How much have things changed for the Kentucky Wildcats? Enough that a 7-6 season like the 2022 campaign is a disappointment in Lexington. Lest anyone forget, a 7-season bowl streak isn’t exactly the rule in Lexington — it’s the exception. Mark Stoops passed Bear Bryant (gulp) to become the winningest head coach in UK history, and Kentucky is looking to (gulp) rebound to a 10-win season, which would be Stoops’ 3rd such season in the past 6 years. Kentucky had 2 such seasons ever heading into 2018. With such a brave new world, it might seem difficult to even make bold predictions. But we’ve got you covered, with 10 for 2023.

1. Devin Leary is UK’s first 3,000-yard passer since 2010

Yes, despite all the multitude of firsts since years or decades ago, one thing the Stoops era hasn’t featured is a 3,000-yard passer. Patrick Towles came close in 2014 (2,718), and Will Levis approached the number in 2021 (2,826). But it’ll be Leary, a super senior transfer, who does the job. Leary was steady at N.C. State and has impressed some observers around UK’s program as looking sharper than Levis did over the past 2 seasons. In 13 games, he’ll get 3,000 yards, making him the first UK QB to do so since Mike Hartline.

2.  Half the sacks

Kentucky’s offensive line had been a massive team strength heading into 2022. The “Big Blue Wall” had posted 3 consecutive seasons with 5-plus yards per carry and allowed just 59 sacks in those seasons combined. Last year, Kentucky allowed 47 sacks and fell to 3.3 yards per carry — and much of the problem was a frankly terrible offensive line and a clueless offensive coordinator in Rich Scangarello. But Liam Coen is back in town, and while Eli Cox and Jager Burton both have made strides, look for transfers Marques Cox (Northern Illinois) and Courtland Ford (USC) to improve the line on the periphery. UK may not make it back to 5 yards per carry, but it will eclipse 4 easily and allow half the sack total from last season.

3. 1,000 for Barion

A season ago, true frosh Barion Brown led UK’s receiving corps with 50 catches for 628 yards. Brown has game-breaking shiftiness, but he did show his lack of experience. But a year older and in an offense where Coen turned Wan’Dale Robinson into a star in 2021, Barion will shine in 2023. Pencil the speedster in for UK’s 7th 1,000-yard receiving season, and even if he doesn’t equal Robinson’s school record 1,334 yards, he’ll be plenty good.

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4. 10 for Dane

On the other hand, true frosh Dane Key, a 6-3 physical standout, was UK’s red zone threat, with 37 catches for 519 yards and 6 touchdowns. While Brown chews up yards, Key will be the red-zone threat for a UK team that will miss Chris Rodriguez Jr. on the ground. Look for Key to post UK’s 8th 10-touchdown receiving season, largely on the strength of his red-zone wizardry.

5. Running game by committee

For the 2nd year in a row, UK won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher. But unlike last season, that’ll have less to do with underwhelming performance than with a ton of cooks in a suddenly well-stocked kitchen. Vandy transfer Ray Davis will by the starter, but watch for junior JuTahn McClain (278 rushing yards last year) and N.C. State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (305 rushing yards last year). Not to mention 7th-year (yes, 7th) back Ramon Jefferson. Kentucky won’t have a 1,000-yard rusher, but it will have 3 500-yard rushers.

6. Deone goes all-SEC

Massive tackle Deone Walker did not look like a freshman a year ago, when he posted 40 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. The 6-6, 348-pounder will look like an all-SEC interior lineman this fall, with a veteran linebacking corps behind him allowing him to freelance over and through SEC linemen. Most of Stoops’ best UK teams have had a force up front — Walker is that force.

7. J.J. leads an improved sack attack with a double-figure season

While Kentucky was suddenly giving up a massive sack total a year ago, it also wasn’t getting many sacks of its own (20 as a team). UK’s leader a season ago was J.J. Weaver, and that should hold true. But last year, Weaver battled injuries and underachievement, posting just 3 sacks. This year, Weaver will put together the flashes of stardom from seasons past. Look for a double-digit sack season from Weaver, which would be UK’s 5th ever, and 30 total sacks from a revamped UK defense.

8. Jalen Geiger is the defensive MVP

The defensive story of this team will probably be the resurgence of Geiger, the junior DB. Geiger was an outstanding sophomore in 2021, but his season ended with an ACL tear in Week 2 last year. Geiger is physical enough to play the run but athletic enough to always stay around the football. His experience will be pivotal in a secondary that is often a combination of inexperienced or new to UK. Geiger will be tough to keep off the field, and he could well be the guy making a handful of plays that are the difference in 7-6 and … something better.

9. 3 in a row over Gators

Kentucky last beat Florida 3 times in a row in 1949-51. For that matter, the Wildcats hadn’t bested the Gators twice in a row since the golden 1976 and ’77 years. But this isn’t your dad’s or grandpa’s Gators. Kentucky is 3-2 in the past 5 games with Florida, and it hasn’t been favored in any of them. This year, UK will be a home favorite and will take care of business for a 3rd straight victory over UF.

10. Wildcats will go 9-3

Kentucky has to start fast given its schedule. But if they handle Florida, the ‘Cats could reasonably go 6-1 heading into their bye week. The next hardest game of that opening run might be a home matchup with Mizzou, and UK is 7-1 in the past 8 meetings between those teams. Kentucky’s schedule gets tougher down the stretch, with home matchups with Tennessee and Alabama and road games at Mississippi State and South Carolina. But a 9-3 season is within reach, maybe with an upset win over UT and a surprising road loss to State. Kentucky might win 10 again in 2023 — the prediction here is that it comes down to the bowl.