The Wildcats landed the No. 22 recruiting class in the country in ’14, a great haul for Kentucky football.

But how much did that class contribute to the team’s 5-7 tale of two ‘Cats season last fall?

Player Position Starts Games Played
Matt Elam DT 7 12
Boom Williams RB 1 10
Thaddeus Snodgrass WR 0 1
Mikel Horton RB 0 12
Cory Johnson* DT 0 12
Kendall Randolph CB 0 12
Josh Krok OT 0 1
Blake Bone WR 1 11
Adrian Middleton DT 0 1
Dorian Baker WR 5 10
T.V. Williams WR 0 5
Garrett Johnson WR 2 11
Ryan Flannigan* LB 4 12
A.J. Stamps* S 10 12

*Junior college transfer

Overall, 14 of the 28 enrollees played at least one game. Those 14 players participated in a combined 122 games, starting 30.

Eventually UK may get more out of the defense in this class, but for now, the Wildcats are getting more immediate contributions on offense.

Four-star RB Boom Williams looked like a future star in the SEC during his true freshman season, averaging 6.6 yards per carry and showing an aptitude to catch passes out of the backfield. He could spearhead a three-man time share at running back with fellow ’14 class member Mikel Horton (who is 230 pounds) and junior-to-be Jojo Kemp.

Thaddeus Snodgrass was the only four-star receiver in a deep five-person group, as the Wildcats appeared to be rounding up as many warm bodies as possible to catch passes in the Air Raid offense. But all five played as true freshmen, with Snodgrass getting the least amount of playing time. They’ll play big roles behind Ryan Timmons, the presumed No. 1 receiver.

Drew Barker, the top-rated signee of the ’14 class, is splitting reps with Patrick Towles at quarterback during spring practice and could wrest away the starting job entering his redshirt freshman season.

On defense, perhaps the most celebrated member of the class, Matt Elam, spent his first season struggling with conditioning, arriving in Lexington at 6-foot-7 and a reported 393 pounds.

This from KentuckySports.com:

Elam didn’t love the breakfast or lunch options at John Hardin High School, so he’d snack during the day then head to the football field.

“Then right after practice, I’d stop at the McDonald’s by my house and get like two McDoubles, two McChickens, a large fry and a sweet tea,” Elam recounted. “Then I’d go home and probably eat something late.”

With Kentucky losing two NFL draft picks along the defensive line, the Wildcats need Elam to be in great shape, command double teams and be ready to play many more snaps.

Three junior college players — DT Cory Johnson, LB Ryan Flannigan and S A.J. Stamps — played all 12 games in ’14. Flannigan and Stamps finished fourth and fifth on the team in tackles and Stamps made a team-high four interceptions. They’ll be a big part of the defense in ’15, their final collegiate season.

A longer-lasting impact should come from some touted redshirt freshmen. Safeties Darius West and Mike Edwards both missed last season due to injuries.

But the biggest name among the redshirts may become former four-star Florida product Denzil Ware, who spells his name with an “i” and redshirted last year regardless of what ESPN says. He’ll play the position vacated by Bud Dupree, sort of a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker. He’s an impressive physical specimen and looks ready to make an impact in the SEC.

Coach Mark Stoops built a good recruiting base with the ’14 class, his first full cycle with the Wildcats. It looks like this fall could be a breakout year for many of the players on this list, and though UK will lose some of the junior college players on defense before many SEC fans learn their names, there should be plenty of afterburners on both sides of the ball in the next few seasons.