When Will Stein made the call to bring Jay Bateman to Lexington, the sales pitch was clear: He is a "shark" on the recruiting trail. Stein wanted a guy who could go into living rooms in Georgia and Florida and win battles against the big boys.
But while the recruiting hype is real, the actual football questions are getting louder. And if a recent ranking is any indication, the rest of the SEC is not shaking in their boots about facing a Jay Bateman defense this fall.
2026 SEC Defensive Coordinator Rankings pic.twitter.com/xgVDa8TV33
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 1, 2026
The respect problem
In the latest 2026 SEC Defensive Coordinator Rankings released by SEC Mike, Bateman checks in at a sobering 14th. Out of 16 coordinators in the league, Bateman is ranked ahead of only two names:
- 15. Patrick Toney (Ole Miss)
- 16. Steve Gregory (Vanderbilt)
The man sitting at No. 12 is Brad White, Kentucky’s former defensive coordinator, who is now calling plays for the Florida Gators. So, not really a big fall down, according to SEC Mike.
A career in reverse?
It is harsh, but it is fair to ask if Bateman’s stock is trending the wrong way. There was a time when he was one of the hottest names in the sport. At Army (2014-2018), he was a wizard, turning a service academy defense into a top-10 unit and becoming a Broyles Award finalist. He had the magic.
But since leaving West Point, the magic has been hard to find.
- North Carolina (2019-2021): He struggled to adapt to ACC speed, and his tenure ended with the Tar Heels’ defense ranked in the 100s.
- Florida (2022-2023): He rehabbed his image as a position coach, staying out of the play-calling spotlight.
- Texas A&M (2024-2025): He got another shot at the big chair, but it didn't go as planned. Struggles in Year 1 forced head coach Mike Elko, a defensive guru himself, to step in and take over play-calling duties in Year 2 to stabilize the ship.
The gamble
Bateman left Texas A&M for Kentucky because he wanted the keys back. He wants to call plays. He wants to prove he is still the guy who built that fortress at West Point. Will Stein is betting that Bateman’s recruiting prowess will upgrade the talent enough to make the scheme work.
But right now, the perception is clear: Bateman is a great recruiter who has to prove he can still coordinate at an elite level on Saturdays.
The SEC is a merciless league. Starting the season ranked 14th puts a target on your back. The only way to remove it is to stop people. We will find out this fall if the "Black Knights" version of Jay Bateman is still in there, or if the slide is going to continue in Lexington.