2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team

2016 Kentucky Wildcats football
Kentucky Wildcats logo
Conference Southeastern Conference
Division Eastern Division
2016 record 7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach Mark Stoops (4th season)
Offensive coordinator Eddie Gran (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator D. J. Eliot (4th season)
Base defense 3–4 or 4–3
Home stadium Commonwealth Stadium
(Capacity: 61,000)
2016 SEC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 14 Florida x  6 –2     9 –4  
No. 22 Tennessee  4 –4     9 –4  
Georgia  4 –4     8 –5  
Kentucky  4 –4     7 –6  
South Carolina  3 –5     6 –7  
Vanderbilt  3 –5     6 –7  
Missouri  2 –6     4 –8  
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^  8 –0     14 –1  
No. 24 Auburn  5 –3     8 –5  
No. 13 LSU  5 –3     8 –4  
Texas A&M  4 –4     8 –5  
Arkansas  3 –5     7 –6  
Mississippi State  3 –5     6 –7  
Ole Miss  2 –6     5 –7  
Championship: Alabama 54, Florida 16
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team (variously "Kentucky", "UK", or "Wildcats") represented the University of Kentucky in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the program's 123rd overall and 83rd as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fourth-year head coach Mark Stoops and the played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Division. They were invited to the TaxSlayer Bowl where they lost to Georgia Tech.

Pre-season

Previous season

In 2015, the Wildcats lost six out of their last seven games after starting the season 4–1, completing their second year under Mark Stoops at 5–7 and 2–6 in the SEC (6th-East). They lost to in-state rival Louisville, 38–24, to end the season, missing out on their fifth consecutive bowl game since the 2010 season.

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Daron Blaylock#7LB6'1"226SeniorMarietta, GAGraduated
Zack Blaylock#17DB6'0"193JuniorMarietta, GAGraduated
Glenn Faulkner#18DB6'2"201JuniorEast St. Louis, ILGraduated
Ryan Flannigan#33LB6'2"225SeniorMissouri City, TXGraduated
Josh Forrest#45LB6'3"230SeniorPaducah, KYGraduated
Jason Hatcher#6DE6'3"247JuniorLouisville, KYTransferred to West Georgia
Khalid Henderson#22LB6'1"235SeniorAustell, GAGraduated
Farrington Huguenin#91DE6'4"271SeniorColumbia, SCGraduated
Cory Johnson#67DT6'3"300SeniorColumbia, SCGraduated
Jabari Johnson#47LB6'1"250SeniorStone Mountain, GAGraduated
Melvin Lewis#90DT6'4"311SeniorCompton, CAGraduated
Cody Quinn#16DB5'11"185SeniorMiddletown, OHGraduated
A.J. Stamps#1DB6'1"205SeniorVicksburg, MSGraduated
Jordan Swindle#70OL6'7"304SeniorJacksonville, FLGraduated
Fred Tiller#3DB6'0"196SeniorHomerville, GAGraduated
Patrick Towles#14QB6'3"235JuniorFort Thomas, KYTransferred to Boston College
Zach West#67OL6'3"305SeniorLexington, KYGraduated

2016 signing class

Prior to National Signing Day in February 3, 2016, five players enrolled for the spring semester in order to participate in spring practice and included four former high school seniors and one junior college transfer.[1]

On National Signing Day, Kentucky signed an additional twenty players out of high school and junior college that completed the 2016 recruiting class. The class was highlighted by three Army All-American's as well as Kentucky's Mr. Football.[2]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops enters his fourth season as the Wildcat's head coach for the 2016 season. During his previous three seasons he led the Wildcats to an overall record of 12 wins and 24 losses.

On December 18, 2015 Offensive Coordinator Shannon Dawson announced he would not return to the program for the 2016 season as the offensive coordinator.[3][4] In his place Kentucky hired Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran as the assistant head coach of offense at Kentucky. Cincinnati quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw has also joined the UK staff as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator.[5][6]

Name Position Consecutive season at
Kentucky in current position
Mark StoopsHead coach3rd
Eddie GranOffensive Coordinator, Running backs1st
D. J. EliotDefensive Coordinator, Inside Linebackers3rd
Steve ClinkscaleDefensive backs1st
Jimmy BrumbaughDefensive Line3rd
Lamar ThomasWide receivers1st
Vince MarrowTight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator3rd
John SchlarmanOffensive Line3rd
Darin HinshawQuarterbacks1st
Corey EdmondStrength and Conditioning1st
Reference:

2016 signing class

Returning starters

Offense

Roster

2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1 Ryan Timmons Sr
WR 2 Dorian Baker Jr
RB 3 Jojo Kemp Sr
WR 6 Blake Bone Jr
QB 7 Drew Barker So
WR 8 Jabari Greenwood Fr
WR 9 Garrett Johnson Jr
RB 10 A.J. Rose  Fr
WR 11 Tavin Richardson Fr
QB 12 Gunnar Hoak Fr
WR 13 Jeff Badet Jr
QB 14 Luke Wright  So
QB 15 Stephen Johnson Jr
QB 16 Davis Mattingly Fr
WR 17 Alexander Montgomery Jr
RB 18 Stanley Williams Jr
WR 19 Kayaune Ross So
WR 20 Ryan Kendall So
RB 22 Sihiem King So
RB 24 Zach Johnson Fr
RB 25 Harold Turks Fr
RB 26 Benny Snell Fr
RB 30 Ditalian Tabler Fr
WR 31 David Bouvier So
RB 32 William Mahone Jr
WR 42 Kynan Smith Fr
FB 48 Will Collins Sr
TE 49 Tanner Fink Sr
C 52 Drake Jackson Fr
OG 55 David Baumer So
OG 57 Zach Myers Sr
OG 61 Tristen Salyer Fr
C 62 Dylan Greenburg Jr
OG 63 Wells Purdom Fr
OG 64 George Asafo-Adjei So
OG 65 Jervontius Stallings So
OT 67 Landon Young Fr
OG 68 Nick Haynes Jr
OG 69 Ramsey Meyers Jr
OG 71 Logan Stenberg Fr
C 72 Jon Toth Sr
OT 73 Kyle Meadows Jr
OG 74 Cole Mosier Jr
OT 75 Tate Leavitt Jr
OT 77 Mason Wolfe Fr
WR 80 Marvin Robinson Fr
WR 81 Dakota Holtzclaw Fr
TE 83 Justin Rigg Fr
WR 84 Charles Moushey Jr
TE 85 Greg Hart Jr
TE 86 Darryl Long So
TE 87 C.J. Conrad So
WR 88 Charles Walker Jr
WR 89 Zy'Aire Hughes Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 3 Jordan Griffin Fr
S 4 Marcus Walker Fr
CB 5 Kendall Randolph Jr
LB 8 Kobie Walker So
CB 9 Davonte Robinson Fr
CB 11 J.D. Harmon Jr
LB 14 Dorian Hendrix Fr
S 15 Marcus McWilson Sr
CB 16 Cody Quinn Sr
CB 17 Tobias Gilliam Fr
DE 20 Kengera Daniel So
CB 21 Chris Westry So
DB 23 Jared Tucker So
DB 24 Blake McClain Sr
S 25 Darius West So
S 27 Mike Edwards So
CB 28 Kei Beckham Fr
CB 29 Derrick Baity So
CB 29 Derrick Baity Fr
CB 30 Isaiah Brown Fr
LB 31 Jamar Watkins Fr
LB 32 Eli Brown Fr
LB 33 Roland Walder Fr
LB 34 Jordan Jones So
DE 35 Denzil Ware So
DT 36 Jacob Hyde Jr
LB 37 Spencer Foy So
LB 38 Alex Brownell Fr
LB 39 Elijah Barnett Fr
LB 40 Nico Firios So
LB 41 Josh Allen So
LB 43 Logan Blue So
LB 44 De'Niro Laster Jr
LB 45 Jaylin Bannerman Fr
LB 46 Drew Schlegel Fr
LB 47 Jordan Bonner Fr
LB 51 Courtney Love Jr
DT 59 Kordell Looney Fr
DE 60 Calvin Taylor Fr
DT 69 Matt Elam Jr
DT 77 Naquez Pringle Jr
DT 78 Zane Williams Sr
DE 90 T.J. Carter Fr
DE 91 Kevin Kirby Fr
DE 92 Alvonte Bell Jr
DT 93 Ja'Quize Cross Fr
DT 94 Courtney Miggins Sr
DE 98 Tymere Dubose So
DT 99 Adrian Middleton So
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
LS 53 Blake Best Fr
P 80 Grant McKinniss Fr
P 93 Bryan Kirshe So
PR 1 Ryan Timmons Sr
PR 88 Charles Walker Jr
PK 95 Miles Butler So
PK 99 Austin MacGinnis Jr
KR 22 Sihiem King So
KR 26 Benny Snell Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Eddie Gran
    Offensive Coordinator/Running backs
  • Darin Hinshaw
    Quarterbacks Coach
  • Lamar Thomas
    Wide Receivers
  • Vince Marrow
    Tight Ends
  • John Schlarman
    Offensive Line
  • D. J. Eliot
    Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
  • Jimmy Brumbaugh
    Defensive Line
  • Steve Clinkscale
    Defensive Backs
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: May 7, 2015

Schedule

Kentucky announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Wildcats will host SEC foes Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt, and will travel to Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee.[8]

The team will host three out of four of its non–conference games which are against Austin Peay from the Ohio Valley Conference, New Mexico State Aggies from the Sun Belt Conference, Louisville from the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Southern Miss Golden Eagles from Conference USA.

Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance
September 3 7:30 p.m. Southern Miss* Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY ESPNU L 35–44   57,230
September 10 3:30 p.m. at Florida Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL CBS L 7–45   85,821
September 17 4:00 p.m. New Mexico State* Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY SECN W 62–42   49,669
September 24 7:30 p.m. South Carolina Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY SECN W 17–10   51,702
October 1 7:00 p.m. at No. 1 Alabama Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL ESPN L 6–34   101,821
October 8 4:00 p.m. Vanderbilt † Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY (Rivalry) SECN W 20–13   55,030
October 22 7:30 p.m. Mississippi State Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY (Rivalry) SECN W 40–38   50,414
October 29 12:00 p.m. at Missouri Faurot Field • Columbia, MO SECN W 35–21   50,234
November 5 7:30 p.m. Georgia Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY SECN L 24–27   62,507
November 12 12:00 p.m. at Tennessee Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Rivalry) SECN L 36–49   101,075
November 19 4:30 p.m. Austin Peay* Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY SECN W 49–13   48,948
November 26 12:00 p.m. at No. 11 Louisville* Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY (Governor's Cup) ESPN W 41–38   54,075
December 31 11:00 a.m. vs. Georgia Tech* EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FL (TaxSlayer Bowl) ESPN L 18–33   43,102
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Schedule Source:[9]

Game summaries

Southern Mississippi

Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0[10] 1986 Kentucky, 32–0
Southern Mississippi vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Golden Eagles 7 10 21644
Wildcats 21 14 0035

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 3, 2016
  • Game time: 7:32 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 76 °F • Wind: ENE 7 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 57,230
  • Referee: Ken Antee
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Ahmad Brooks (analyst)
  • Game Recap[11]

Florida

Overall record Last meeting Result
17–49[10] 2015 Florida, 14–9
Kentucky vs. Florida
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 0 077
Gators 14 10 14745

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

  • Date: September 10, 2016
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 85,821
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst)

New Mexico State

Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting
New Mexico State vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Aggies 21 14 7042
Wildcats 14 21 141362

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 17, 2016
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 49,669
  • TV: SEC Network

South Carolina

Overall record Last meeting Result
9–17–1[10] 2015 Kentucky, 26–22
South Carolina vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Gamecocks 0 7 3010
Wildcats 0 3 7717

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 24, 2016
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 51,702
  • TV: SEC Network

Alabama

Overall record Last meeting Result
36–2–1[10] 2013 Alabama, 48–7
Kentucky vs. Alabama
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 3 0 036
#1 Crimson Tide 3 14 14334

at Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

  • Date: October 1, 2016
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 101,821
  • TV: ESPN

Vanderbilt

Overall record Last meeting Result
42–42–4[10] 2015 Vanderbilt, 21–17
Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Commodores 3 0 7313
Wildcats 7 10 0320

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 8, 2016
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 55,030
  • TV: SEC Network

Mississippi State

Overall record Last meeting Result
21–22[10] 2015 Mississippi State, 42–16
Mississippi State vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 0 14 101438
Wildcats 0 6 211340

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 22, 2016
  • Game time: 7:30pm EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 50,414
  • TV: SEC Network

Missouri

Overall record Last meeting Result
3–3[10] 2015 Kentucky, 21–13
Kentucky vs. Missouri
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 7 14 7735
Tigers 0 7 01421

at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

  • Date: October 29, 2016
  • Game time: 12:00 NOON EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 50,234
  • TV: SEC Network

Georgia

Overall record Last meeting Result
55–12–2[10] 2015 Georgia, 27–3
Georgia vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 7 6 31127
Wildcats 7 7 7324

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: November 5, 2016
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 62,507
  • TV: SEC Network

Tennessee

Overall record Last meeting Result
78–24–9[10] 2015 Tennessee, 52–21
Kentucky vs. Tennessee
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 10 3 32036
Volunteers 14 7 141449

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

  • Date: November 12, 2016
  • Game time: 12:00 NOON EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 101,075
  • TV: SEC Network

Austin Peay

Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting[10]
Austin Peay vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Governors 7 6 0013
Wildcats 0 21 21749

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: November 19, 2016
  • Game time: 4:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: • Wind: • Weather:
  • Game attendance: 48,948
  • TV: SEC Network

Louisville

Overall record Last meeting Result
14–14[10] 2015 Louisville, 38–24
Kentucky Wildcats at #11 Louisville Cardinals
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 14 7 101041
#11 Cardinals 7 17 7738

at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Kentucky

Game information

Georgia Tech

Overall record Last meeting Result
7–11–1[10] 1960 Georgia Tech, 23–13
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs Kentucky Wildcats
1 2 34Total
Yellow Jackets 10 10 31033
Wildcats 0 3 01518

at EverBank Field • Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: December 31, 2016
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. EST
  • TV: ESPN
  • Source:

References

  1. ↑ Hale, Jon (2016-01-16). "UK adds five early enrollees from 2016 class". Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2016-01-16.
  2. ↑ Moore, Josh (2016-01-08). "UK adds five early enrollees from 2016 class". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  3. ↑ Hale, Jon (December 18, 2015). "Shannon Dawson out as Kentucky OC". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ Smith, Jennifer (December 18, 2015). "Kentucky's Shannon Dawson won't return next season". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ Hale, Jon (December 19, 2014). "Gran, Hinshaw join Kentucky football staff". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Smith, Jennifer (December 29, 2015). "UK football hires Cincinnati's Eddie Gran to be assistant head coach of the offense". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Football – 2015 Coaches". University of Kentucky Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Football's 2016 Schedule Announced" (Press release). University of Kentucky Department of Athletics. October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ "2016 Kentucky Wildcats Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "UK 2016 Media Guide". University of Kentucky Department of Athletics. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  11. ↑ Moore, Deb (September 3, 2016). "Wildcats Drop Opener to Southern Miss". University of Kentucky Department of Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  12. ↑ http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400869071 ESPN Box Score: Kentucky at Louisville
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