The 2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team (variously "Kentucky", "UK", or "Wildcats") represented the University of Kentucky in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season was the program's 123rd overall and 83rd as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fourth-year head coach Mark Stoops and the played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a three-way tie for second place in the Eastern Division. They were invited to the TaxSlayer Bowl where they lost to Georgia Tech.
Preseason Departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Daron Blaylock #7 LB 6'1" 226 Senior Marietta, GA Graduated Zack Blaylock #17 DB 6'0" 193 Junior Marietta, GA Graduated Glenn Faulkner #18 DB 6'2" 201 Junior East St. Louis, IL Graduated Ryan Flannigan #33 LB 6'2" 225 Senior Missouri City, TX Graduated Josh Forrest #45 LB 6'3" 230 Senior Paducah, KY Graduated Jason Hatcher #6 DE 6'3" 247 Junior Louisville, KY Transferred to West Georgia Khalid Henderson #22 LB 6'1" 235 Senior Austell, GA Graduated Farrington Huguenin #91 DE 6'4" 271 Senior Columbia, SC Graduated Cory Johnson #67 DT 6'3" 300 Senior Columbia, SC Graduated Jabari Johnson #47 LB 6'1" 250 Senior Stone Mountain, GA Graduated Melvin Lewis #90 DT 6'4" 311 Senior Compton, CA Graduated Cody Quinn #16 DB 5'11" 185 Senior Middletown, OH Graduated A.J. Stamps #1 DB 6'1" 205 Senior Vicksburg, MS Graduated Jordan Swindle #70 OL 6'7" 304 Senior Jacksonville, FL Graduated Fred Tiller #3 DB 6'0" 196 Senior Homerville, GA Graduated Patrick Towles #14 QB 6'3" 235 Junior Fort Thomas, KY Transferred to Boston College Zach West #67 OL 6'3" 305 Senior Lexington, KY Graduated
2016 signing class
Prior to National Signing Day on February 3, 2016, five players enrolled for the spring semester in order to participate in spring practice and included four former high school seniors and one junior college transfer.
On National Signing Day, Kentucky signed an additional twenty players out of high school and junior college that completed the 2016 recruiting class. The class was highlighted by three Army All-American's as well as Kentucky's Mr. Football.
Personnel
Coaching staff Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops enters his fourth season as the Wildcat's head coach for the 2016 season. During his previous three seasons he led the Wildcats to an overall record of 12 wins and 24 losses.
On December 18, 2015, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson announced he would not return to the program for the 2016 season as the offensive coordinator. In his place Kentucky hired Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran as the assistant head coach of offense at Kentucky. Cincinnati quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw has also joined the UK staff as quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. Mark Stoops Head coach 3rd Eddie Gran Offensive coordinator, Running backs 1st D. J. Eliot Defensive coordinator 3rd Steve Clinkscale Defensive backs 1st Jimmy Brumbaugh Defensive line 3rd Lamar Thomas Wide receivers 1st Vince Marrow Tight ends, recruiting coordinator 3rd John Schlarman Offensive line 3rd Darin Hinshaw Quarterbacks 1st Matt House Special teams coordinator, inside linebackers 1st Corey Edmond Strength and conditioning 1stReference:
2016 signing class
Returning starters
Offense
Player Class Position Dorian Baker Junior Wide receiver C. J. Conrad Sophomore Tight end Nick Haynes RS-Junior Offensive guard Garrett Johnson Junior Wide receiver Ramsey Meyers RS-Junior Offensive guard Jon Toth Senior Center Stanley Williams Junior Running backReference:
Defense Player Class Position Mike Edwards RS-Sophomore Safety Blake McClain Senior Safety Denzil Ware RS=Sophomore Linebacker Chris Westry Sophomore CornerbackReference:
Special teams Player Class Position Austin MacGinnis Junior KickerReference:
Roster
Schedule Kentucky announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Wildcats will host SEC foes Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt, and will travel to Alabama, Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee.
The team will host three out of four of its non–conference games which are against Austin Peay from the Ohio Valley Conference, New Mexico State Aggies from the Sun Belt Conference, Louisville from the Atlantic Coast Conference, and Southern Miss Golden Eagles from Conference USA.
Schedule source:
Game summaries
Southern Mississippi
Florida
New Mexico State
South Carolina
Alabama
Vanderbilt
Mississippi State
Missouri
Georgia
Tennessee
Austin Peay
Louisville
Georgia Tech
References