The SEC is always an interesting conference during football season, and this year, it figures to be even more fascinating.
The additions of Oklahoma and Texas make the SEC even more difficult that it has been, and gives the conference even more national title contenders. Where does Kentucky fit into the new-look SEC?
ESPN analysts Chris Low and Mark Schlabach took a look at the SEC on Thursday, examining Playoff, the top players, and their power rankings. Kentucky comes in down the list a little bit at tenth. They had this to say about the Wildcats:
Mark Stoops is the dean of SEC coaches, entering his 11th season at Kentucky. He’s won 10 games twice in his last five seasons, but is looking to regroup after going 7-6 a year ago and nearly being named the Texas A&M coach.
Low and Schlabach also listed a Kentucky linebacker as one of the conference’s top transfer additions. Jamon Dumas-Johnson came over from Georgia, where he had 24 starts. He should be one of the SEC’s best linebackers.
Related: Analyst says Kentucky is best team in Bluegrass State
Defensive lineman Deone Walker was also mentioned as on of their favorite players in the league.
The massive anchor of Kentucky’s defense is going to be one of the most coveted players in next year’s NFL draft because of his size (6-6, 345 pounds) and athleticism. He had 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 8 quarterback hurries last season, despite facing myriad double-team blocks. He is already being compared to NFL starters Derrick Brown and Dexter Lawrence.
It’s an exciting season for the SEC as a whole. Kentucky has a brutal schedule, and getting back to a bowl game won’t be easy. However, they have a talented and experienced team, and will be fun to watch, no matter what happens.