Draft Scout Kentucky Player News, College Football: Kentucky

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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Kentucky

Previous 15 Notes

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10/15/22 - Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky + More +

North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary is out for the season and will undergo surgery next week to repair a torn pectoral muscle, the school announced Saturday on social media. The school said the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason player of the year did not suffer damage to his (right) throwing shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery. Graduate transfer Jack Chambers will make his first start for the Wolfpack on Saturday against No. 18 Syracuse. Leary was injured last week in the No. 15 Wolfpack's 19-17 victory over Florida State and left the game late in the third quarter. He was listed day-to-day during the week with no timetable to return. A school official said Leary made the trip to Syracuse for Saturday's game. Surgery will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Florida, the school said. - AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
News Source: AP College Football
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10/10/22 - Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky + More +

North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren said Monday that quarterback Devin Leary avoided a serious shoulder injury in Saturday's win against Florida State and is considered day-to-day ahead of the 15th-ranked Wolfpack's trip to No. 18 Syracuse this weekend. The preseason Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year took a hard hit to his right shoulder from FSU's Joshua Farmer as he tried to deliver the ball downfield. Leary immediately grabbed at his right arm as he was down with Farmer being flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty with 4:59 left in the third quarter. Leary was helped to the tunnel and later returned to the sideline with his right arm in a sling for the rest of the comeback win against the Seminoles. But Doeren said Monday it's "a rehabbable injury," though the timeline for his recovery is unclear. "It could be this week, it could be six weeks,” Doeren said. "It's really going to come down to how he recovers...But we're excited that his season isn't over and he doesn't need surgery." - AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
News Source: AP College Football
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10/08/22 - Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky + More +

Preseason Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year in quarterback Devin Leary of No. 14 North Carolina State was knocked from Saturday night's game against Florida State with an injury. Leary took a hard hit to his right shoulder and arm area from FSU's Joshua Farmer as he tried to deliver the ball downfield. Leary immediately grabbed at his right arm as he was down with Farmer being flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty with 4:59 left in the third quarter. Leary was flat on his back as team medical staff tended to him. He eventually was helped to his feet, though Leary was holding his right shoulder area and had his head hanging low as he slowly was escorted to a locker-room tunnel. Leary had completed just 10 of 21 passes for 130 yards with a touchdown and an interception before his exit. Charleston Southern graduate transfer Jack Chambers entered the game for Leary with the Wolfpack trailing 17-10. - AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
News Source: AP College Football
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10/07/22 - Will Levis, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

Kentucky football fans will have to wait until Saturday to learn if star quarterback Will Levis plays against South Carolina on Saturday. Levis suffered an foot/ankle injury and dislocated a finger on his non-throwing hand in the loss at Ole Miss but was able to play through both ailments in the second half. The finger did not require surgery to fix, but the other injury has reportedly caused Levis to miss practice time this week. Levis was spotted wearing a walking boot on his left foot Thursday. After a day of reports about the possibility that his star quarterback would be unavailable against South Carolina, UK Coach Mark Stoops had no update on Levis' status after Thursday's practice. "I have no news," Stoops said. "My policy is always if somebody is out, I'd tell you. I don't have anybody out. If I had somebody out, I'd tell you." Later in his post-practice news conference, Stoops did clarify that linebacker Jacquez Jones was "highly doubtful" to play against South Carolina.

Thursday's practice is a walk-through for Kentucky each week in which players do not wear full pads. The team has another padded practice on Friday that could determine availability for the game, but Stoops will not address reporters again before the 7:30 p.m. game Saturday. Reports that Levis might not play against South Carolina first surfaced Wednesday night as the betting line on the game decreased from 10 points in favor of Kentucky to six. Widely projected as a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Levis ranks 24th nationally in passing yards per game (281) through five games. He has thrown 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Protecting Levis has been a problem for Kentucky for much of the season. The Wildcats rank 127th of 131 teams in sacks allowed (19). Levis has been sacked at least three times in each game this season. - Herald Leader

rSr/2023

QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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10/04/22 - Will Levis, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

That finger on Will Levis' hand didn't look good. But the Kentucky quarterback is "fine," coach Mark Stoops said Monday, after dislocating a finger on his left, non-throwing hand in Saturday's 22-19 loss at Ole Miss. Although "fine" is relative. "I mean, how would your finger be if it was sideways and you put it back in?" Stoops said. "But it doesn't need surgery, let's put it that way. So that's a great thing." That's about as forthcoming as Stoops was on the injury front at his weekly news conference Monday. No. 13 Kentucky (4-1, 1-1 SEC) has bumps and bruises entering its Saturday home game against South Carolina (3-2, 0-2). Stoops didn't elaborate much beyond that, but he didn't rule out a return for a pair of key defensive players. - Courier Journal

rSr/2023

QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Courier Journal
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09/26/22 - Daveren Rayner, rSr/2025, Kentucky + More +

SEPT 26 MAC WEST DIVISION DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daveren Rayner, NIU, Linebacker, Sophomore, Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence Central HS),...Daveren Rayner led an impressive defensive effort for NIU Saturday against No. 8/9 Kentucky with 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Rayner's sack was one of five for the Huskies on the day as he brought down UK QB Will Levis in the fourth quarter. NIU held Kentucky to less than 100 yards rushing for the game and its five sacks were the most by a Wildcats opponent this year. Rayner leads NIU in tackles for the season with 42 and ranks second in the MAC in that category. - MAC Football

rSr/2025

ILB Daveren Rayner, Kentucky
News Source: MAC Football
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09/24/22 - Beau Allen, rSr/2025, Kentucky + More +

Beau Allen threw four touchdowns and his 86-yard scoring pass to Jaden Smith gave Tarleton the lead for good in a 43-28 win over North Alabama on Saturday. Allen completed 18 of 29 passes for 316 yards and connected with Smith five times for 173 yards and two scores. Their 86-yard connection gave the Texans a 27-21 lead with 10:18 left in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Derrel Kelley III rambled for 161 yards on 21 carries for Tarleton (2-1). For his part, North Alabama (1-2) running back ShunDerrick Powell amassed 209 yards on 13 carries and scored three TDs. His 55-yard scoring run just before halftime gave the Lions their last lead of the contest at 21-20. Powell finished 42 yards shy of the school rushing record he set against Division II-level UVA Wise on Sept. 10. - AP College Football

rSr/2025

QB Beau Allen, Kentucky
News Source: AP College Football
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09/24/22 - Will Levis, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

Will Levis tied a career best with four touchdown passes, including critical scores of 70 and 40 yards to Barion Brown and Tayvion Robinson, respectively, after halftime, and No. 8 Kentucky held off Northern Illinois 31-23 on Saturday night. After allowing the pesky Huskies a tying touchdown seconds before halftime, Levis put the Wildcats (4-0) ahead 21-14 just 58 seconds into the third quarter by hitting Brown across the middle on third and 10. Coming a snap after the senior quarterback was nearly intercepted, it was just what Kentucky needed to gain room from a NIU squad unfazed by being 26-point underdogs. Matt Ruffolo's 49-yard field goal later in the third provided a 10-point cushion and came during a hot stretch in which Levis completed eight consecutive attempts. Levis later found Tayvion Robinson, who spun off a tackle and ran 40 yards for his second TD to make it 31-17 with 8:46 remaining.

That cushion helped as the Huskies fought back to within 31-23 with 2:47 left on Justin Lynch's 2-yard run after a defensive holding penalty. Ethan Hampton's two-point conversion pass failed, Kentucky recovered the onside kick and Levis knelt to seal the win. Levis overcame five sacks to complete 18 of 26 passes for 303 yards, his third 300-yard effort this season, with chunk plays comprising each TD. Robinson (seven catches, 147 yards) also had a 69-yard score on a crossing pass just as Levis was a second away from a crushing sack. Brown caught four passes for 102 yards and two scores, including a 15-yarder on Kentucky's first possession. NIU (1-3) drove 75 yards on the opening possession for Hampton's 2-yard TD pass to Tristan Tewes, who also snagged a 3-yard score from Shemar Thornton six seconds before halftime. The Huskies made it a one-score game late but lost their third in a row and second in as many weeks to a Southeastern Conference school. - Kentucky/AP College Football

rSr/2023

QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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09/24/22 - Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky + More +

Devin Leary threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns - including a 75-yarder on the first play from scrimmage - and No. 12 North Carolina State routed UConn 41-10 on Saturday night. Leary completed 32 of 44 passes for the Wolfpack (4-0), while throwing touchdowns to four different receivers, including one to sophomore Porter Rooks for the first score of his career. Victor Rosa scored the lone touchdown for UConn (1-4) on an 11-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

The Wolfpack, tuning up for a showdown with No. 5 Clemson next week, wasted no time in putting points on the board as Leary connected with Thayer Thomas on the very first play from scrimmage. It was the longest play from scrimmage of the season for N.C. State, and it was also the first time the team has scored on its first offensive play of a game since 1991. N.C. State scored on its first five possessions and led 31-0 before UConn got on the board. After Camryn Edwards intercepted Leary, Noe Ruelas kicked a 28-yard field goal for the Huskies as time expired in the second quarter. UConn had just 160 yards of total offense and converted only 2-of-12 third downs. - North Carolina State/AP College Football

rSr/2024

QB Devin Leary, Kentucky
News Source: North Carolina State/AP College Football
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09/19/22 - Tashawn Manning, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

University of Kentucky's offensive line lost a pair of NFL Draft choices (Luke Fortner and Darian Kinnard) and a third starter (Dare Rosenthal). Eli Cox moved from guard to center. Kenneth Horsey moved from guard to left tackle. With right guard Tashawn Manning absent Saturday because of an injury, UK has played just one game (Florida) with its expected starting line - Horsey at left tackle; Jager Burton at left guard; Cox at center; Manning at right guard; Jeremy Flax at right tackle. - Herald Leader

rSr/2023

OG Tashawn Manning, Kentucky
News Source: Herald Leader
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09/17/22 - Will Levis, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

Will Levis accounted for three touchdowns, Kavosiey Smoke ran for a score and No. 9 Kentucky shook off a slow start to shut out Youngstown State 31-0 on Saturday. Boosted by its first top-10 ranking since October 2007, the Wildcats (3-0) followed up last week's Southeastern Conference win at Florida by physically dominating the FCS Penguins (2-1) in the inaugural meeting. Kentucky outgained YSU 480-192 on the way to its first shutout since beating Miami (Ohio) 42-0 on Sept. 5, 2009. The Wildcats gave coach Mark Stoops a victory over his hometown school.

Levis posted his second 300-yard effort in three games, completing 27 of 35 attempts for 377 with sparkling catches by his receivers. He hit Dane Key and Chris Lewis with TD passes of 3 and 2 yards, respectively, and rushed for a 1-yard TD early in the second quarter. That run jump-started the Wildcats after a scoreless opening period in which promising drives stalled and Youngstown's Troy Jakubec intercepted Levis at the 3. Tayvion Robinson's 15-yard catch-and-run across the middle and attempted hurdle over a defender helped set up Levis' TD on third down. Kentucky scored on four of its next five possessions, a stretch split up by a fumble on a day it committed three turnovers with two interceptions by Levis. - Kentucky/AP College Football

rSr/2023

QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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09/12/22 - Jordan Wright, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

SEPT 12 SEC CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jordan Wright, LB, Kentucky,...Made a game-changing interception while totaling six tackles, a quarterback sack, another tackle for loss, and caused a fumble in Kentucky's 26-16 come-from-from behind win at No. 12/19 Florida...With Kentucky trailing 16-7 late in the second quarter, he made a spectacular one-handed interception and returned it to the Florida six-yard line, setting up a UK touchdown that swung the momentum in favor of the Wildcats...From that point, UK limited Florida to no points, five first downs and 91 total yards in the second half; it was the first time UF had been shut out in the second half since 2017...In the third quarter, stopped a possession with an eight-yard sack, forcing a punt...Also credited with a five-yard tackle for loss and a caused fumble. - SEC Football

rSr/2023

OLB Jordan Wright, Kentucky
News Source: SEC Football
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09/11/22 - Will Levis, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

No. 20 Kentucky beat No. 12 Florida, 26-16, in The Swamp, making Mark Stoops the winningest head coach in Kentucky football history. Stoops passed Bear Bryant on Kentucky's all-time wins list with 61. With the win, the Wildcats jumped 10 spots to No. 10 in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches poll. - American Football Coaches Association

rSr/2023

QB Will Levis, Kentucky
News Source: American Football Coaches Association
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09/10/22 - Keidron Smith, rSr/2023, Kentucky + More +

No. 20 Kentucky intercepted Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson twice, including one Keidron Smith returned 65 yards for a touchdown, and the Wildcats toppled 12th-ranked Florida 26-16 on Saturday in the Swamp to notch consecutive wins in the series for the first time in 45 years. Richardson was off all night, a stark contrast from last week's three-touchdown, turnover-free performance against then-No. 7 Utah. He had two throws in this one that were complete head-scratchers, and the Wildcats (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) made him pay dearly.

Linebacker Jordan Wright, cleared to play Thursday after sitting out the opener, made a one-handed catch on Richardson's pass to the flat late in the second quarter. Will Levis scored three plays later. Richardson's second pick was more egregious. He seemingly misread a defensive alignment and threw a pass to the wide side of the field that Smith easily picked off. Smith returned it down the sideline and had to juke only Richardson to make it to the end zone. It was the third of three big plays that gave Kentucky back-to-back wins over Florida (1-1, 0-1) for the first time since 1976-77. Levis connected with Dane Key for a 55-yard score in the first half, a throw that showed why Levis is projected to be a first-round draft pick in 2023. - Kentucky/AP College Football

rSr/2023

CB Keidron Smith, Kentucky
News Source: Kentucky/AP College Football
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09/10/22 - Devin Leary, rSr/2024, Kentucky + More +

Devin Leary tied a program record by accounting for six touchdowns and No. 18 North Carolina State's defense surrendered 150 total yards as the Wolfpack beat Charleston Southern 55-3 in Saturday's home debut. Leary threw four TD passes, including a perfect 24-yard wheel route to Jordan Houston down the left side and then a 40-yard strike over the middle to Anthony Smith after he shrugged blitzer Nick Perry off his back. Leary's two rushing scores included a 12-yard keeper in the first quarter, when the preseason Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year bounced off three hard hits before hitting the end zone for the game's first TD. Celebrating his 23rd birthday, Leary wrapped up his day by hitting Chris Toudle for a 27-yard TD down the middle and a 45-0 lead with 12:48 left in the third.

The game offered N.C. State (2-0) a chance to regroup from last week's 21-20 win at East Carolina, with the Wolfpack carrying a No. 13 ranking in the AP Top 25 to Greenville and taking the victory when the Pirates missed two critical late kicks. That game was full of problems after halftime, including coming up scoreless on two drives with a combined six goal-line snaps as well as sputtering to 25 fourth-quarter yards. That made recent days, along with kickoff against the Buccaneers (0-2) of the Championship Subdivision, a chance to clean up mistakes. Charleston Southern's top highlight was a 48-yard field goal from Sam Babbush midway through the third quarter to break up the Wolfpack's shutout bid. Ross Malmgren threw for 111 yards but found himself under repeated pressure. Charleston Southern managed 36 yards rushing on 15 carries to remain winless all-time against Bowl Subdivision teams. - North Carolina State/AP College Football

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