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2026 Kentucky roster

111 players: 25 freshmen, 20 sophomores, 26 juniors, 40 seniors. From 25 states and 4 other countries; the most from Ohio (16) and Georgia (14). The 2026 season.

Quarterbacks 8

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
3Kenny Minchey QBTransfer from Notre DameSr.6′2″211Hendersonville, TN1,552 passing yards, 13 TD
10Callum Wither QBTransfer from LaurierSr.6′4″217Toronto, ON0 passing yards
9Matt Ponatoski QBFr.6′1″205Cincinnati, OH
14Brennen Ward QBSo.6′4″227Gahanna, OH
15Carson Cruver QBSr.6′3″203Austin, TX
16JacQai Long QBTransfer from MarshallJr.6′2″203Hurricane, WV
17William Drakeford Jr. QBFr.6′2″195Gaithersburg, MD
82Kendall Tambling QBFr.6′5″240Gainesville, FL

Running backs 8

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
1C.J. Baxter Jr. RBTransfer from TexasSr.6′1″230Boynton Beach, FL484 rushing yards, 8 TD
26Jason Patterson RBJr.5′10″204Sneads, FL399 rushing yards, 3 TD
2Jovantae Barnes RBTransfer from OklahomaSr.6′0″211Las Vegas, NV156 rushing yards, 1 TD
28Ahmir Smith RBJr.5′10″200Santee, SC12 rushing yards
29Jordan Colbert RBJr.6′2″215Merced, CA14 rushing yards
21Tovani Mizell RBJr.6′0″213Fort Lauderdale, FL
22Delvecchio Alston II RBFr.6′0″210Trussville, AL
34Isaiah Jackson RBFr.5′10″185Richmond, KY

Receivers 15

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
19Kenny Darby WRFr.6′1″180Bossier City, LA34 catches, 436 yards, 3 TD
12Brock Coffman WRTransfer from LouisvilleSo.6′0″181Lexington, KY9 returns, 75 yards
4Nic Anderson WRTransfer from LSUSr.6′4″208Katy, TX17 catches, 197 yards, 1 TD
5Ja’Kayden Ferguson WRTransfer from ArkansasSo.6′2″184Houston, TX8 returns, 136 yards
7D.J. Miller WRSo.6′3″208St. Louis, MO13 catches, 178 yards
6Shane Carr WRTransfer from Southern UtahSr.6′2″185Bakersfield, CA3 catches, 26 yards, 1 TD
83Prince Jean WRFr.6′1″187Valdosta, GA2 catches, 27 yards, 1 TD
13Denairius Gray WRFr.6′2″181Boynton Beach, FL
18Xavier Daisy WRTransfer from UABJr.6′3″212Norcross, GA
33Rico Crowder WRJr.6′4″201Glasgow, KY
37Spencer Leadbetter WRSr.6′3″198Glenview, IL
39Saxton Howard WRSo.6′0″177Lexington, KY
80Ashton Cozart WRSr.6′3″202Flower Mound, TX
84Davis McCray WRFr.6′2″196San Antonio, TX
89Cash Harney WRFr.5′9″177Covington, KY

Tight ends 6

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
81Willie Rodriguez TEJr.6′4″249Taylor Mill, KY33 catches, 257 yards, 3 TD
87Henry Boyer TESr.6′6″270Chicago, IL9 catches, 120 yards, 3 TD
8Mikkel Skinner TESo.6′4″234Greer, SC8 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD
11Lincoln Watkins TEFr.6′4″234Port Huron, MI
44Justin Kattus TEJr.6′1″216Cincinnati, OH
85Elijah Brown TESr.6′6″263Dayton, OH

Offensive line 22

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
50Max Anderson OLTransfer from TennesseeJr.6′5″311Frisco, TX
52Cameron Miller Jr. OLFr.6′5″341Hammond, IN
53Lance Heard OLTransfer from TennesseeSr.6′6″325Bonita, LA
55Aba Selm OLJr.6′4″327Independence, KY
57Jordan Knox OLSr.6′2″329Rock Hill, SC
60Mason Howard OLFr.6′4″321Fort Thomas, KY
61Jason Ekperuoh OLSo.6′6″354Montreal, QC
62Ben Myers OLFr.6′4″286Paducah, KY
64Ryan Meeker OLFr.6′1″311Wheelersburg, OH
66Tino Merlo OLSr.6′2″278Youngstown, OH
67Mark Robinson OLTransfer from UTEPJr.6′5″328Altamonte Springs, FL
68Alexander DiMartino OLSo.6′4″306Fort Lauderdale, FL
69Hank Timon OLFr.6′6″318Guilford, IN
70Rob Fogler OLSr.6′7″325Cincinnati, OH
71Malachi Wood OLSr.6′8″329Richmond, KY
72Coleton Price OLTransfer from BaylorSr.6′3″308Bowie, TX
73Olaus Alinen OLTransfer from AlabamaSr.6′6″329Pori, Finland
74Jermiel Atkins Jr. OLFr.6′8″326Trotwood, OH
75Hayes Johnson OLJr.6′4″310Campbellsville, KY
77Tegra Tshabola OLTransfer from Ohio StateSr.6′3″329West Chester, OH
78Cameron Jones OLSr.6′6″335Weirton, WV
79Jay Clark OLSo.6′4″318Cleveland, OH

Defensive line 10

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
90Mi’Quise Grace DLSr.6′4″271Cincinnati, OH22 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT
94Tavion Gadson DLSr.6′5″303Savannah, GA24 tackles, 3 sacks
6Ahmad Breaux DTTransfer from LSUJr.6′3″278Ruston, LA8 tackles, 1.5 sacks
91Jaden Williams DLSr.6′4″290Inglewood, CA12 tackles
7Jamarrion Harkless DLTransfer from PurdueSr.6′3″346Lexington, KY4 tackles, 2 sacks
23Brian Robinson DLJr.6′5″257Youngstown, OH1 tackle, 1 sack
96Dominic Wiseman DTTransfer from South AlabamaSr.6′2″298Davenport, IA4 tackles
93Kalen Edwards DLSo.6′4″335Dyersburg, TN3 tackles
97Tyler Thomas DETransfer from South AlabamaSr.6′5″260Mobile, AL3 tackles
92Ben Duncum DEFr.6′5″224Austin, TX1 tackle

Linebackers 12

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
22Grant Godfrey LBSr.6′3″240Suwanee, GA67 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT
0Elijah Barnes LBTransfer from TexasSo.6′1″242Dallas, TX47 tackles
2Sam Greene LBSr.6′2″251Washington, DC23 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT
15Cedric Works LBSo.6′5″247Dayton, OH10 tackles, 1.5 sacks
8Lorenzo Cowan LBJr.6′3″250Savannah, GA12 tackles
3Alex Afari Jr. LBSr.6′2″227Cincinnati, OH11 tackles
4Antwan Smith LBJr.6′3″226Atlanta, GA4 tackles, 1 INT
25Tavion Wallace LBTransfer from ArkansasSo.6′1″241Jesup, GA6 tackles
32Devin Smith LBJr.6′0″231Brunswick, GA1 tackle, 1 sack
17Justyn Hartley LBFr.6′1″192Hoover, AL
31Quintavion Norman LBJr.6′3″223Covington, GA
53Ben Reeves LBJr.6′2″242Edgewood, KY

Defensive backs 22

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
5Jordan Castell DBTransfer from FloridaSr.6′2″211Orlando, FL57 tackles, 4 INT
14Ty Bryant DBSr.6′0″196Lexington, KY53 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 3 INT
12Hasaan Sykes DBTransfer from Western CarolinaJr.6′0″192Tucker, GA27 tackles
20Terhyon Nichols DBJr.5′11″194Cincinnati, OH24 tackles
3Aaron Gates DBTransfer from FloridaSr.6′0″199Newnan, GA14 tackles
27Isaiah McMillian DBFr.6′1″176Katy, TX13 tackles
13Cyrus Reyes DBTransfer from Mississippi StateJr.6′1″192Katy, TX10 tackles
24Jaden Smith DBSo.6′3″205Charlotte, NC7 tackles
30Grant Grayton DBSo.6′3″194Laurel, MD6 tackles
28Demarcus Gardner DBSo.6′0″177Cedartown, GA3 tackles
36Andrew Weber DBJr.6′0″179Cincinnati, OH3 returns, 39 yards
10Dyllon Williams DBSo.6′2″191Demopolis, AL2 tackles
21Nasir Addison DBSr.6′0″204Irvington, NJ2 tackles
0Martels Carter Jr. DBSo.6′0″205Chattanooga, TN37 rushing yards
19Kevis Thomas DBSr.6′0″181Perry, FL1 tackle
1Andre Clarke Jr. DBFr.6′1″176Richmond, VA
11Braxton Urquhart DBSr.6′3″200Birmingham, AL
16Jesse Anderson DBTransfer from PittsburghSr.6′0″185Fort Lauderdale, FL
18Mark Manfred III DBTransfer from MissouriSo.6′2″171Marietta, GA
26Andrew Purcell DBSo.5′10″201Enterprise, AL
33Sam Brown III SFr.5′11″172San Clemente, CA
38Tyler Wright DBFr.5′11″178Bixby, OK

Specialists 8

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
88Adam Zouagui PKTransfer from South FloridaSr.5′11″191Reston, VA8 of 11 field goals
48Tom O’Hara PSr.6′1″201Melbourne, VIC17 punts, 40.7 average
93Wilson Berry PSr.6′4″206Melbourne, VIC8 punts, 44.0 average
91Jacob Kauwe PKJr.6′1″216Billings, MT0 of 1 field goal
35Matthew Obermeier PKFr.5′11″160Carmel, IN
40Cole Marszalek LSTransfer from Jacksonville StateSr.5′11″197Goodyear, AZ
59Jack Wheeler LSFr.6′4″248Charlotte, NC
97Spencer Radnoti LSJr.6′3″237Canton, GA
Alex Afari Jr., Matt Ponatoski, Terhyon Nichols, Andrew Weber, Justin Kattus, Ben Reeves, Rob Fogler, Mi’Quise GraceJamarrion Harkless, Brock Coffman, Ty Bryant, Saxton HowardNic Anderson, Cyrus Reyes, Isaiah McMillianCedric Works, Jermiel Atkins Jr., Elijah BrownJesse Anderson, Tovani Mizell, Alexander DiMartinoC.J. Baxter Jr., Denairius GrayAntwan Smith, Hasaan SykesLorenzo Cowan, Tavion GadsonCarson Cruver, Ben DuncumBrian Robinson, Tino MerloJaden Smith, Jack WheelerIsaiah Jackson, Malachi WoodMason Howard, Cash HarneyElijah BarnesMartels Carter Jr.Andre Clarke Jr.Jovantae BarnesSam GreeneAaron GatesKenny MincheyJa’Kayden FergusonJordan CastellAhmad BreauxShane CarrD.J. MillerMikkel SkinnerDyllon WilliamsBraxton UrquhartLincoln WatkinsBrennen WardJacQai LongJustyn HartleyWilliam Drakeford Jr.Mark Manfred IIIXavier DaisyKenny DarbyKevis ThomasNasir AddisonDelvecchio Alston IIGrant GodfreyTavion WallaceAndrew PurcellAhmir SmithDemarcus GardnerJordan ColbertGrant GraytonQuintavion NormanDevin SmithRico CrowderSam Brown IIIMatthew ObermeierSpencer LeadbetterTyler WrightCole MarszalekMax AndersonCameron Miller Jr.Aba SelmJordan KnoxBen MyersRyan MeekerMark RobinsonColeton PriceHayes JohnsonTegra TshabolaCameron JonesJay ClarkAshton CozartKendall TamblingPrince JeanDavis McCrayHenry BoyerAdam ZouaguiJacob KauweJaden WilliamsKalen EdwardsDominic WisemanSpencer RadnotiTyler ThomasOH 16GA 14KY 14TX 11FL 10
Hometowns of the 2026 Kentucky roster; the five states sending the most labeled with their players. Hover a dot for names. Map: us-atlas (public domain).

Where the roster comes from

By state

  1. Ohio 16
  2. Georgia 14
  3. Kentucky 14
  4. Texas 11
  5. Florida 10
  6. Alabama 6
  7. California 4
  8. Tennessee 3

Top counties

  1. Hamilton County, Ohio pop. 831,000 7
  2. Harris County, Texas pop. 4.8 million 4
  3. Fayette County, Kentucky pop. 324,000 4
  4. Kenton County, Kentucky pop. 171,000 4
  5. Broward County, Florida pop. 2 million 3

Hometowns placed in their counties with the US Census Bureau’s Gazetteer files. Populations from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–⁠2024 5-year estimates. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. Which states send the most FBS players for their size.

Rosters from CollegeFootballData.com, as the school listed them, each group in order of its players’ 2026 production (yards, tackles, kicks), then by number. Hometowns are each player’s latest on file. Transfers are this season’s arrivals through the portal; stars are the player’s 247Sports composite rating as a recruit.