A lot to like about the Kentucky offense in 2024

 

Despite being on its fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, the Wildcats have a lot of weapons.

Despite being on its fifth offensive coordinator in as many years, there’s a lot to be optimistic about regarding Kentucky’s offense in 2024, according to The Late Kick’s Josh Pate.

“I like to stop in Lexington, Kentucky, this time of year because it’s one of the most experienced offenses in America, and we’ve added Brock Vandagriff at quarterback, the transfer from Georgia,” Pate remarked. “Dane Key and Barion Brown, the top two wide receivers, are returning. The offensive line has four starters with 15-plus starts, all upperclassmen. They also did well in the portal at wide receiver, which I forgot to mention. They have a good 1-2 punch at running back, so everything I need to believe in Mark Stoops and his offense is there. Whenever I mention Kentucky, someone says, ‘Well, they’re still going to be the same old Kentucky.’ Like that’s a bad thing. Kentucky has not been a bad program. I don’t know why people say that.”

The Wildcats’ new offensive coordinator, Bush Hamdan, who joins from Boise State, has an abundance of offensive weapons at his disposal.

Vandagriff, who spent two seasons as a backup at Georgia, has something to prove at quarterback and is widely regarded as one of the top quarterback pickups from the transfer portal this offseason.

Key (42 receptions, 636 yards, 6 TDs) and Brown (43 receptions, 539 yards, 4 TDs) combined for 85 receptions, nearly 1,200 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. They return at wide receiver, and Kentucky also added North Texas’ 1,000-yard receiver Ja’Mori Maclin through the transfer portal.

Vandagriff will also have two tight ends as receiving targets: Jordan Dingle (12 receptions, 270 yards) and Josh Kattus (8 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TDs), who combined for 20 receptions, nearly 300 receiving yards, and two scores.

At running back, Kentucky added Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum, ranked as a top-15 running back in the portal by 247Sports. Trayanum rushed for 373 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score with one second left in the Buckeyes’ 17-14 win over Notre Dame.

In the running back stable, UK also retains Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, who displayed promising moments last season with an average of 7.0 yards per carry and demonstrated proficiency in catching passes out of the backfield. They also have young talent in Jamarion Wilcox.

On the offensive line, Kentucky welcomes back full-time starters Eli Cox, Marques Cox, and Jager Burton, along with regular rotation players Courtland Ford and Dylan Ray. They have bolstered their ranks by adding transfers Gerald Mincey from Tennessee and Jalen Farmer from Florida. Offensive line coach Eric Wolford returns for his second stint with the Wildcats.

Kentucky kicks off the 2024 season at Kroger Field against Southern Miss on Aug. 31, marking the first of four consecutive home games to start the season. The Wildcats’ non-conference schedule also features matchups against Ohio (Sept. 20), Murray State (Nov. 16), and Louisville (Nov. 30). In SEC play, Kentucky will travel to Austin for the first time since 1951 to face Texas on Nov. 23.