Kentucky football’s special teams have undergone an extensive makeover through the transfer portal this offseason. Head coach Mark Stoops and his staff recognized the need for improvement in this crucial area of the game and made several additions to bolster the team’s kicking, punting, and long snapping positions.
The special teams overhaul began with the hiring of new coordinator Jay Boulware in December. During spring practice, it was evident that special teams were receiving increased emphasis, as reporters observed intense drills focused on those areas.
Due to Boulware’s arrival after the majority of the high school recruiting work was completed, he had to rely on the spring transfer portal window to shape the specialist group. Kentucky welcomed three transfers and four freshmen to the team, all of whom will compete for featured roles in the upcoming preseason camp.
The Wildcats addressed their snapping issues by adding Ron Gaines, a graduate transfer from Temple, who brings experience as the Owls’ primary snapper for punts and field goals. His performance will be closely watched to assess whether he can provide an upgrade over the previous snappers.
In terms of kicking, Chance Poore has been a solid kickoff specialist for Kentucky, but has struggled to secure the top spot for extra points and field goals. Although Poore was named the primary place kicker during spring practice, Coach Stoops emphasized the need for greater consistency from him. To push Poore, the team brought in transfer Logan Raynor from Georgia Southern, who boasts an impressive track record of successful field goals and extra points.
Meanwhile, Michael Bernard, a transfer from Fordham, adds depth and competition to the kicking position. While Poore’s job as Kentucky’s kickoff specialist seems secure, Bernard provides an experienced alternative in case of injury or performance issues.
Kentucky also welcomed Max DeGraff, an accomplished athlete hailing from Lexington Catholic, as a freshman wide receiver and kicker. DeGraff’s versatility will be intriguing to watch, as he splits his time between the two positions.
To strengthen the long snapping position further, the Wildcats added Walker Himebauch, a highly ranked long snapper from the high school class of 2023. Himebauch’s inclusion brings even more competition to a critical role on special teams.
Lastly, freshman Heath Jehu and Jackson Moore join the team as additional punting and kicking options, respectively. Jehu, who won an Alabama high school state championship in soccer, will compete with Wilson Berry for the punter spot. Moore, recognized as a four-star kicker prospect, possesses the consistency and accuracy that caught Boulware’s attention.
Improving special teams performance is essential for Kentucky football, and the team’s extensive additions through the transfer portal demonstrate their commitment to rectifying past issues. The competition among the newly acquired specialists, along with the experienced returnees, should give Coach Stoops more options and ultimately lead to improved consistency and performance on special teams.
With the upcoming preseason camp, all eyes will be on the Wildcats’ special teams as they strive to put their offseason additions to the test and propel the team towards success in the 2023 season.
