight ends, recruiting coordinator | 3rd |
| John Schlarman | Offensive line | 3rd |
| Darin Hinshaw | Quarterbacks | 1st |
| Matt House | Special teams coordinator, inside linebackers | 1st |
| Corey Edmond | Strength and conditioning | 1st |
| Reference: |||

### Roster
## Schedule

Kentucky announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Wildcats will host SEC foes Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt, and will travel to Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee.
The team will host three out of four of its non–conference games which are against Austin Peay from the Ohio Valley Conference, New Mexico State Aggies from the Sun Belt Conference, Louisville from the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Southern Miss Golden Eagles from Conference USA.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Southern Miss* | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | ESPNU | L 35–44 | 57,230 |
| September 10 | 3:30 p.m. | at Florida | Ben Hill Griffin StadiumGainesville, FL (rivalry) | CBS | L 7–45 | 85,821 |
| September 17 | 4:00 p.m. | New Mexico State* | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | SECN | W 62–42 | 49,669 |
| September 24 | 7:30 p.m. | South Carolina | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | SECN | W 17–10 | 51,702 |
| October 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Alabama | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL | ESPN | L 6–34 | 101,821 |
| October 8 | 4:00 p.m. | Vanderbilt † | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY (rivalry) | SECN | W 20–13 | 55,030 |
| October 22 | 7:30 p.m. | Mississippi State | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY (SEC Nation) | SECN | W 40–38 | 50,414 |
| October 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Missouri | Faurot FieldColumbia, MO | SECN | W 35–21 | 50,234 |
| November 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Georgia | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | SECN | L 24–27 | 62,507 |
| November 12 | 12:00 p.m. | at Tennessee | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | L 36–49 | 101,075 |
| November 19 | 4:30 p.m. | Austin Peay* | Commonwealth StadiumLexington, KY | SECN | W 49–13 | 48,948 |
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Louisville* | Papa John's Cardinal StadiumLouisville, KY (Governor's Cup) | ESPN | W 41–38 | 54,075 |
| December 31 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. Georgia Tech* | EverBank FieldJacksonville, FL (TaxSlayer Bowl) | ESPN | L 18–33 | 43,102 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Southern Mississippi

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 44 |
| Wildcats | 21 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 3, 2016
* Game time: 7:32 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind ENE 7 mph (11 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 57,230
* Referee: Ken Antee
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Ahmad Brooks (analyst)
* Game Recap

### Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Gators | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
* Date: September 10, 2016
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 85,821
* TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst)

### New Mexico State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
| Wildcats | 14 | 21 | 14 | 13 | 62 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 17, 2016
* Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 49,669
* TV: SEC Network

### South Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Gamecocks | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: September 24, 2016
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 51,702
* TV: SEC Network

### Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| #1 Crimson Tide | 3 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 34 |
at Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
* Date: October 1, 2016
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 101,821
* TV: ESPN

### Vanderbilt

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Commodores | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: October 8, 2016
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 55,030
* TV: SEC Network

### Mississippi State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 6 | 21 | 13 | 40 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: October 22, 2016
* Game time: 7:30pm EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 50,414
* TV: SEC Network

### Missouri

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Tigers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
* Date: October 29, 2016
* Game time: 12:00 NOON EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 50,234
* TV: SEC Network

### Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 27 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: November 5, 2016
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 62,507
* TV: SEC Network

### Tennessee

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 10 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 36 |
| Volunteers | 14 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
* Date: November 12, 2016
* Game time: 12:00 NOON EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 101,075
* TV: SEC Network

### Austin Peay

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Governors | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 21 | 21 | 7 | 49 |
at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky
* Date: November 19, 2016
* Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
* Game attendance: 48,948
* TV: SEC Network

### Louisville

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 14 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 41 |
| #11 Cardinals | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky
* Date: November 26, 2016
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick (play-by-play), Ed Cunningham (color), Dr. Jerry Punch (sideline)
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(12:57) LOU TD: Lamar Jackson 19-yard rush (Blanton Creque PAT).
(12:39) UK TD: Stephen Johnson 75-yard pass to Garrett Johnson (Austin MacGinnis PAT).
(4:07) UK TD: Stanley Williams 36-yard rush (Austin MacGinnis PAT).
Second Quarter
(14:54) LOU TD: Lamar Jackson 18-yard pass to Reggie Bonnafon (Blanton Creque PAT).
(8:13) LOU FG: Blanton Creque 19-yard field goal.
(3:09) LOU TD: Lamar Jackson 24-yard pass to Cole Hikutini (Blanton Creque PAT).
(2:13) UK TD: Stephen Johnson 63-yard pass to Garrett Johnson (Austin MacGinnis PAT).
Third Quarter
(10:58) UK TD: Benny Snell 18-yard rush (Austin MacGinnis PAT).
(9:19) LOU TD: Jeremy Smith 3-yard rush (Blanton Creque PAT).
(2:43) UK FG: Austin MacGinnis 35-yard field goal.
Fourth Quarter
(14:19) UK TD: Stephen Johnson 35-yard pass to Dorian Baker (Austin MacGinnis PAT).
(7:44) LOU TD: Lamar Jackson 1-yard rush (Blanton Creque PAT).
(0:12) UK FG: Austin MacGinnis 47-yard field goal.
Top Passers
UK – Stephen Johnson: 16/27, 338 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
LOU – Lamar Jackson: 16/25, 281 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Top Rushers
UK – Stephen Johnson: 8 att, 83 yds
LOU – Lamar Jackson: 25 att, 171 yds, 2 TD
Top Receiving
UK – Garrett Johnson: 5 rec, 164 yds, 2 TD
LOU – Cole Hikutini: 7 rec, 100 yds, 1 TD :

### Georgia Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Yellow Jackets | 10 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 33 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 18 |
at EverBank Field • Jacksonville, Florida
* Date: December 31, 2016
* Game time: 11:00 a.m. EST
* TV: ESPN
* Source: