Kentucky outside linebacker J.J. Weaver was emerging as one of the program’s top edge defenders in 2020, racking up 33 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in nine games as a redshirt freshman. In arguably his biggest performance of the year – a six-tackle effort at Florida – though, the 6-foot-5 standout went down with a torn ACL, ending his season.
He was forced to miss the regular-season finale vs. South Carolina, along with the team’s Gator Bowl victory over NC State. Instead of celebrating on the field with back-to-back wins to close out the year, he was rehabbing his injured knee.