Will Stein is ushering in a new era of Kentucky football, having already emptied out the football gym as Joe Miday is overhauling the equipment room (per Nick Roush) to mold a refreshed style of player. It also helps that Stein is reeling in huge recruits like No. 2 quarterback Jake Nawrot, and is doing it before even coaching a single game at Kroger Field. Yet, while Stein's first year is a thrilling prospect, BBN must be sure to remember who came before them.
Over the weekend, several (now former) Cats found their way to the NFL level as the draft took national hold.
According to Ryan Black of the Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky has had at least two players selected in the NFL Draft for eight straight years. That hadn't happened since the mid-80's/early 90's; a marked achievement for a regime otherwise fallen out.
Four Cats Found a New Home
Although, it took a while for the first Wildcat to come off the board. No Kentucky player was selected in the first two days of the three-day affair.
That all changed in the fourth round as the Indianapolis Colts selected offensive lineman Jalen Farmer. His teammate on the line, Jager Burton, heard his name called a round later as the Green Bay Packers brought him home. But the Packers weren't done with the blue and white quite yet.
Kendrick Law, who was only in Lexington for one season, was also taken Packers. Both Law and Burton will join another former Wildcat in Wisconsin, as Darian Kinnard inked a one-year extension last month to remain with Green Bay.
And to close out the night, Seth McGowan fulfilled his redemptive dream, hearing his name called in the seventh round as the Colts, too, decided to dip back into the Kentucky well. All-in-all, Kentucky's draft pool is as follows:
Official Selections:
- OL Jalen Farmer: Indianapolis Colts, No. 113
- OL Jager Burton: Green Bay Packers, No. 153
- WR Kendrick Law: Green Bay Packers, No. 168
- RB Seth McGowan: Indianapolis Colts, No 237
On top of the four draftees, an equal number of Wildcats found their way into NFL rosters by way of undrafted free agent signings:
Undrafted Signees:
- TE Josh Kattus: Cincinnati Bengals (per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero) - WR Ja'Mori Maclin: Buffalo Bills (per KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson) - P Aidan Laros: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (per Fox Sports' Greg Auman) - OL Shiyazh Pete: Dallas Cowboys (per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz)
Overall, it was a good weekend for Kentucky Football and a proper sendoff to a bygone era. Now, Will Stein will look to up the ante, and these numbers, as he's taken over the program from here on out.
Add us as a preferred source on Google