Shiyazh Pete might be you favorite player
You can’t miss him—literally. Shiyazh Pete stands 6-foot-8, 324 pounds, and looks like he was sculpted to anchor an SEC offensive line. But the new Kentucky transfer from New Mexico State brings more than just elite size to Lexington. He brings curiosity, culture, and a competitive edge forged from a truly unique journey.
Pete arrives in the Bluegrass after 30 starts in 33 games for the Aggies, earning First Team All-CUSA honors in 2023 and landing on the Outland Trophy Watch List ahead of the 2024 season. He’s played real football and won real reps, something Kentucky needs after last year’s 4–8 campaign.
But his resume is only half the story.
Born in Montana to a military family, Pete’s life has spanned states, cultures, and languages. He grew up on the Fort Carson base in Colorado and later spent time living among the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. He’s conversational in both American Sign Language and basic Navajo—skills that underscore his deeper mindset.
“I always remain curious about people, opinions, life, events,” Pete said recently. “It helps me.”
A voracious reader and student of history, Pete is currently deep into books on Napoleon and ancient Middle Eastern warfare. “It helps me determine the future,” he said. “But it gets confusing, so I try my best to stay in the present.”
That mindset may be exactly what Kentucky’s offensive line room needs. The Big Blue Wall has struggled to recapture its dominant form since the tragic passing of beloved coach John Schlarman. New OC Bush Hamdan called this year’s line a throwback group that reminds him of past elite units—and Pete will be a major reason why.
“We’re beasts of no nations,” Pete said, referencing the unique mix of veterans and young linemen now bonding under O-line coach Eric Wolford.
A quiet leader with a poet’s heart and a mauler’s punch, Pete might just become your favorite Wildcat by season’s end—and a vital piece in Mark Stoops’ quest to get Kentucky football back on track.