New-Look Kentucky Ready to Move on from Disappointing '24

“We didn't want to just move past it,” Stoops said. “We wanted to make sure we made the adjustments necessary. Any weakness we had, we wanted to try to make a strength.”

Kentucky also brought in a veteran quarterback in Zach Calzada after underwhelming play at the position a season ago. Stoops said the experience of Calzada, who has spent time at Texas A&M and Auburn, factored into his decision.

“He won big games in the SEC, has a ton of experience under his belt, has a chip on his shoulder, wants to come back and prove that,” Stoops said.

It remains to be seen how much all these changes will affect the Wildcats' fortunes in the SEC. The schedule won’t be easy with trips to South Carolina and Georgia and a visit from Texas. But the sentiment among the Kentucky crowd on Thursday at SEC media days is that they’re ready to turn the page. All three player representatives are returning starters, something of a rarity on this roster.

Senior defensive back Jordan Lovett said the Wildcats are working to change their culture, especially with so many new faces arriving. Lovett, one of the holdovers from the 2021 team that tied a program-record 10 wins, admitted the biggest challenge for his fellow returners is overcoming what happened last season.

Senior tight end Josh Kattus called the 2024 campaign a learning experience and reinforced Stoops’ sentiment that the new faces in the locker room will enable Kentucky to move on.

“That's what's great about football and the transfer portal,” Kattus said. “We brought in a bunch of new guys that are just looking to go 1-0 when it comes to Week 1.”

Converted linebacker Alex Afari Jr. said last season's struggles will inform his approach as outsiders doubt the Wildcats’ prospects. He said his team needs to be better at finishing out games. Kentucky held a narrow lead at the start of the fourth quarter against top-ranked Georgia but went on to lose by one.

“We know what happened last year,” Afari said. “We addressed it. We're going to grow from it. We're going to play with a chip on our shoulder. Makes us more hungry this year to prove everybody wrong, seeing everybody putting us last in the SEC.”

Lovett said he relishes being in the underdog role and said this year’s team is already more dialed in than last year, even with so many newcomers.

“I feel like we’re underlooked right now, as we should be from the season we had, but that’s good, that brings fuel to the fire,” Lovett said. “We’re just playing with a chip on our shoulder, so we really have something to play for.”