If Will Stein wants his first Kentucky team to look anything like the attacking, aggressive vision he keeps talking about, the defensive depth chart has to change fast.
Last year’s numbers tell the story:
- 27.9 points allowed per game
- 384.5 yards allowed per game
- 8.2 yards per pass allowed (No. 118 nationally)
- Opponents scored on 87.8% of red zone trips
That’s not just “bend but don’t break.” That’s bend, break, and then give up a chunk play on the next drive.
Now layer on the losses:
- Linebacker: Alex Afari, Daveren Rayner gone
- Defensive line: Kahlil Saunders, David Gusta gone
- Secondary: Jordan Lovett, Jantzen Dunn, JQ Hardaway gone
That’s a lot of experience and snaps walking out the door from a defense that already wasn’t good enough.