PIGSKIN PREVIEW
The ghosts of Mark Stoops past are catching up to him
What's next: Gauntlet awaits Kentucky following bye week
Fans weigh in on the current state of Kentucky football
COLUMN: The ghosts of Mark Stoops' past are catching up to him
Jenna Lifshen sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky football Head Coach
Mark Stoops has spent the past 13 years redefining football in the Bluegrass, driving the Kentucky Wildcats to a level of success it had never reached before.
What was once known only as a “basketball school” began to gain respect for its football talent as well.
Stoops set a new standard in Lexington, Kentucky, turning hope into expectation and creating a reality where fans demand success on the field, not just the court.
Stoops’ two 10-win seasons in 2018 and 2021 took Kentucky to new heights, but the success is now a ghost that haunts him.
During that stretch, Kentucky competed and won in four straight bowl games, breaking numerous school records, earning awards and gaining recognition as one of the up-and-coming programs in the SEC.
In 2018, Kentucky delivered its first 10-win campaign since 1977, finishing 10-3, earning a Citrus Bowl win over Penn State, which led to Stoops' honor as the 2018 SEC Coach of the Year.
Three years later, Stoops did it again. With Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen calling plays and transfer quarterback Will Levis as the offensive anchor, Kentucky went 10–3, beat Iowa in the Citrus Bowl and showcased Wan’Dale Robinson as one of the most dynamic receivers in the SEC.
The 2021 season is now vaccinated due to NCAA rules violations.
That momentum continued in 2022, when a 4-0 start and a win at No. 12 Florida moved Kentucky to No. 7 in the AP Poll, its highest ranking since 1977.
However, what looked like the continuation of a golden era quickly ended.
After losing Coen to the NFL during the offseason, the offense never found rhythm, Levis battled injuries behind a shaky line and the explosive plays came to a near halt.
Kentucky fought its way back into the postseason, but was shut out 21–0 by Iowa in the Music City Bowl.
2023 started similarly to the previous year as Kentucky began a strong 5-0 to begin the season.
But the success faltered when the level of competition increased and Kentucky went 2-6 in the second half of the schedule.
Although the Wildcats pulled off an upset win over No. 9 Louisville in one of Stoops’ best wins as Kentucky’s head coach, the inability to win inconference play would continue to haunt him.
The following season would end as one of the most disappointing seasons of the Stoops era.
It wasn’t just the 4-8 record that stung, but the disappointment of knowing how far Stoops had taken the Cats only a few years prior.
Even Kentucky’s season highs would become added frustration.
An upset win over No. 6 Ole Miss would once again give Kentucky a glimmer of hope and had fans believing the Wildcats might turn the corner.
However, the glory didn’t last long, and the inconsistency prevailed.
Week after week, the offense continued to underperform despite landing No. 5 portal QB Brock Vandagriff.
The spark that once defined the program seemed gone, and Kroger Field’s stands grew emptier as fans grew more discouraged. Kentucky would end the season going 1-7 in conference play.
Although Kentucky has only played three games this season, it feels similar to last.
While the Wildcats can handle non-Power Five opponents, it was unable to find a victory at home against an SEC opponent in Ole Miss as the offense continues to search for both rhythm and a consistent starting quarterback.
Stoops changed Kentucky football forever, but now he faces the challenge of proving he can take the Wildcats back to the top.
For a program that has seen its potential, settling for mediocrity is no longer enough to satisfy Big Blue Nation – and Stoops is starting to feel the heat.
Kentucky Wildcats coach Mark Stoops questions a call during the football game vs. Toledo on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky.
PHOTO BY SYDNEY NOVACK | STAFF
ANALYSIS: Why it would take history to get rid of Mark Stoops
The status of Mark Stoops has been a hot topic as Kentucky football free falls. Regardless of which side you are on, change is unlikely at the helm of the program.
Kentucky had all the momentum in the world going into the 2022 season, where it landed in the AP Top 10 for the first time since 2007, but that season seemingly ended the upward trajectory where it stood.
The Wildcats finished 7-6 in 2022 before finishing 7-5 in 2023. Both seasons ended in bowl game losses to Iowa and Clemson respectively.
In November 2023, it appeared that Stoops was heading west to Texas A&M as his name was heavily linked to the opening fresh off of a 38-31 upset over No. 10 Louisville to end the
The Aggies were looking to replace Jimbo Fisher, who they gave the largest buyout in college sports history to at $77.6 million.
Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart could land Kentucky at second on that list if he decides Stoops’ time with Kentucky is over after this season or within the next few years.
The work during Stoops’ tenure is reflected in his contract as he is currently the No. 9 highest paid coach in the country at $9 million a year.
Not only is it a hefty amount annually, the contract was extended until 2031 after he stayed in Lexington, Kentucky in the November 2023.
After an eventful winter gave way to another fall in the Bluegrass, the heat really turned up on the head coach in 2024 after the Wildcats finished a dreadful 1-7 in conference play
That record was a fumble recovered by the defense away from having a zero in the conference
In the closing moments of Kentucky’s upset against then No. 6 Ole Miss, Gavin Wimsatt fumbled the ball at t happened to go into the hands of Josh Kattus for the game-winning
So far in 2025, things have continued to be shaky at best for Kentucky, who has one conference game under its belt, and it was a 30-23 loss at home against those same Rebels it
This 2025 SEC opener was a microcosm of the program over the last few years as Ole Miss might’ve won the game, but Kentucky defeated itself before the Rebels even had a chance to.
The shortcomings against Ole Miss made it eight straight losses in SEC play at home for Kentucky, as its last home conference win came against Florida in 2023.
Furthermore, Kentucky is 4-12 in conference play since 2022, which is tied for the 14th worst record in the SEC over the past two seasons.
What is alarming is that Stoops is not having trouble recruiting as Kentucky is finding itself in the top 10 recruiting classes season after season, but the results have not been there.
While Kentucky is not known for being in the mix for national championships, Stoops has elevated the program to new heights and new expectations where mediocrity has become unacceptable.
The lack of success has created debate on if Stoops’ time is up in Lexington, but all the debating could really just be wasted words and anguish.
This is due to the fact that Kentucky would owe Stoops around $40 million per his contract if they were to send him packing at the end of this season.
That number is also not going to shrink anytime soon as it goes down a measly $500,000 each season per Stoops’ contract.
The bottom line is that if the tailspin continues, don’t expect there to be a change at head coach because unless Stoops leaves on his own or Barnhart makes history, it’ll be the same man you’ve seen emerge from the tunnel for the past 13 seasons still leading Kentucky football.
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COLUMN: The good and bad of Kentucky football in 2025
Kentucky football has had its fair share of concerns through three games in the 2025 season, but there have been bright spots that have given Big Blue Nation a reason to be optimistic this year.
The early weeks have shown that Kentucky has a lot of positive pieces to rely on, especially up front on the offensive line and a dominant defense that can change the game's flow at any moment.
These improvements have not solved every issue, but they’ve shown last year’s struggles are not going to define the Wildcats this season.
One of the significant factors that led Kentucky to its unsuccessful 4-8 season in 2024 was the ‘Big Blue Wall’, which, at the time, was more of a short fence.
Luckily for the offense in 2025, the offensive line has come back better than ever.
Kentucky rebuilt the line through the transfer portal, recruiting several experienced linemen, including Joshua Braun, Shiyazh Pete and Alex Wollschlaeger.
While the Kentucky offense continues to find its groove and connections for scoring opportunities, the level of experience in the group has been a saving grace, giving Zach Calzada and Cutter Boley as much time as possible, or opening up holes that have allowed the run game to shine in the first few games.
In the season-opening win over Toledo, the line allowed zero sacks and committed no penalties, leading the way for 220 rushing yards at over 5 yards per carry.
Even in the SEC opener against Ole Miss, despite giving up three sacks, the line helped Seth McGowan rush for 93 yards and two touchdowns, keeping Kentucky in the game until the end.
The “Big Blue Wall” has taken a turn for the better, giving Kentucky the ability to reestablish its runfirst identity. If the passing game can catch up, this rebuilt front could be the foundation that keeps the Wildcats in close games against tough SEC opponents.
However, the real star of the show for Kentucky football this season has been the defense.
Defensive Coordinator Brad White has led a high-energy defense that has not only provided a sense of stability for the Wildcats, but it has consistently set up the offense with favorable field position, giving the team a chance to win even when points are hard to come by.
One of the biggest storylines early this season has been the performance of safety Ty Bryant as a playmaker.
The Lexington, Kentucky native has 21 total tackles through the first three games, highlighted by his two first-quarter interceptions against Ole Miss that helped Kentucky jump out to an early 10-0 lead.
Senior Alex Afari Jr. has continued his success at the linebacker role, his fourth season with the Wildcats making him one of the consistent anchors of the defense.
He currently leads the team with 18 solo tackles and 26 total tackles. With DJ Waller Jr. out with an injury and no idea on his return, Bryant and Afari Jr. have become leaders to a younger defense group.
The depth of the defense as a whole has excelled at getting off the field on third down and forcing opponents to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns.
Bryant and Afari Jr. are just two of the many ways Kentucky’s defense has kept the Wildcats within one or two-score games every week.
Kentucky has found success in turnovers at key moments, flipping momentum and setting up optimal field position for an offense that is still looking for its playmakers.
The Wildcats’ performance against Ole Miss shows that even against top SEC teams, the defense will find a way to keep the game within reach.
Jonathon Bruner sports@kykernel.com
Kentucky football is exactly where most expected them to be with a 2-1 record after three weeks of play, but problems have emerged that could make it another long season in Lexington, Kentucky.
In their lone SEC contest so far, Kentucky jumped out to a 10-0 lead that eventually disappeared, but it only faced a two-score deficit with just one minute left in the game.
However, even when Kentucky was up 10-0 to start the game, it felt like they were going to end up on the losing end when the game was over and that’s exactly how it ended.
Furthermore, this was reflected in the crowd because Kentucky got the ball three times just down a touchdown late in the third and fourth quarters, but the crowd would not reflect that as it was over 85% empty.
These types of games have become familiar for Kentucky football during the past few seasons where even the fans think the game is over when the score far from indicates that.
While the rushing game has thrived in 2025, the passing game has not been good at all this season.
Zach Calzada got out of the gates slow against Toledo as he only passed for 86 yards.
The seventh-year quarterback passed for 149 yards against Ole Miss before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Cutter Boley started against Eastern Michigan and put up the best passing performance of the season, which heavily balanced the offense, but it's unknown how this will translate into SEC play.
This has resulted in Kentucky having the lowest passing yards per game in the SEC at 170.7 yards.
Overall, the struggles have resulted in Kentucky being 12th in the SEC in both points scored per game with 31.7 points and overall yards at 385.3 per game.
Beyond the numbers, the Wildcats have been unable to have any quick drives this season, which just further proves that the offense can’t make big plays down the field that create sparks and brings the crowd to life.
In fact, the Wildcats gave up seven explosive plays to the Rebels.
One of the biggest problems is that these plays could have been prevented, but the Wildcats struggled mightily with tackling.
The biggest one of those explosive plays was on a fourth-and-1 that resulted in a 55-yard gain for the Rebels and resulted in a touchdown.
“I think that was a huge momentum changer in the game.
The guys were comfortable with the pace they were playing,” Defensive Coordinator Brad White said.
“They obviously had the two turnovers. We had a chance right there to get the ball back to the offense on the plus side again if you make that stop.”
These types of plays have resulted in the defense giving up the most yards per game in the SEC at 415 yards and are third worst in the SEC with points allowed per game at 23.
Kentucky is at a pivotal time of the season because teams are going to start daring Kentucky to beat them in the passing game and it does not seem like Kentucky could pass that test right now.
Kentucky’s defense has been one of the bright spots of the team, but it has certainly come with its problems.
The biggest problem is the inability to limit explosive plays.
An explosive play in football is defined as any play that gains 20 yards or more. Ole Miss is a team that is built on a high-powered offense and they showed Kentucky that on its own home field.
The offense has not been doing them favors by having unproductive three-and-outs, but the defense cannot afford to keep giving up explosive plays or the numbers will only get worse.
Top 10 wins under Mark Stoops
Jonathon Bruner sports@kykernel.com
While Kentucky football might be in a current state of regression, Mark Stoops has led the program to more wins than any other coach in its history.
This list narrows down Stoops’ 67 wins into the 10 biggest during his 13 seasons.
Nov. 19, 2016 49-13 win over Austin Peay State
While the score is lopsided and against a non-conference school, this win meant much more than a typical November laugher because for the first time ever under Stoops, Kentucky was bowl eligible.
This would begin a bowl streak of seven straight appearances from 20162023 that came to an end during the 2024 season.
On New Year’s Eve in 2016, Kentucky fell to Georgia Tech 33-18 in its first bowl appearance.
Dec. 31, 2019 37-30 win over Virginia Tech
In the third year of the bowl streak, Kentucky played an absolute thriller in Charlotte, N.C., and this game was led by a masterful performance by Lynn Bowden Jr.
During the game, the dual-threat quarterback, Bowden, ran for 233 yards on 34 carries, but the biggest play was a 13-yard touchdown pass to Josh Ali with just 15 seconds to go in the ballgame. That ended up being the final play of Bowden’s career in college and one of the classic games in Kentucky football history and under Stoops.
Oct. 2, 2021 20-13 win over No. 10 Florida
With a program that was largely unsuccessful before Stoops, there were a few astonishing stats he needed to be rid of to truly get into the hearts of Big Blue Nation.
The losing streak against Florida was broken in 2018, but it was now time to do it at home for the first time since 1986.
That is exactly what Stoops and company did as late game heroics by Trevin Wallace.
After a blocked field goal popped into the air and into his hands, he took it 76 yards as Kroger Field roared him to the endzone to pull off the stunner.
This was just one of a few marquee wins in a season that technically no longer exists due to it being vacated by the NCAA as a result of violations.
However, this is a memory that will never be vacated from the minds of Kentucky fans who waited so long to beat the Gators at home.
Nov. 26, 2016 41-38 win over No. 11 Louisville
One way you can earn your way into the good graces of Kentucky fans is by defeating Louisville.
Stoops did that for the first time nearly 10 years ago and it came in dramatic fashion.
The Cardinals were led by 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and entered No. 11 in the country.
In a 38-38 tie with 1:45 to go in the game, a fumble by Jackson turned into a 47-yard game winning field goal by Austin MacGinnis.
This was the first win over the Cardinals for the Wildcats since 2010, which probably felt like a much longer time without a Governor's Cup.
Oct. 4, 2014 45-38 win over South Carolina
This win had two major implications for Stoops and the program.
The first huge moment from this game was the result as it marked the first major win for Stoops and what’s credited as him officially arriving as a head coach in the Southeastern Conference.
Now that Stoops’ has had wins that meant more, the reason this win ranks so high is because of a moment that occurred before a kickoff.
The moment was when players were huddled up before they lined up for the kickoff when “Grove St. Party” by Waka Flaka Flame (featuring Kebo Gotti) rang out over the Commonwealth Stadium speakers.
This resulted in the players beginning to jump up and down dancing, which sent the crowd into a frenzy.
The moment reached a fever pitch when the players acknowledged the crowd's energy right before the kickoff.
Kentucky students rush the field after the win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct 4, 2014, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky. PHOTO BY CALEB GREGG | STAFF.
Fast forward to 2025, the song has become a staple of the gameday experience and an anthem of the entire school.
Jan. 1, 2022 20-17 win over Iowa
Like all of its other wins during the 2021 season, this Citrus Bowl win over the Hawkeyes was vacated, but it capped off the second 10-win season under Stoops during his tenure at Kentucky.
Will Levis was under center for this matchup and passed for 233 yards and touchdown.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran for 107 yards and a touchdown along with catching the score from Levis.
Jan. 1, 2019 27-24 win over No. 12 Penn State
Kentucky capped off a phenomenal 2018 season with a marquee win over the Nittany Lions.
This win marked the first (and technically only) 10-win season under Stoops along with his first bowl win as Kentucky’s head coach.
Benny Snell Jr. ran for 144 yards on the ground and became the all-time leading rusher at Kentucky.
The win marked a key point where Stoops was starting to churn out one successful season after another.
Sept. 8, 2018 27-16 win over No. 25 Florida
Sticking with that historic 2018 season, Stoops vanished a longstanding streak of misery against Florida and especially in Gainesville.
The win marked the first for Kentucky in The Swamp since 1979 and marked the first win over the Gators since 1986.
Snell was at the center of this again with 176 yards on the ground as he continued his historic season.
This victory marked another changing of the guard as Stoops vanished another stat hanging over the entire program.
Sept. 28, 2024 20-17 win over No. 6 Ole Miss
The next two are truly interchangeable as they were unforgettable moments in program history and for Stoops.
Entering as massive underdogs, Stoops made a critical call to go for a fourth-and-long that would’ve lost them the game, but it was successful and set up a game-winning touchdown to stun the Rebels on the road.
The win was the first win over an AP Top 5 team since 2007 and just the fifth in program history since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936.
Nov. 25, 2023 38-31 win over No. 10 Louisville
This game makes No. 1 on the list because of all it meant for both programs. Of course it always means a lot when the Governor's Cup is on the line, but it was different in 2023.
The Cardinals entered the game at No. 10 in the country and had a path to College Football Playoffs, but that all changed in the blink of an eye. With just about a minute left in the game, Ray Davis galloped down the field and silenced the Louisville crowd as he delivered the dagger with a 37-yard game-winning touchdown.
There was still time left on the clock and the Cardinals were making a bid to tie the game, but Jordan Lovett had the final say as he intercepted Jake Plummer to secure the shocker.
Kentucky did not have much to play for in this one, but this game meant everything to both fanbases and Stoops delivered a masterful performance to play spoilers and add another storybook chapter to the storied rivalry.
Ole Miss fans react to a play being replayed during the game against Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. PHOTO BY MATTHEW MUELLER | STAFF
Top 10 wins under
students
4, 2014, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
Kentucky quarterback Stephen Johnson celebrates with the Wildcat during the game against the Louisville Cardinals on Nov. 26, 2016, at Papa John's Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
PHOTO BY TAYLOR PENCE | STAFF
Kentucky Wildcats running back Benny Snell Jr. left, and quarterback Terry Wilson, right, sit in celebratory confetti after winning the VRBO Citrus Bowl game against Penn State on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
PHOTO BY ARDEN BARNES | STAFF
Kentucky running back Jojo Kemp runs toward the end zone to score a touchdown during the game against Austin Peay on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016, at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
Kentucky students stand on a flipped car on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at State Street in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky beat Florida 27-16 at
since 1979.
PHOTO BY HUNTER MITCHELL | STAFF
“The Swamp” for the first time
PHOTO BY ARDEN BARNES | STAFF
Kentucky
rush the field after the win against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, Oct.
PHOTO BY CALEB GREGG | STAFF.
under Mark Stoops
Oct.
Nov. 25, 2023, at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
Jan.
Kentucky players celebrate a touchdown during the Belk Bowl game against Virginia Tech on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
PHOTO BY JORDAN PRATHER | STAFF
Kentucky fans celebrate on the field after the winning the football game against Florida on Saturday,
2, 2021, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky.
PHOTO BY JACK WEAVER | STAFF
Kentucky poses with their trophy after the winning the VRBO Citrus Bowl game against Iowa on Saturday,
1, 2022, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL CLUBB | STAFF
Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown, center, and defensive back Jordan Lovett, left, hold up “L's down” after winning The Governor's Cup against Louisville on Saturday,
PHOTO BY SAMUEL COLMAR | STAFF
Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Dane Key, left, and wide receiver Barion Brown, right, celebrate with fans after the win against Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MUELLER | STAFF
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Missouri - Oklahoma - Texas A&M - Arkansas - Ole Miss - Texas A&M - Alabama - Tennessee - Auburn - LSU - Kentucky - Alabama -Vanderbilt
Brett Ramsey sports@kykernel.com
Fans weigh in on the current state of Kentucky football
Kentucky football entered the 2025 season with Mark Stoops at the helm for his 13th season as the head coach.
Stoops, the longest tenured coach in program history, has accomplished more than any coach at Kentucky. However, since the turn of the decade, things have seemed to stall out.
In 2024, Kentucky reached a low point, finishing 4-8, marking the worst finish since Stoops’ first season in 2013.
The sharp decline has polarized the fanbase, some fans still believe in him, others have already seen enough. Stoops is under contract through the 2031 season with a steep $40.5 million buyout per his contract, making it tough to know if his seat is hot at all.
Regardless, the 2025 season is crucial for Stoops to regain the belief of any fans who might’ve lost it.
One of the most important voices for a program like Kentucky is its fanbase, and this is what they had to say about the state of the program:
Ron Farris
Ron has been a UK football fan since he was a teenager, holding season tickets throughout Stoops’ entire tenure.
“We need to get him out of here as soon as they can pony up enough money,” Ron said.
He mentioned that the players are getting paid a lot of money, wishing that money would go towards Stoops’ buyout. Ron acknowledged that Stoops could redeem himself with a winning season, but he’s not optimistic.
“I just don’t see it happening this year, I mean, we’ll be lucky to win one game in the SEC,” Ron said.
Ron already has his eyes on a replacement. He said if he were Mitch Barnhart for a day, Jon Sumrall, former Kentucky linebacker and co-defensive coordinator, would hear from him.
“First thing that morning when I got my coffee, he’d (Stoops) be gone, and he’d (Sumrall) be in,” Ron said.
Isaac Farris
“My first-grade teacher took me up under her wing because I was acting up in class,” Issac said. “She took me to my very first UK game back then, I was a blown away little first grader.”
Issac, now in his early 60s, is a regular at Kroger Field, attending all the home games.
Before the games, he uses his DJ equipment to play music for tailgaters in the parking lot.
He believes Stoops isn’t fully responsible for the recent struggles, pointing towards the revolving door at the offensive coordinator position.
“These kids can’t learn on the fly, they need a stable program,” Isaac said. “Every year, a different offense is kind of hard to master.”
He believes in Stoops, but thinks consistency from the staff behind him is what it will take for the program to start trending upwards again.
Chuck Cropper
Cropper has been a Kentucky football fan since the late ‘70s. He made it clear that he still supports and believes in Stoops.
“I’m not willing to get rid of him,” Cropper said.
He believes the blame for the decline over the past few years lies beyond Stoops and his staff, rather in the ever-changing landscape of college football in the NIL era.
“I think his biggest problem is money,” Cropper said. “All the teams are kind of struggling to figure out what’s going on here, especially in the SEC.”
Cropper believes this issue spans beyond just the dollar amount the football team is afforded to bring in players. He feels the transfer portal makes it difficult to build a team with some semblance of consistency year after year.
“It’s impossible to build a team in one season, and that’s what you’re asking all these coaches to do right now,” Cropper said. “You get your star quarterback, and you try to get players around him, and then next year they all leave for more money.”
Kentucky currently sits at 2-1 through three games with a road trip to take on South Carolina coming out of the bye week.
Kentucky Wildcats fans sing “Grove St. Party” during the football game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN KANTOSKY | STAFF
Jonathon Bruner sports@kykernel.com
Ja’Mori Maclin has been battle tested from a young age, but turning to his faith in God during mental health struggles has kept him alive.
After being born in St. Louis Maclin faced his first bit of adversity as the third oldest of 13 siblings in his household.
This led to Maclin having to grow up fast and feeling like he had to become a father around six years old.
These challenges led Maclin to turn to football and his relationship with God.
“God definitely placed football in life because that was the only thing keeping me away from trouble in my home,” Maclin said. “Anytime I go to football, I’m like having the best time of my life and when I go home it's like ‘ah this sucks.’” He credited some good coaches who took care of him and further kept him out of trouble.
Maclin is currently around 365 miles away from Kirkwood High School, in Kirkwood, Mo., where he finished his career with 2,029 yards and 22 touchdowns.
In his high school years, Maclin was also on the basketball and track teams before arriving on campus at Missouri to start college.
The wide out redshirted his freshman year after appearing in three games before appearing in just two in his second season with the Tigers.
This led to Maclin heading into the transfer portal where he landed with North Texas.
In his second season with the Mean Green in 2023, he broke out and had the best year of his career, hauling in 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns.
However, while things were going ok in his career, there was another fight that Maclin was fighting, and that's the battle within.
He began facing mental health battles that had him in a major struggle. This led him to turn to his faith once again to save him.
“My faith in God, that’s the thing that really saved me,” Maclin said. “If it wasn’t for God, I probably wouldn't even be here right now. Three, four, five years ago I was wanting to take my own life. Having that relationship with God definitely matured me and it’s definitely helped me persevere through things.”
After earning American Atlantic Conference second team honors, Maclin hit the portal again and landed in Lexington as a Kentucky Wildcat.
His first season in blue and white was not quite what he expected, as he was not an essential part of the offense.
In the modern day of college sports, where it's about money and being the focal point, Maclin could have jumped in the portal again, but he did not, and chose to stay in Lexington.
“Got a lot of love for Ja’Mori Maclin, I think he represents this program in a big way,” Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan said. “He certainly had some tough decisions this offseason and I don’t think there is any one player myself or the staff would like to see have a big year than him.”
However, the unexpected loyalty in the era of players profiting from their NIL deals revealed a greater purpose for the receiver on and off the field.
“Being able to be a leader for these guys and being able to help these young guys, I feel like that is more important than anything in the world,” Maclin said.
“Me chasing my dreams and making a bunch of money, that’s not what really matters, it's about helping the people around you.”
That mentality has become infectious to those around him, especially younger receivers on the team.
“J-Mac is someone I look up to a lot,” Wide Receiver Hardley Gilmore IV said. “J-Mac is someone you need in your life. He’s going to make sure you stay on point, make sure you're doing everything right, make sure you aren’t slacking, he keeps it real with you and that’s someone you need in your life.”
While Maclin is trying to be that for people around him, his cousin Jeremy Maclin was that person for him.
Maclin considers Jeremy as a second father to him and always took great pride in telling people that his cousin was in the NFL. He also credited Jeremy with helping him with the mental side of the game.
Jeremy spent eight seasons in the NFL and wore the number nine across his chest every weekend just like Maclin does.
Maclin said it is to keep that lineage and honor someone who meant so much to him and wants to be that same role model for his siblings.
“That’s why I take life very seriously now when it comes to my faith and how I approach life outside of football,” Maclin said.
“I care about my siblings and I want them to be able to look up to their big brother one day and know I’m doing something good in life.”
When the helmet and shoulder pads come off, Malcin leaves practice, opens his bible, then turns on his camera.
“I do preach a lot and tell people about the word of God,” Maclin said. “I get on TikTok Live and I just preach to people and most people know me from that as well.
It’s just about informing people about God and Christ, that's what I do with my life.”
Outside of preaching, Maclin also enjoys fishing and watching his favorite movies like “Hancock” and “Cat in the Hat," not the cartoon one.
Maclin also makes content on Youtube and TikTok teaching young kids how to play wide receiver.
The clips began as a way to get his name more out there for recruitment purposes, but then people started sending him messages asking how to do what he was doing.
“Man, it means a lot to me, I’m just blessed to be able to steward what God has given me and that’s a platform like social media,” Maclin said. “Just being able to impact people in a small way, that’s my way of serving people.”
While Maclin might be able to run routes quickly or catch passes over defenders, what makes Maclin an anomaly is his unselfish nature to serve others.
Before meeting with the media, Maclin spent around 20 minutes after practice playing football with a youth team the program was hosting, and that is how he wants to be remembered.
“I know the landscape of college football is all about money and making it to the NFL, but this is the biggest blessing, being able to impact people who come and watch you at practices and you're just having fun with them,” Maclin said. “They are going to remember that for the rest of their lives.
They are not going to remember you by freaking how many touchdowns you had, I think it's always about what type of person that you are.”
Kentucky Wildcats tight end Willie Rodriguez (81) celebrates scoring a touchdown with wide receiver Ja'Mori Maclin (9) during the football game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky.
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN KANTOSKY | STAFF
COLUMN: Kentucky’s offense cannot be saved by a quarterback change
Kentucky football has been an offensive mess through three games of 2025, which could be attributed to quarterback play, but bigger issues persist that a quarterback change is not going to fix.
In the weeks leading up to the season, there has been plenty of chatter about who the quarterback should be.
The competition to begin the year was won by Zach Calzada as he lined up under center in the Wildcats 24-16 win over Toledo to kickoff the season.
Calzada only finished with 85 yards passing with his leading receivers being Josh Kattus with 43 yards and Willie Rodriguez with 31 yards.
Both of those players are tight ends, which means that the wide receivers were responsible for just 11 yards between four other players who caught a pass in the game.
Things got much worse against Ole Miss to open SEC play as procedural issues began a huge part of the first half as it cost them two timeouts.
The worst came after the Rebels scored a touchdown, which led to a commercial break along with a kickoff, and Kentucky somehow did not have the correct personnel on the field and had to waste a timeout.
This led to Calzada being seen on the broadcast mouthing “what the f— are we doing” as the play unfolded.
“I think we are trying to do too much with matching personnel and changing people out,” Kentucky Head Coach Mark Stoops said after the loss. “We talked about that at halftime, cleaned that up. It really pissed me off, and we had a discussion with the offensive staff and got that rectified.”
While it got somewhat better in the second half, these types of miscommunications, procedural issues and poor clock management have become staples of the offense over the last few seasons.
The reason why Stoops can only take so much accountability is because he also acknowledged later in his Ole Miss postgame comments that he calls zero percent of the plays.
That responsibility falls on Offensive Coordinator Bush Hamdan, who is in his second year with Kentucky.
His first season in Lexington was not a good one as Kentucky finished 15th in the SEC in passing yards per game at 184.8 and 14th in total offense with 330.4 yards per game.
Many attributed the lack of production to the offensive line, which was one of the biggest weak spots of the team in 2024.
However, thanks to the transfer portal and in-house talent, that unit has drastically improved this season through three games.
This really just leaves two root causes of the problem and that's Hamdan along with the wide receivers.
Kentucky lost its two leading receivers in 2024 as Dane Key and Barion Brown hit the transfer portal, but neither one of them lit up the stat sheet, so the losses were not massive.
Additionally, those spots were filled by a host of transfers with the main grab being Kendrick Law from Alabama. Despite having the talent lining up out wide, the pass catchers are just not getting open, which obviously results in an offense spinning its wheels unless it runs every play and creates a new set of problems.
The inability to get open could be attributed to a skill issue or a scheme issue, which again Hamdan is responsible for.
Boley got the start in week three and improved greatly with getting the ball down field and getting the receivers involved, which balanced out the run game.
However, it was against Eastern Michigan so it remains to be seen how this will translate to the gauntlet that is SEC football.
With how this offense is unfolding in 2025, a quarterback change is not going to fix these fundamental issues and could result in Kentucky being in the offensive coordinator mark at season's end.
Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Zach Calzada (5) throws a pass during the football game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN KANTOSKY | STAFF
Jonathon Bruner sports@kykernel.com
WHAT’S NEXT: Gauntlet awaits Kentucky following bye week
Kentucky has started its season 2-1 and will move into a bye week ahead of conference play.
After the bye, Kentucky plays in one of the most challenging stretch of games in the country, and possibly in the program’s history.
Kentucky at South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, Sept. 27, time TBD
What seemed like a hard matchup at first, is now left with uncertainty after South Carolina. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers took a hit to the head that put him out of the team's loss to Vanderbilt indefinitely.
South Carolina earned recognition as a potential playoff contender with Sellers, who entered the 2025 season as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
Head Coach Shane Beamer proved himself with last season's 9-4 showing, most notably pulling off wins against No. 10 Texas A&M and No. 12 Clemson.
South Carolina will face No. 24 Missouri next week, and depending on the quarterback situation will most likely determine the stakes of the matchup they'll have with Kentucky in a few weeks.
Kentucky at No. 5 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Saturday, Oct. 4, 12 p.m. EST
Every year since 2018, Georgia has started the season ranked in the top 5 of the AP Poll and has concluded the season within the top 10.
This season is no different, however, it is the first time Georgia will be playing without any returners from the back-to-back national championship team in 2021 and 2022. Kentucky is put in an almost best-case scenario with the Bulldogs playing No. 19 Alabama a week prior to the Cats.
Not only that, but following the game against Kentucky, Georgia will head down to Auburn and face the No. 24 Tigers in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
The Bulldogs have had some uncharacteristic defensive woes in 2025, but it's cancelled out by a fastpaced high-scoring offense, which most notably was able to pull off an overtime win at No. 15 Tennessee.
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN KANTOSKY | STAFF
Kentucky vs. No. 8 Texas (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Oct. 18, time TBD
For the first time in history, the Texas Longhorns will roll into Lexington and play inside Kroger Field.
After its second bye week following Georgia, Kentucky will be thrown right back into competition, facing yet another SEC Championship and national championship hopeful coming off backto-back playoff runs.
Texas is led by one of the most hyped and talked-about players in college football history with Arch Manning.
A rough start and showing against Ohio State had a lot of people questioning his potential and inconsistencies have continued through week three.
However, the Texas defense has kept the Longhorns in the top 10. After holding the Buckeyes to only 14 points, the defense is ranked 20th nationally in both opponent yards per game (245) and 17th in opponent points per game (10.3).
Kentucky vs. No. 15 Tennessee (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, Oct. 25, time TBD
Halfway through the season, Kentucky will host its border rival No. 15 Tennessee, looking for its first win against the Vols since 2020.
After a storied offseason with QB Nico Iamaleava Tennessee landed transfer Joey Aguilar.
Aguilar threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns against Georgia, and has given Tennessee yet another fast-paced offense.
However, the truth is that there is never a guaranteed win in rivalries, no matter the rankings or talent.
Kentucky at No. 22 Auburn (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Nov. 1, time TBD
If you think it gets any easier after that, the Wildcats will head to what is known as one of the hardest environments in the country in JordanHare Stadium.
Oklahoma transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold has put up a performance in the first few games this season that has put him in Heisman contention.
The Tigers have shown early on that they could very easily work their way back to the top of the SEC.
Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Kendrick Law (1) runs past an Eagles defensive back during the football game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky.
Jenna Lifshen sports@kykernel.com
