Kentucky officially kickoff the 2022 season Saturday night under the lights in Lexington. There were a few bumps in the road, however, the Wildcats were able to right the ship after a rough start to begin the season with a win. Let’s take a look at a few key points regarding Kentucky’s win over Miami (OH).
The newcomers were as good as advertised
There was a lot of hype through the off-season regarding some of the newcomers coming in for the Wildcats this season. We heard rumblings throughout the spring and those rumors become quite apparent throughout fall camp that Mark Stoops was going to give some true freshman more run early on than we have seen throughout most of his tenure. In week one, many of these true freshmen were able to live up to the hype.
Barion Brown showed elite explosiveness in his debut. This was especially true when the former four-star recruit took a kick-off one hundred yards to the house to start the second half. Defensive back Alex Ajari was all over the field and looks to have a real nose for the ball from the nickel position. Wide receiver Dane Key made some huge catches when called upon, including a touchdown late in the game.
Defensive lineman Deone Walker showed glimpses of being a real disrupter in his debut, which included getting a sack. and freshman tight end Jordan Dingle looks like a future playmaker. Two transfers also looked like impact players. Beginning with transfer cornerback Kedron Smith who returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Then there was transfer wide receiver Tavion Robinson, who looked like a dynamic playmaker all throughout his debut in blue and white. The former Virginia Tech Hokie was consistent all night and made plays from scrimmage as well as a punt returner. Replacing Wan’Dale Robinson was a major concern for this staff during the off-season, however, the Wildcats look like they may have found their wide receiver one already as we go full steam into the 2022 season.
After a rocky start, the defense looks to once again be a team strength the Miami (OH) offense gave the Kentucky defense some trouble early on with their fast tempo and quick passing. The Redhawks were able to walk down the field to open up the game with dink and dunk passing as well as a nice blend of run calls to keep the defense honest. However, defensive coordinator Brad White made the proper adjustments and the Wildcats never looked back after that.
The linebackers looked like one of the best units in the SEC, led by seniors DeAndre Square and Jacquez Jones. They as well as the defensive backs looked like ball hawks flying around the field with their physical and instinctive play. By the second half, the pass rush was able to pin their ears back getting after the quarterback. The road will not get any easier from here, but this Wildcats defense looks like they will be able to hold their own against most anyone on their schedule.
The Offensive line looks to be a work in progress
Kentucky showed plenty to be hopeful for if you are a Wildcat fan. That being said, there are some areas of concern, with the most being the offensive line. There were moments throughout the game, especially early on, where quarterback Will Levis was running for his life. The pocket also had moments of collapsing that showed to be troublesome for the Wildcats offense. Of course, it is never easy replacing three starters, including two that are now playing in the NFL. This group is very talented, however, youth showed up early for the big blue wall, and you may see some shuffling and adjustments made as the season progresses. Expect to see more bootlegs and quick passing along with more of a commitment to the running game as the year moves on, especially when running back Chris Rodriguez returns to the lineup.
Conclusion
The Wildcats will go into Gainesville to face Florida in week two. The Redhawks of Miami (OH) were a solid test to open up the season, however, the Gators will provide an even tougher test for Kentucky, moving forward. That being said, If Mark Stoops and his crew can figure out the pass protection, the defense continues to progress, and the running game finds its stride, the Wildcats could be primed for another successful run in 2022.
Larry Spicer will produce a weekly column covering both the University of Kentucky Basketball and Football programs for the L4 Security 13th Region Media Network. He is a resident of Corbin, and is married with two daughters. He is a communications major at Eastern Kentucky University and has covered football from the NFL to College since 2017.
