Vito Tisdale, Transfer Football News: Draft Scout Player News

09/24/20 - FS Vito Tisdale, rSr/2025, Transfer

Only two true freshman made the Kentucky football team's initial depth chart for the 2020 season. One was quarterback Beau Allen, a clear No. 2 to Terry Wilson with Joey Gatewood's eligibility status still uncertain. The other? From a herd of talented defensive backs, veteran and new to the program alike, safety Vito Tisdale has emerged. He's listed as the backup to Davonte Robinson at nickelback heading into UK's game at Auburn this weekend. It wasn't exactly a surprise to see Tisdale's name on the depth chart, as he was lauded frequently throughout camp by coaches and peers, but it was confirmation that that praise wasn't just lip-service. Kentucky believes Tisdale can play right away in the Southeastern Conference, and he'll probably get a chance to prove himself as soon as Saturday.

Head coach Mark Stoops during one of his preseason radio shows likened him to a former Wildcats defensive back who wore the same jersey number: Mike Edwards, now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "He's wearing number 7 and I don't want to put that on him yet but he reminds me of the other guy that wore 7 for us," Stoops told Tom Leach. "That's a pretty big compliment. Mike is one of my all-time favorite players. So instinctual and such a good player for us. ... It's a lot like Mike. No nonsense and just goes and does his business." In that radio interview, Stoops said Tisdale was playing in multiple positions across the secondary, giving it a go wherever the coaches asked. On Monday, during his first "in-season" news conference, Stoops suggested that the staff might have put too much on Tisdale in camp and that he looked forward to having him hone in on a single position in practice this week. - Herald Leader

rSr/2025