2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Secondary

Hello everyone, and welcome to our final installment, going position by position for the 2025 Kentucky football team. A huge thank you to everyone who’s read our previous previews. In case you missed them, our recent ones focused on the defense. First, it was the defensive line, followed by the edge rushers and linebackers. Both of those featured a familiar theme on Mark Stoops’ 13th Wildcat squad, trying to replace some long-time players. However, the secondary is a different story. In fact, that’s arguably the only position where Kentucky has a great deal of returning depth. Let’s introduce you to the players with the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Secondary. In addition, we’ll go over the Wildcat special teams.

Over the last few years, the Wildcat program has become somewhat of a “Defensive Back U,” sending a number of players to the NFL. The latest being Maxwell Hairston, who went to Buffalo with pick 30 in the first round.

Since Chris Collins became coach and now co-defensive coordinator with Brad White, three Cats have gone on to the league. JQ Hardaway certainly looks like the next potential pro player. In his third year at Kentucky, Hardaway is coming off his best season. In 2024, the senior made 47 tackles, had four pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. He’ll be counted on as a leader on defense.

DJ Waller was a big transfer pick-up  from the National Champion Michigan. However, he struggled partly due to injury and inconsistent play. Appearing in seven games, Waller made 13 tackles and had two passes defended. The Cats need a breakthrough year from him.

When the Cats kick off against Toledo, the nickelback spot is likely held down by Quay’Sheed Scott. Playing in six games as a true freshman, Scott made six tackles while playing the corner and nickelback spots.

Terhyon Nichols made a big impact during his freshman season. Playing in eight games, the Cincinnati native led the team with five pass breakups to go along with 10 tackles. He could be a breakout candidate in 2025.

Former Ohio State transfer Jantzen Dunn missed the final five games last year due to injury. Nasir Addison is another player looking to crack the rotation. The Cats brought in Maryland transfer Kevis Thomas, who had 21 tackles and two passes defended.

Kentucky also has three freshmen looking for playing time. Andrew Purcell is Kentucky’s highest-rated recruit for the 2025 class. The 10th-rated player in Alabama had three interceptions and a pick-six. DeMarcus Gardner took three of his four interceptions to the house last year. Grant Grayton was the 30th-best player in Maryland last year.

That’s your cornerback room for the Wildcats. Continuing on with our 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Secondary, let’s move to the safeties.

The Cats lost safeties Zion Childress and Kristian Story. Childress ranked fourth on the team with 62 tackles while Story added 27. One of the more interesting stories in the off-season was the fact that UK didn’t go after a safety in the portal. The staff’s reasoning is that they like who they have.

Jordan Lovett returns for his final year in Lexington. A season ago, he was second on the team with 63 tackles and tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Ty Bryant is the starter at the other safety position. The junior’s 46 tackles placed him sixth on the squad. In addition, he had an interception and two forced fumbles. Bryant hasn’t missed a game in two years at Kentucky. Coach Frank Buffano needs that to continue in 2025.

Behind them is a mix of younger players and freshmen.

Sophomore Cam Dooley played mostly on special teams last year. He did have four tackles, including one for a loss. Jaden Smith reshirted in 2024. However, he has good size and should see some time this season.

Martels Carter Jr. ranks as the third-best player in Kentucky, coming from perennial power Paducah Tilghman. Expectations are high, and Carter Jr. should see action from day one. Finally, Kentucky has Dyllon Williams, a former Missouri commit who flipped to the Cats back in October.

That’s your safety room for Kentucky this season. As we finish up the 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Secondary, let’s now look at the special teams.

UK must replace Alex Raynor, one of the best kickers in school history. The Lou Groza Award Finalist hit on 25 of 27 field goals, including 18 in a row, the sixth-best streak in SEC history. In addition, his 93.8 field goal percentage broke his own school record, which he set in 2023. As a result, he made first-team All-SEC.

Jacob Kauwe likely replaces Raynor. He played in one game in 2024, handling kickoff duties against Murray State. The Cats also have junior college transfer Zack Schreiner.

The kickoff specialist job goes to Aidan Laros. The senior transferred to Kentucky before last season after two years at Tennessee-Martin and one at Charlotte. In addition, he is the Wildcats’ punter.

Laros took over for Wilson Berry as UK punter for the last nine games of the season. He finished sixth in the SEC with a 45.4-yard average per punt. He was an FCS All-American while at Tennessee-Martin. Berry returns for another year in Lexington. It’s possible that both see action this season.

Finally, Kentucky must replace the top return man in the SEC. Barion Brown will be returning kicks for LSU in 2025. During his time in Kentucky, Brown took five to the house, setting an SEC record and 11th all-time in NCAA history.

The Cats have several options for kick and punt returners. One is Alabama transfer Kendrick Law. During his three years in Tuscaloosa, Law averaged 24.4 yards per return. In 2023, he ranked fifth in the SEC with 404 return yards and fourth return average at 23.8. A season ago, Law only had five kick returns but averaged 26.2 yards.

Ja’Mori Maclin served as the primary punt returner last season, averaging 7.4 yards on 14 returns. Clemson transfer Troy Stellato and freshman Quinton Simmons are other options.

Unlike a lot of positions on the 2025 roster, the secondary is one where the Cats return lots of experience. The hope is that Hardaway becomes the next Cat going to the NFL while Waller has that breakthrough year.

Lovett and Bryant are locked in at safety. However, what happens if either one misses time is a concern. The secondary was hit hard by injuries last season.

Kauwe and Laros should make a good 1-2 combination on special teams, while the mixture of players should offset the loss of Brown.

Thanks for checking out our 2025 Kentucky Fall Camp: Secondary here at Last Word On College Football. Next time out is a big one, predicting the Wildcats’ 2025 record.