2017 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 2017 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky played as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Mark Stoops. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a tie for third place in the Eastern Division. They were invited to the Music City Bowl where they lost to Northwestern.

2017 Kentucky Wildcats football
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
2017 record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coachMark Stoops (5th season)
Offensive coordinatorEddie Gran (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorDarin Hinshaw (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorMatt House (1st; 2nd season)
Base defense3–4 or 4–3
Home stadiumKroger Field
(Capacity: 61,000)
2017 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 2 Georgia x$^  7 –1     13 –2  
South Carolina  5 –3     9 –4  
Kentucky  4 –4     7 –6  
Missouri  4 –4     7 –6  
Florida  3 –5     4 –7  
Vanderbilt  1 –7     5 –7  
Tennessee  0 –8     4 –8  
West Division
No. 10 Auburn xy  7 –1     10 –4  
No. 1 Alabama x#^  7 –1     13 –1  
No. 18 LSU  6 –2     9 –4  
No. 19 Mississippi State  4 –4     9 –4  
Texas A&M  4 –4     7 –6  
Ole Miss*  3 –5     6 –6  
Arkansas  1 –7     4 –8  
Championship: Georgia 28, Auburn 7
    1. – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * Ole Miss ineligible for postseason due to NCAA sanctions
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

In 2016, the Wildcats won seven out of their last ten games after starting the season 0–2, completing their fourth year under Mark Stoops at 7–5 and 4–4 in the SEC (3rd-East). They defeated in-state rival and ninth-ranked Louisville, 41–38, to end the regular season. In the postseason, the Wildcats competed in the TaxSlayer Bowl, losing to Georgia Tech 18–33.

Offseason

Spring Game

The spring game took place on April 14, in Lexington.

DateTimeSpring GameSiteTVResultAttendance
April 147:30 p.m.Blue vs. WhiteKroger Field • Lexington, KYSEC Network31–14 Blue
37,172

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Jeff Badet#13WR6'0"182JuniorOrlando, FLTransferred to Oklahoma
Alvonte Bell#92DE6'5"260JuniorMiramar, FLKicked off team
Tanner Fink#49TE6'2"251SeniorLouisville, KYGraduated
Nico Firios#40LB6'2"245SophomoreLongwood, FLTransferred
Jabari Greenwood#8WR6'3"195SophomoreWashington D.C.Transferred
J.D. Harmon#11DB6'2"200SeniorPaducah, KYGraduated
Jojo Kemp#3RB5'10"200SeniorDeLand, FLGraduated
De'Niro Laster#44LB6'4"241JuniorCleveland Heights, OHTransferred
Blake McClain#24DB5'11"200SeniorWinter Park, FLGraduated
Marcus McWilson#15DB6'0"210SeniorYoungstown, OHGraduated
Courtney Miggins#94DT6'5"285SeniorLithonia, GAGraduated
Zach Myers#57C6'3"305SeniorMiamisburg, OHGraduated
Ryan Timmons#1WR5'10"198SeniorFrankfort, KYGraduated
Jon Toth#72C6'5"310SeniorIndianapolis, INGraduated
Roland Walder#33LB6'3"215FreshmanDayton, OHTransferred
Kobie Walker#8LB6'3"215SophomoreBaltimore, MDTransferred
Stanley Williams#18RB5'9"196JuniorMonroe, GAEntered 2017 NFL Draft
Zane Williams#78DT6'4"290SeniorLexington, KYGraduated

2017 signing class
See also: American football positions, Glossary of American football, and Recruiting (college athletics)

Prior to National Signing Day on February 1, 2017, seven players enrolled for the spring semester in order to participate in spring practice and included six former high school seniors and one junior college transfer.[1] On National Signing Day, Kentucky signed an additional seventeen players out of high school and junior college that completed the 2017 recruiting class.[2]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops enters his fifth season as the Wildcat's head coach for the 2017 season. During his previous four seasons he led the Wildcats to an overall record of 19 wins and 30 losses.

On January 18, 2017 Defensive Coordinator D.J. Eliot announced he would not return to the program for the 2017 season as the defensive coordinator to instead continue his career at Colorado.[3][4] In his place Kentucky promoted special teams coordinator Matt House as Defensive Coordinator at Kentucky.[5]

Name Position Consecutive season at
Kentucky in current position
Mark StoopsHead coach5th
Eddie GranOffensive Coordinator, Running backs2nd
Matt HouseDefensive Coordinator, Inside Linebackers1st
Steve ClinkscaleDefensive backs2nd
Derrick LeBlancDefensive Line1st
Lamar ThomasWide receivers2nd
Vince MarrowTight Ends, Recruiting Coordinator5th
John SchlarmanOffensive Line5th
Darin HinshawQuarterbacks2nd
Dean HoodSpecial Teams1st
Corey EdmondStrength and Conditioning1st
Reference:

Roster
2017 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1 Lynn Bowden Fr
WR 2 Dorian Baker   Sr
RB 3 Jojo Kemp Sr
WR 6 Blake Bone Sr
QB 7 Drew Barker Jr
WR 9 Garrett Johnson Sr
RB 10 A.J. Rose RFr
WR 11 Tavin Richardson So
QB 12 Gunnar Hoak RFr
QB 13 Danny Clark Fr
QB 14 Luke Wright Jr
QB 15 Stephen Johnson Sr
QB 17 Walker Wood  Fr
WR 18 Clevan Thomas Fr
WR 19 Kayaune Ross Jr
WR 20 Ryan Kendall Jr
RB 22 Sihiem King Jr
WR 23 Brayden Berezowitz RFr
RB 24 Bryant Koback  Fr
RB 25 Harold Turks RFr
RB 26 Benny Snell So
WR 27 Bryan Berezowitz RFr
RB 28 Zach Johnson RFr
WR 31 David Bouvier Jr
RB 32 William Mahone Sr
WR 42 Kynan Smith Fr
FB 48 Will Collins Sr
TE 49 Tanner Fink Sr
C 52 Drake Jackson RFr
OG 55 David Baumer Jr
OG 61 Austin Dotson  Fr
OG 62 Dylan Greenburg Sr
OG 64 George Asafo-Adjei Jr
OG 65 Jervontius Stallings Jr
OT 66 Naasir Watkins Fr
OT 67 Landon Young So
OG 68 Nick Haynes Sr
OG 71 Logan Stenberg So
OG 72 E.J. Price  So
OT 73 Kyle Meadows Sr
OG 74 Cole Mosier  Sr
OT 75 Tate Leavitt Jr
OT 76 Sebastien Dolcine Fr
OT 77 Mason Wolfe RFr
OT 79 Luke Fortner RFr
WR 80 JaVonte Richardson  Fr
WR 81 Isaiah Epps Fr
WR 82 Josh Ali Fr
TE 83 Justin Rigg So
WR 84 Charles Moushey Sr
TE 85 Greg Hart Sr
TE 86 Darryl Long So
TE 87 C. J. Conrad Jr
WR 88 Charles Walker Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 3 Jordan Griffin So
DE 4 Joshua Paschal Fr
CB 5 Kendall Randolph Sr
S 7 Mike Edwards Jr
CB 8 Derrick Baity Jr
CB 9 Davonte Robinson RFr
CB 13 Zy'Aire Hughes RFr
LB 15 Jordan Wright  Fr
S 16 Marcus Walker So
CB 17 Tobias Gilliam RFr
DE 20 Kengera Daniel Jr
CB 21 Chris Westry Jr
DB 23 Tyrell Ajian  Fr
S 25 Darius West Jr
DB 26 Jack Jackson RFr
DB 26 Michael Nesbitt  Fr
DB 27 Cedrick Dort  Fr
CB 29 Yusuf Corker  Fr
CB 30 Isaiah Brown Fr
LB 31 Jamar Watkins RFr
LB 32 Eli Brown So
LB 34 Jordan Jones Jr
DE 35 Denzil Ware Jr
DT 36 Jacob Hyde Sr
LB 37 Spencer Foy Jr
LB 38 William Nalty Fr
LB 39 Elijah Barnett So
LB 41 Josh Allen Jr
LB 43 Logan Blue Jr
LB 44 Jamin Davis Fr
LB 45 Jaylin Bannerman RFr
LB 46 Drew Schlegel RFr
LB 47 Jordan Bonner Jr
LB 48 Brett Slusher So
LB 51 Courtney Love Sr
LB 56 Kash Daniel So
LB 58 Alex King  Fr
DT 59 Kordell Looney RFr
DE 60 Calvin Taylor So
DT 69 Matt Elam Sr
DT 77 Naquez Pringle Sr
DE 90 T.J. Carter So
DE 91 Kevin Kirby Fr
DT 92 Phil Hoskins  Fr
DT 93 Ja'Quize Cross RFr
DT 95 Quinton Bohanna Fr
DE 96 Abule Abadi-Fitzgerald  Fr
DE 97 Chris Whittaker  Fr
DE 98 Tymere Dubose Jr
DT 99 Adrian Middleton Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
LS 42 Tristan Yeomans Jr
LS 53 Blake Best So
P 86 Grant McKinniss So
P 91 Tyler Pack RFr
P 93 Matt Panton Sr
PK 95 Miles Butler Jr
PK 99 Austin MacGinnis Sr
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
  • Matt House
    Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
  • Derrick LeBlanc
    Defensive Line
  • Steve Clinkscale
    Defensive Backs
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 1, 2017

Schedule and results

The Wildcats' 2017 schedule consisted of seven home games and five away games. Kentucky hosted three of its four non-conference games—against Eastern Kentucky from the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Michigan from the Mid-American Conference, and Louisville from the ACC. They traveled to Southern Miss for their only road non-conference game. The Wildcats played eight conference games, hosting Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, and Ole Miss and traveling to South Carolina, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Georgia.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 24:00 p.m.at Southern Miss*
CBSSNW 24–1722,761
September 912:00 p.m.Eastern Kentucky*
SECNW 27–1654,868
September 167:30 p.m.at South Carolina
SECNW 23–1382,493
September 237:30 p.m.No. 20 Florida
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECNL 27–2862,945
September 304:00 p.m.Eastern Michigan*
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECNW 24–2050,593
October 77:30 p.m.Missouri
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECNW 40–3457,476
October 213:00 p.m.at Mississippi State
SECNL 7–4558,963
October 287:30 p.m.Tennessee
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
SECNW 29–2657,543
November 44:00 p.m.Ole Miss
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY
SECNL 34–3755,665
November 114:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt
SECNW 44–2127,346
November 183:30 p.m.at No. 7 Georgia
CBSL 13–4292,746
November 2512:00 p.m.Louisville*
  • Kroger Field
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
SECNL 17–4456,186
December 294:00 p.m.vs. No. 23 Northwestern*
ESPNL 23–2448,675
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
  • All times are in Central time
Schedule Source:[7]

Game summaries

at Southern Miss
See also: 2017 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 2016 Southern Miss, 44–35
Kentucky vs. Southern Miss
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 14 10024
Golden Eagles 0 3 7717

at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, Mississippi

  • Date: September 2, 2017
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 86 • Wind: N 4 mph • Weather: Mostly Sunny; 48%hum
  • Game attendance: 22,761
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV: CBSSN
  • [8]

Eastern Kentucky
See also: 2017 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team
Overall record Last Meeting Result
4–0 2015 Kentucky, 34–27 OT
Eastern Kentucky vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Colonels 7 6 3016
Wildcats 3 7 71027

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 9, 2017
  • Game time: Noon EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 70 • Wind: 9 MPH E • Weather: Mostly sunny
  • Game attendance: 54,868
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV: SEC Network
  • [9]

at South Carolina
See also: 2017 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
10–17–1 2016 Kentucky, 17–10
Kentucky vs. South Carolina
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 7 7 3623
Gamecocks 6 0 0713

at Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina

  • Date: September 16, 2017
  • Game time: 7:30pm EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 85 • Wind: NNE 4mph • Weather: Partly Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 82,483
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV: SEC Network
  • [10]

#20 Florida
See also: 2017 Florida Gators football team
Overall record Last Meeting Result
17–50 2016 Florida, 45–7
#20 Florida vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
#20 Gators 0 14 01428
Wildcats 7 7 10327

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 23, 2017
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 80 • Wind: 6 mph • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 62,945
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV: SEC Network
  • [11]

Eastern Michigan
See also: 2017 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team
Overall record Last Meeting Result
First meeting
Eastern Michigan vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Eagles 7 7 0620
Wildcats 7 7 3724

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: September 30, 2017
  • Game time: 4:00pm EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 71 • Wind: 12 ENE • Weather: Sunny, breezy
  • Game attendance: 50,593
  • Referee: Steve Marlowe
  • TV: SEC Network
  • [12]

Missouri
See also: 2017 Missouri Tigers football team
Overall record Last Meeting Result
4–3 2016 Kentucky, 35–21
Missouri vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Tigers 0 14 13734
Wildcats 10 10 71340

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 7, 2017
  • Game time: 7:30pm EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 75 • Wind: S10 • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 57,476
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV: SEC Network
  • [13]

at Mississippi State
See also: 2017 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
22–22 2016 Kentucky, 40–38
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 0 7 007
Bulldogs 7 10 72145

at Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi

  • Date: October 21, 2017
  • Game time: 4:00p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature:83 • Wind:SE @ 12 • Weather:partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 58,963
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV: SECN
  • [14]

Tennessee
See also: 2017 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Kentucky–Tennessee football rivalry
Overall record Last Meeting Result
24–79–9 2016 Tennessee, 49–36
Tennessee vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Volunteers 6 14 3326
Wildcats 7 14 0829

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: October 28, 2017
  • Game time: EST
  • Game weather: Temperature:38 • Wind:5mph NW • Weather:Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 57,543
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV: SECN
  • [15]

Ole Miss
See also: 2017 Ole Miss Rebels football team
Overall record Last Meeting Result
14–27–1 2011 Kentucky, 30–13
Ole Miss vs. Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Rebels 7 10 101037
Wildcats 3 17 7734

at Kroger Field, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: November 4, 2017
  • Game time: EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 65 • Wind: 6mph S • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 55,665
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV: SECN
  • [16]

at Vanderbilt
See also: 2017 Vanderbilt Commodores football team and Kentucky–Vanderbilt football rivalry
Overall record Last meeting Result
44–42–4 2016 Kentucky, 20–13
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 7 13 21344
Commodores 7 0 14021

at Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: November 11, 2017
  • Game time: EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 61 • Wind: S6 • Weather: PARTLY CLOUDY
  • Game attendance: 27,346
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV: SECN
  • [17]

at #7 Georgia
See also: 2017 Georgia Bulldogs football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
12–56–2 2016 Georgia, 27–24
Kentucky vs. #7 Georgia
1 2 34Total
Wildcats 6 0 7013
#7 Bulldogs 7 14 71442

at Sanford Stadium, Athens, Georgia

  • Date: November 18, 2017
  • Game time: EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 68 • Wind: 9 SW • Weather: Overcast
  • Game attendance: 92,746
  • TV: CBS
  • [18]

Louisville
See also: 2017 Louisville Cardinals football team and Governor's Cup (Kentucky)
Overall record Last Meeting Result
15–14 2016 Kentucky, 41–38
Louisville at Kentucky
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 17 14 31044
Wildcats 7 3 0717

at Kroger Field • Lexington, Kentucky

#23 Northwestern–Music City Bowl
See also: 2017 Northwestern Wildcats football team and 2017 Music City Bowl
Overall record Last Meeting Result
0–1 1928 Northwestern, 7–0
Music City Bowl
1 2 34Total
UK Wildcats 7 0 7923
#23 NU Wildcats 3 14 0724

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: December 29, 2017
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 48,675
  • TV: ESPN

Awards and milestones

SEC honors

All-SEC First Team

All-SEC Second Team

Freshman All-SEC

School records
  • Most touchdowns scored in a season: 18, Benny Snell (ongoing)
  • Most rushing touchdowns in a season: 18, Benny Snell (ongoing)[19]
  • Most career rushing touchdowns: 31, Benny Snell (ongoing)[19]
  • Most points scored in a season: 110, Benny Snell (ongoing)[19]
  • Most career points scored: 354, Austin MacGinnis (ongoing)
  • Most field goals in a season: 21, Austin MacGinnis (ongoing; ties own record from 2016)
  • Most career field goals: 71, Austin MacGinnis (ongoing)

National awards and honors

References
  1. Roberts, Ben (2016-01-13). "UK announces seven football recruits have enrolled early for spring semester". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on 2017-08-05. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  2. Roberts, Ben (2017-02-01). "Meet UK's football signees for the recruiting class of 2017". Lexington Herald-Leader. Archived from the original on 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  3. Hale, Jon (January 18, 2017). "Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot leaving UK". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  4. Crawford, Eric (2017-01-19). "Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot leaving Kentucky for Colorado, according to reports". WDRB. Archived from the original on 2017-01-29. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
  5. Hale, Jon (January 30, 2017). "UK promoting House to defensive coordinator". The Courier-Journal. Louisville. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  6. "Football – 2015 Coaches". University of Kentucky Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on 2012-01-03. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  7. "2017 Kentucky Wildcats Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  8. "KENTUCKY (1-0) -VS- SOUTHERN MISS (0-1)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. "EASTERN KENTUCKY (0-2) -VS- KENTUCKY (2-0)". Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  10. "KENTUCKY (3-0 , 1-0) -VS- SOUTH CAROLINA (2-1 , 1-1)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  11. "FLORIDA (2-1 , 2-0) -VS- KENTUCKY (3-1 , 1-1)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  12. "EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-2 , 0-1) -VS- KENTUCKY (4-1 , 1-1)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  13. "MISSOURI (1-4 , 0-3) -VS- KENTUCKY (5-1 , 2-1)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  14. "KENTUCKY (5-2 , 2-2) -VS- MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-2 , 2-2)". University of Kentucky. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  15. "TENNESSEE (3-5 , 0-5) -VS- KENTUCKY (6-2 , 3-2)". Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  16. "OLE MISS (4-5 , 2-4) -VS- KENTUCKY (6-3 , 3-3)". Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  17. "KENTUCKY (7-3 , 4-3) -VS- VANDERBILT (4-6 , 0-6)". Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  18. "KENTUCKY (7-4 , 4-4) -VS- GEORGIA (10-1 , 7-1)". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  19. "Kentucky's Josh Allen and Benny Snell Jr. Earn All-SEC Honors" (Press release). Kentucky Wildcats. December 5, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  20. "Bowden Jr. Named to Freshman All-SEC Team" (Press release). Kentucky Wildcats. December 7, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  21. "2017 College Football Awards: Baker Mayfield takes Davey O'Brien, Maxwell Awards". ESPN.com. December 8, 2017. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
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