Welcome back to the latest installment of our look at Mark Stoops’ 13th Wildcat squad. In case you missed them, the most recent featured the defensive line. This time around it’s a look at yet another position featuring a great deal of turnover. In addition, we’ll talk about the Edge rusher position where a UK great must be replaced. Let’s get going with our 2025 Kentucky Spring Preview: Linebackers.
Big Shoes To Fill
Edge rusher J.J. Weaver leaves Lexington following a great career. He recorded 197 tackles, including 21.5 for a loss. Furthermore, he is third on the school’s all-time sacks list with 22. He also won the Jason Witten College Man Of The Year Award this past season.
Congratulations to the winner of the 8th Annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, J.J. Weaver of @UKFootball. pic.twitter.com/LMsivsbmhF
— Jason Witten Award (@WittenCMOY) February 13, 2025
Weaver set a big bar, one that someone on Brad White’s defense will have to step up.
Additions Through The Portal
Like every school in college football, Kentucky’s trying to get better through transfers. Two of the guys looking to replace Weaver came from the portal. Kam Olds comes to Kentucky from Kent State. He recorded 42 tackles, six sacks and an interception in 2024. The other newcomer is Sam Greene, who’s coming from the west coast. Playing at USC, Greene had 15 tackles and a sack.
Pushing For Playing Time
Two other Cats returning in 2025 are trying to break into the rotation. Stephen Soles Jr. played in 11 games as a freshman recording five tackles and a sack. He’s expected to have a bigger role in the Wildcats’ defense this season.
Jacob Smith was a huge recruiting win for the Cats in the 2024 class. However, he suffered a shoulder injury and only appeared in four games. He’s another player the staff thinks can take a leap forward in 2025. UK also has an incoming local star in Frederick Douglass’ Cedric Works, who is the fourth best player in the state.
That takes care of the players at the edge position. As we continue with our 2025 Kentucky spring preview: linebackers, let’s move to that group of players.
More Top Players To Replace
Over the past few years, Mike Stoops’ linebacker position has been one of the most stable on the team. However, that’s not the case heading into 2025. D’Eryk Jackson also leaves Lexington after a great college career. Jackson made 216 tackles, with 17 for a loss. He also had five interceptions with one returned for a touchdown and three sacks.
As if that wasn’t enough Jamon Dumas-Johnson is gone as well. After transferring from Georgia, he led the team with 67 tackles with seven for a loss. He also had 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for a score. Much like Weaver, these are big shoes to fill. Let’s look at who’ll need to step up.
Who Are The New Starters?
Marshall transfer Landyn Watson likely takes over the middle linebacker spot left behind by Dumas-Johnson. A senior, Watson was one of a slew of players who departed Marshall in the wake of Charles Huff leaving for Southern Mississippi. If you remember, the Thundering Herd were so decimated by transfers they opted out of the Independence Bowl. Watson had 65 tackles and an interception for Marshall last season.
Redshirt senior Daveren Rayner heads into spring as the leading candidate to replace Jackson at weakside linebacker. Rayner only played in four games last year, making 13 tackles. However, the Northern Illinois transfer has played more than 1,300 snaps recording 170 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
The final starter is Alex Afari Jr. who will move back to his natural hybrid position of strong side linebacker and safety. Last season he played a little of everywhere on defense due to injuries and ranked third on the squad with 62 tackles and led with 11.5 for a loss.
Let’s finish up our 2025 Kentucky spring preview: linebackers with a look at some guys pushing the starters for playing time.
Trying To Crack The Rotation
We’ve been talking about Grant Godfrey since he signed with the Wildcats in 2022. A season ago he made nine tackles in seven games. He’s a guy the staff thinks can take that next step in 2025. In addition UK has three other players looking for playing time. Sophomore Antwan Smith played primarily on special teams last year. Devin Smith was a big recruiting win for the Cats over LSU. The final Wildcat is Georgia native Quintavion Norman. Both players redshirted last season.
Final Thoughts
Both the edge rusher and linebackers are positions that could be among the best on the 2025 Wildcat team. However, depth is a question and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see UK go for another player at Edge when the spring portal opens. The linebacker spot features three guys with a lot of experience and several players looking to break into the rotation.
Thanks for checking out of 2025 Kentucky Spring Preview: Linebackers here at Last Word On College Football. Next time out we’ll wrap up by looking at the secondary and special teams.
Main Image: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
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