One of the hallmarks of Kentucky Football in the Mark Stoops era is defense, and the future continues to look bright on that side of the ball. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg released his annual “Future Defense Power Rankings” today, which project the top 25 defenses during the next three seasons — 2023, 2024, and 2024 — accounting for current rosters, incoming recruits and transfers, potential NFL departures, and coaching changes. Kentucky is No. 16, up two spots from last year.
“Kentucky fell well short of expectations last season, but the defense held up its end, finishing 11th nationally in yards allowed, 13th in points allowed and seventh against the pass,” Rittenberg wrote.