When Kentucky football reportedly turned its defense over to Jay Bateman, the first reaction was about recruiting. His history with blue-chip defenders and his connections in places like the Carolinas, Florida and Texas are exactly what Will Stein wants in a staff built to win in the portal and NIL era. That part is easy to get excited about.
The harder, more complicated question is this: what does the on-field track record actually look like when Bateman is the one calling the shots?
What Jay Bateman’s track record really tells Kentucky football
The cleanest place to start is at Army, where his reputation was really made.