Kentucky football has a defense loaded with experience, especially on the front seven. They’ll likely start five Seniors and two Juniors at those seven spots. Behind them, though, they have some young talent waiting in the wings. Jerod Smith II is one of those players.
This is the next in a series of articles getting to know the Kentucky football team by counting down the days until the season begins on August 31st. It’s 95 days away, and number 95 for the Wildcats is Freshman Jerod Smith II.
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Smith was Kentucky’s top recruit in the 2024 class, and one of the top 100 recruits in the country according to 247sports, who had him ranked number 89 overall. The four-star edge rusher was the top player in Kentucky and a top ten edge rusher in the class.
Smith will start the season as a backup, but his talent will likely get him onto the field in some packages. By next year, he could be ready to be a starter, and a very good one.