Kentucky football has wrapped up spring practice. What did we learn about the Wildcats?

As the dust settles on Kentucky football’s 2025 spring practice, a clearer picture begins to emerge about what kind of team the Wildcats might field this fall. Spring ball is never about definitive answers — injuries, experimentation, and early enrollments all shape the narrative — but it’s a key checkpoint for evaluating progress, chemistry, and leadership. For Mark Stoops and his coaching staff, this spring has offered a valuable opportunity to evaluate young talent, install systems, and begin the transition from last year’s team to this year’s identity.

After an up-and-down 2024 season that featured big wins and frustrating losses, expectations for 2025 are cautiously optimistic. The return of some key veterans, the arrival of new transfers and early freshmen, and a recommitment to fundamentals under returning offensive coordinator Liam Coen have fans hoping this could be a breakthrough season in the SEC East.

So what exactly did we learn over the past few weeks? Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from Kentucky’s 2025 spring football practices.

1. Quarterback Room is Solid but Searching for a Star

One of the first questions every fan wants answered after spring is: How do we look at quarterback? The answer in Lexington is nuanced.

With Devin Leary now off to pursue professional opportunities, the battle for the starting job is wide open. This spring, all eyes were on Beau Allen, Kaiya Sheron, and early enrollee freshman Max Morrison. Allen looked the most polished throughout the spring, showing improved command of the offense and better decision-making. He has experience in the system and was praised by coaches for his leadership during offseason workouts.

Sheron, a former in-state star, continues to show flashes of potential but struggled with consistency in team drills. His arm talent is undeniable, but he’s still working on timing and field awareness. Morrison, while clearly raw, turned heads with his athleticism and surprising poise. He likely won’t start in 2025, but he’s a name to remember.

Coen emphasized that the position remains “fluid,” and a starter likely won’t be named until deep into fall camp. Still, Kentucky fans can feel good knowing the room is full of capable arms — even if it lacks a clear alpha just yet.

2. Return of Liam Coen Means a More Disciplined, Dynamic Offense

Speaking of Coen, his return has already made an impact. Players have spoken glowingly about the simplified terminology, focus on fundamentals, and tempo adjustments he’s brought back to Lexington. Under Coen’s system, which mirrors many concepts from his NFL days, Kentucky is prioritizing precision — sharp route running, pre-snap motion, and quick decision-making.

Last year’s offense often felt disjointed and too reliant on individual talent. This spring, there was a noticeable shift toward collective rhythm. The offensive line, particularly, benefited from Coen’s renewed emphasis on protection schemes and quicker throws. While there were still growing pains — particularly with red zone execution — the offense looked more cohesive than it did at any point last fall.

Running back Demetrius Jackson said it best: “There’s a purpose to every play again. It’s not just ‘see if something works.’ It’s ‘run this because we know it’ll get five [yards] or set up the next one.’ That’s the difference with Coach Coen.”

3. Defense Is Young but Flying Around

Kentucky lost several key contributors on defense this offseason, including linebacker J.J. Weaver, defensive lineman Deone Walker, and safety Zion Childress. That meant this spring was all about evaluation on the defensive side of the ball — and so far, there’s a lot to like.

The defensive line is undergoing a major rebuild, but redshirt sophomore Tyreese Fearbry has emerged as a potential breakout star. He’s bulked up, plays with high energy, and consistently disrupted the backfield during scrimmages. Transfers like Josiah Hayes and David Gusta have added much-needed size and maturity to the front.

Linebacker remains a work-in-progress, but Marshall transfer Landyn Watson is filling in nicely as the new field general. His communication skills and nose for the football have quickly earned him the trust of the coaching staff. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Kaden Moorman, who flipped from running back to linebacker, made some eye-popping plays and could be a wildcard come fall.

In the secondary, safeties Ty Bryant and Jordan Lovett anchor the unit, while freshmen Dyllon Williams and Martels Carter have started rotating with the twos — a good sign for their development. Defensive backs coach Chris Collins said, “We’re going to be faster in the back end than we were last year. Young, yes — but fast and fearless.”

4. Running Back Room May Be the Deepest Unit on the Team

If there’s one position group that stood out as consistently dominant all spring, it was the running backs. Between the returning trio of Demetrius Jackson, Ramon Jefferson, and JuTahn McClain, Kentucky has a stable of versatile backs who can do it all — run between the tackles, catch passes, and block.

Jackson appears poised to take over lead duties and was explosive in nearly every scrimmage. His combination of vision and acceleration makes him a nightmare in open space, and Coen has hinted at designing more plays to get him isolated against linebackers in the passing game.

Jefferson, now fully healthy, is the team’s bruiser, often used in short-yardage and red zone sets. McClain continues to be a third-down threat and special teams ace. Add in true freshman Treyvon Marsh, who flashed during the final spring scrimmage, and you’ve got a position group that can carry a significant load in the fall — literally and figuratively.

5. O-Line Rejuvenation Under New Position Coach

It’s no secret that the “Big Blue Wall” crumbled a bit in recent years. What was once Kentucky’s calling card — physical, consistent line play — became a liability at times in 2024. That’s why this spring was all about getting back to basics under new offensive line coach Richard Owens.

Early signs are promising. Left tackle Marques Cox has emerged as the vocal leader of the group, and his mentorship of younger players like freshman Zion Kindley has been crucial. The interior line looks better with the return of Eli Cox at center and Jager Burton at guard, while competition at right tackle is still ongoing.

Owens emphasized footwork, hand placement, and pad level all spring — and it’s paying off. The offensive line gave up far fewer pressures in live reps and created running lanes that simply weren’t there last fall.

If Kentucky wants to climb the SEC standings, the offensive line needs to play like it did during the peak years of Stoops’ tenure. This spring showed they’re trending in the right direction.

6. Special Teams Quietly Improving

Spring is often quiet for special teams, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. Kentucky has placed renewed emphasis on this phase, with assistant Jay Boulware overseeing both special teams and running backs. His impact has been subtle but clear.

Placekicker Alex Raynor has looked consistent from 40+ yards, while punter Wilson Berry worked on hang time and directional kicking. Kick return duties appear to be a three-man race between Barion Brown, JuTahn McClain, and freshman DeShawn Reed. All three have game-breaking speed and the ability to flip field position.

More importantly, coverage teams looked disciplined in drills — a major issue last season. Don’t be surprised if Kentucky steals a game or two this fall with better field position and hidden yardage from special teams.

7. Team Chemistry and Leadership Are Strengthening

Perhaps the most underrated storyline coming out of spring is how tight-knit this team feels. Multiple players and coaches pointed to a more unified locker room, and it showed in how the team practiced. High energy, competitive drills, and plenty of peer-to-peer accountability were consistent themes.

Guys like Jordan Lovett, Eli Cox, and Barion Brown have stepped into leadership roles, while younger players have bought into the culture quickly. After a rocky 2024 season where the team sometimes lacked direction, it’s clear that Stoops and his staff have prioritized leadership training and internal motivation.

Final Thoughts

Spring football rarely gives us definitive answers — but what it does give is momentum, identity, and glimpses of what’s possible. And for Kentucky football in 2025, the possibilities feel brighter than they did just a few months ago.

The Wildcats are still ironing out questions at quarterback and depth in the front seven, but they’ve reestablished their offensive rhythm under Liam Coen, reinforced their locker room culture, and seen serious growth from younger players. With a strong summer and healthy fall camp, this team could very well surprise a few people in the SEC.

For now, though, they’ll head into the offseason with purpose — and perhaps, with a quiet confidence that something special might be brewing in Lexington.

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