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Wide receiver Rahsaan Lewis wasn't a complete revelation during Kentucky's open practice for fans on Saturday - his name was mentioned by fellow receivers and prominent defensive backs a few times during the spring as a guy to keep an eye on - but the impression he left was much more sizable than anticipated. The son of Hall of Famer Ray Lewis is a walk-on who enrolled at UK last fall following one-year stints at Central Florida (2018) and Florida Atlantic (2019). He didn't play in a game last year, but based solely on his performance Saturday, Lewis is destined to see the field this season.

Fifth-year senior Josh Ali and star transfer Wan'Dale Robinson were as good as expected, but it was Lewis who stood out among a crowded receiving corps full of fresh faces shouldering higher production expectations than has been asked of that group in years past. He twice made sensational, frame-twisting grabs for "touchdown" scores of about 40 yards against double coverage in 11-on-11 drills, and was as consistent as anybody catching balls through practice. His biggest highlights were versus No. 2 and No. 3 defensive backs, but if he continues to impress there he ought to have a chance to prove himself against the 1's soon. Lewis told the Herald-Leader on Friday that he was battling an injury last year that kept him from earning some run in 2020. - Herald Leader

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2024

WR Rahsaan Lewis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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08/06/21 - Dee Beckwith, rJr/2025, Kentucky, 6-4, 236 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Tennessee redshirt freshman Dee Beckwith has been a running back for nearly a year now, and the plan is to keep it that way. The 6-foot-5, 227-pounder from Florence, Alabama, signed with the Volunteers as a three-star athlete prospect, and he worked last preseason at tight end, wide receiver and running back. His move to running back was at least partially due to low numbers at that position stemming from COVID-19 contact tracing, but that's where he resided last season and this spring.

"We have Dee at running back because we believe that he's a running back, and we want to see him progress," coach Josh Heupel said Wednesday during a news conference that followed his first August practice with the Vols. "I thought during spring ball that his last five practices were his best. He started to understand the principles and using his blockers in front of him, and he started to use his body as a true weapon. "He learned how to start playing with a little pad leverage, too, because he's a big, tall, long body back there." Beckwith made his debut on special teams last December against Florida in the Vols' eighth game of the season. His first two carries totaled 24 yards in the win at Vanderbilt, with the season finale against Texas A&M yielding one rush for 1 yard. - Chattanooga Times Free Press

(DS#999 WR) rJr/2025

WR Dee Beckwith, Kentucky
News Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
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08/06/21 - Chris Rodriguez Jr., rSr/2023, Kentucky, 6-0, 217 (DS#20 RB) + More +

All-SEC contender Chris Rodriguez had one more task to checkoff before Kentucky football opens preseason practice Friday. Get a COVID-19 vaccine. "Getting the vaccine feels like I'm signing my life away, but aye #ForTheTeam," Rodriguez tweeted Tuesday afternoon. The Wildcats star running back quickly followed that tweet with a second making sure fans understood his decision. "I was not forced to get it," Rodriguez wrote. "I got it because I wanted to. I missed two of the biggest games last year. I say #ForTheTeam because if I miss a game, I'm letting them down."

How many of Rodriguez's teammates decide to follow his lead could turn out to be a key factor in Kentucky's chances of a special season. At SEC Media Days last month, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey revealed 6 of 14 football teams had reached the 80% threshold of vaccinated players. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops later confirmed his team was not one of the squads to hit that number. With the Delta variant causing COVID-19 cases to spike again, especially in the SEC's regional footprint where vaccination percentages remain low, player availability during the pandemic will likely be a storyline to watch for the second consecutive season even as college football stadiums return to full capacity. - Courier Journal

(DS#20 RB) rSr/2023

RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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08/04/21 - Darian Kinnard, Sr/2022, Kentucky, 6-5, 328 (DS#6 OG) + More +

Among Kentucky football players with the potential to profit most off the NCAA new name, image and likeness policy, NFL draft first-round prospect Darian Kinnard would likely be high on the list. But Kinnard has no plans to actively pursue endorsement opportunities this fall. "It's my last year," Kinnard said. "If this came out maybe two years ago, it could have been a good avenue I'd gotten into. With this last year coming up, we all look back at the end of the season and say, 'Man, it flew.' I'm just taking this opportunity to really focus on what I need to do, and NIL can wait until I'm done with college."

Kinnard did not completely close the door to NIL opportunities but confirmed he would "probably not" pursue any deals when asked to clarify his intentions. That does not figure to be the case for most of Kentucky's star players. A handful of Wildcats, including quarterback Will Levis, have signed up for Cameo, a website where fans can pay for personalized video messages from celebrities and athletes. Wide receiver Josh Ali and cornerback Cedrick Dort signed endorsement deals with water company KeenH20. Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson has already signed with player management company the Virtus Brand. As the season gets closer, endorsement opportunities for standout players seem likely to increase. - Courier Journal

(DS#6 OG) Sr/2022

OG Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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07/26/21 - Darian Kinnard, Sr/2022, Kentucky, 6-5, 328 (DS#6 OG) + More +

Kentucky is earning some football respect across the Southeastern Conference. Just look at this year's All-SEC preseason media voting results, released Friday. UK was picked to finish third in the Eastern Division, behind Georgia and Florida, the school's highest preseason position since the league went to a divisional format in 1992. The Wildcats were selected by two voters to win the East, and were one of five teams outside of the top challengers - Alabama and Georgia - to receive a single vote to win the SEC championship this fall.

Offensive tackle Darian Kinnard, an All-America player last season, was one of five Wildcats named to the All-SEC squad. He was UK's only First Team representative, and one of three players named on offense. Running back Chris Rodriguez, who led the league in rushing average (6.6 yards per game) last season, and lineman Luke Fortner, a fifth-year senior who has started 23 straight games, were both named to the Third Team offense. - Herald Leader

(DS#6 OG) Sr/2022

OG Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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07/24/21 - *Dare Rosenthal, rJr/2022, Kentucky, 6-7, 290 (DS#14 OT) + More +

The University of Kentucky this month added offensive tackle Dare Rosenthal, a transfer from LSU, to its roster, setting up quite a battle for an open starting job on the offensive line. Rosenthal was the seventh player to transfer into Kentucky's program this offseason, and is expected to start for the Wildcats. Where on the offensive line that will be remains to be determined; he was LSU's starting left tackle, a position whose availability in part influenced Darian Kinnard's decision to forego the NFL Draft and return to UK for his senior season. Kinnard, who has started 25 straight games at right tackle for Kentucky, told reporters that he hasn't yet had an opportunity to get to know Rosenthal but looks forward to the competition at left tackle. Both players have been talked about as first-round level talents. "If everyone is planning to go to the NFL - that's why they come to college, besides getting a degree - you're going to have somebody come for your spot every year," Kinnard said during the Southeastern Conference Media Days event. "So I feel like you've got to get used to it now or later. But at the end of the day, it's good competition. He's a teammate. It's healthy competition."

Disciplinary issues led to Rosenthal's departure from LSU following his third year in the program, but Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron spoke highly of him during his turn on the podium Monday. "He's a tremendous player. I hate to lose him," Orgeron said. "... He didn't want to leave. It was hard on him. I think they've got a potential first-round draft choice there. And Dare knows he's got some stuff he needs to get better at, and I'm sure Kentucky's going to see that. He's a great young man, a great team player. He's going to be wearing another helmet. He's going to be trying his best. I'm going to expect his best against us, and he's going to get our best. He expects that, and that's just the way it is." - Herald Leader

(DS#14 OT) rJr/2022

OT *Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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07/24/21 - Josh Paschal, rSr/2022, Kentucky, 6-3, 270 (DS#9 DE) + More +

University of Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal's battle with cancer has been well-documented across the nation, including by NBC's "Today" in May 2019. Paschal, who was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma ahead of the 2018 season, earlier this month during an episode of "Behind Kentucky Football" talked about his experience on "Today." He recounted details of that experience again Tuesday while on the podium at SEC Media Days. The highlight? Meeting multimedia star Jennifer Lopez, who was performing on the show that day. "I'll set the scene for everybody, all right? I was outside the dressing room because all the famous people and the actual commentators are right there," Paschal said. "So J. Lo keeps coming in and out. So my mom, she keeps fan-girling and everything. She loves J. Lo. And I'm like, all right, it's not that big of a deal, but in my mind, I'm thinking, 'It's J. Lo, it's J. Lo, it's J. Lo." "I keep seeing her. So she's changing, because she's performing that day. She's changing, and she's coming back, and she's walking up the stairs, and I just look up. I was looking at the stairs, and I look up, and we make complete eye contact. And she winked at me. I hope that wink was real because I've been telling this story ever since it happened. When I tell you 'I melted,' I melted."

Paschal was able to return to the field at the end of the 2018 season and has since remained cancer-free. He has started 25 of the 40 games in which he's played at Kentucky, and will lead a defensive front this season that's otherwise lean on experience and looking to bounce back from a lackluster effort in terms of pass-rushing production, especially compared to the years prior. - Herald Leader

(DS#9 DE) rSr/2022

DE Josh Paschal, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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07/22/21 - J.J. Weaver, rSr/2025, Kentucky, 6-5, 251 (DS#28 DE) + More +

Louisville native J.J. Weaver could be back on the field for Kentucky football faster than expected this fall. "J.J. is doing very good," UK coach Mark Stoops said during Kentucky's appearance at SEC Media Days Tuesday. "He's definitely ahead of schedule, working extremely hard." Weaver, a former star at Moore High School, was in the midst of a breakout season when he tore the ACL in his right knee in a Nov. 28 game against Florida. He finished the season with 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and one-half sack in nine games. Weaver was voted to the SEC's All-Freshman team by the league coaches.

"He's working his tail off," UK defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Brad White said when asked about Weaver's rehabilitation during spring practice. "That's all I can ask for: A guy that puts in the time and he grinds. ... Right now, it's big on the mental piece. ... When he steps back, he may not be able to physically execute them but at least if we can have it all mentally locked in then we're further ahead in the process. OK, when you come back, let's physically put those things into action and go from there. "He's done a great job. He's up all the time watching film. He's asking questions. He's getting all his rehab sessions in, pushing harder. 'OK, can I come up after, let's do some individual stuff.' He's in every meeting. So, really pleased with that. Trying to get as much squeezed out of that as we can." - Courier Journal

(DS#28 DE) rSr/2025

DE J.J. Weaver, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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07/08/21 - *Dare Rosenthal, rJr/2022, Kentucky, 6-7, 290 (DS#14 OT) + More +

The transfer portal continues to be kind to Kentucky football. Former LSU starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal signed with UK Thursday, giving the Wildcats two possible NFL draft prospects on its offensive line. Rosenthal informed LSU of his decision to transfer just before the July 1 deadline for players to enter the transfer portal and be eligible to play immediately next season.According to a report from the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, LSU made "efforts to keep" Rosenthal, but the offensive lineman left Baton Rouge because of "continued disciplinary issues." LSU suspended Rosenthal for three games last season. - Courier Journal

(DS#14 OT) rJr/2022

OT *Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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07/08/21 - *Dare Rosenthal, rJr/2022, Kentucky, 6-7, 290 (DS#14 OT) + More +

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron did not disclose the nature of Rosenthal's disciplinary problems. "He had some personal situations that he had to take care of," Orgeron told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser when Rosenthal entered the transfer portal. "It was a hard decision for him, but we wish him the best. We're going to miss him." Rosenthal played in seven games and started five for LSU at left tackle last season and missed three due to suspension. He started three games as a redshirt freshman in 2019 for the Tigers' national championship team after switching from the defensive line to the offensive line. Rosenthal was a consensus four-star recruit out of high school as a defensive tackle. Assuming Rosenthal's off-the-field issues do not get in the way of his eligibility at Kentucky, it's possible the junior could become an immediate contributor. "I look forward to changing the narrative and my new journey at UK! Rosenthal said. "I you believe in second chances, throw up your X! Let's go!" - Herald Leader

(DS#14 OT) rJr/2022

OT *Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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06/28/21 - *Dare Rosenthal, rJr/2022, Kentucky, 6-7, 290 (DS#14 OT) + More +

LSU starting left tackle Dare Rosenthal is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal after a violation of school policy, according to multiple reports Monday. His departure would be a significant hit to an offensive line that was expected to return all five starters from last season. Rivals was the first to report the news. The 6-foot-7, 327-pound Rosenthal has missed several games throughout his career at LSU and the highly talented tackle was expected to be a solid option going into his junior season with potential to be a top draft choice next spring.

Rosenthal, who has missed 12 games in two seasons, was suspended indefinitely from the team in October and was reinstated against Arkansas after missing two games. Cameron Wire started in Rosenthal's place at left tackle. Rosenthal returned to the starting lineup four games later in LSU's home loss to Alabama. Wire, a 6-foot-6, 311-pound junior, is the most tenured option to replace Rosenthal in 2021. Wire has been a utility lineman for LSU in the past two seasons, starting in games as a tackle and guard. - Baton Rouge Advocate

(DS#14 OT) rJr/2022

OT *Dare Rosenthal, Kentucky
News Source: Baton Rouge Advocate
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06/12/21 - Jacquez Jones, rSr/2023, Kentucky, 6-0, 227 (DS#44 ILB) + More +

If the best approach to recruiting athletes from the transfer portal is the targeted approach, then Kentucky football hit the bullseye with Jacquez Jones. When all is said and done, the former Ole Miss linebacker, who officially committed to the Cats on Thursday via Instagram, might be UK Coach Mark Stoops' second-most important addition for the 2021 campaign, behind only Wan'Dale Robinson. A 6-foot, 230-pounder out of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jones was the Rebels' leading tackler in 2020 after placing second in 2019. He started 18 of Ole Miss' last 20 games. He made 75 tackles in nine games in 2020 and 71 in 2019, including 7.5 tackles for loss. He was a member of the SEC's All-Freshman Team in 2018.

He is, in the words of Stoops, "an experienced playmaker who has been a great leader in our league." Better still, Jones fills a position of need in Stoops' system. While the hiring of new coordinator Liam Coen has tilted the offseason attention in the direction of the UK offense, defensive coordinator Brad White has depth chart holes of his own to fill before the Sept. 4 opener against Louisiana Monroe. Inside linebacker is likely No. 1 on that list. Gone is Jamin Davis, his unexpected rocket ride having carried the junior all the way to the No. 19 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Washington Football Team. Returning is senior DeAndre Square, UK's third-leading 2020 tackler who boasts 22 career starts. After Square, however, question marks abound. - Herald Leader

(DS#44 ILB) rSr/2023

ILB Jacquez Jones, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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06/09/21 - Jacquez Jones, rSr/2023, Kentucky, 6-0, 227 (DS#44 ILB) + More +

The depth of Kentucky's linebacking corps has been strained over the past year. Jacquez Jones, the leading tackler for the University of Mississippi last season, announced his commitment to UK via social media. Jones will be immediately eligible and could play up to two years for the Wildcats; this fall will be his senior season, and he would be eligible for an additional season via the NCAA's COVID-19 waiver. Jones is already with the team, UK spokesperson Susan Lax told the Herald-Leader. "We are thrilled to add Jacquez to our team," head coach Mark Stoops said in a news release. "He's an experienced playmaker who has been a great leader in our league."

Jones had 75 tackles (36 unassisted) last year for the Rebels, who finished 5-5 after defeating Indiana, 26-20, in the Outback Bowl. Ole Miss came to Lexington last season and handed UK a 42-41 loss in overtime during Lane Kiffin's first year running the show. Jones officially entered the transfer portal on June 3. Kentucky, which enters the fall with just three healthy middle linebackers who've played meaningful snaps - senior DeAndre Square, junior Marquez Bembry and sophomore Jared Casey - quickly emerged as the favorite for Jones. - Herald Leader

(DS#44 ILB) rSr/2023

ILB Jacquez Jones, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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05/05/21 - Darian Kinnard, Sr/2022, Kentucky, 6-5, 328 (DS#6 OG) + More +

A second-team Sporting News All-American in 2020, Kinnard considered leaving school early to declare for the 2021 draft but elected to return to school for his senior season, despite reportedly receiving a second-day draft grade. "I know my time is coming, and I've got to be patient with it," Kinnard said after watching his former teammates perform at UK's pro day. Kinnard will move from right tackle to left tackle this fall. Evaluators have projected him as a guard at the NFL level previously, but a strong season at left tackle will only make him more attractive to NFL scouts. - Courier Journal

(DS#6 OG) Sr/2022

OG Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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05/05/21 - DeAndre Square, rSr/2023, Kentucky, 6-1, 226 (DS#48 OLB) + More +

All eyes will be on Square this fall to replace much of the production lost by 2021 first-round pick Jamin Davis. While Square does not play Davis's middle linebacker position, the options to play there are all unproven. Kentucky needs Square to take on a larger share of the load at the two inside linebacker positions while the young middle linebackers learn on the job. If Square can approach 100 tackles - he had 60 in 11 games last season - perhaps that will be enough for NFL scouts to look past worries about him being undersized for the position at the next level. Kentucky's success producing NFL linebackers can only help his case. - Courier Journal

(DS#48 OLB) rSr/2023

OLB DeAndre Square, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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