Spring Spotlight: Kentucky's EDGE position will look different in 2026

Preparations for the 2026 college football season are underway at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. Cleats hit the grass practice fields and/or the turf at the Nutter Field House this week as Kentucky head coach Will Stein bgins his first spring practice as the leader of a program. There will be a lot of new for the Wildcats in 2026. The same is true at EDGE.

Under new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, the Wildcats will be playing a more aggressive style on defense that will include some even fronts. That means that there will be less need for stand-up outside linebackers and will require defensive ends to play with their hands in the dirt. However, both of those player types will…