For a second straight season, Kentucky ended the year with a bowl loss, a 7-6 record, and a nagging feeling that the best years of Mark Stoops’ tenure might have already passed. But if college football truly has no offseason (and with the transfer portal, it probably doesn’t), then the 2024 season started the second UK’s bizarre 38-35 Gator Bowl loss ended.

So here’s a look back — and something of a look ahead. It’s final grades for the 2023 season, and some quick thoughts on how UK might or must improve in 2024.

QB: C-

NC State transfer Devin Leary was supposed to check all the boxes — talent, experience, SEC-readiness. Leary delivered some good plays but struggled with accuracy and assuming the helm of Kentucky’s offense. Some of his issues were directly tied to a mediocre offensive line and an inconsistent receiver corps, but Leary completed just 56% of his throws and managed just over 7 yards per pass attempt, while also throwing a dozen interceptions.

Next season, it’ll be Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff, and UK certainly hopes for returns closer to Will Levis than to Leary.

RB: B+

Vandy transfer Ray Davis was one of the best things about this team. Asked to replace Chris Rodriguez’s production, Davis did just that. His 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, as well as his excellence as a receiver, have propelled Davis toward the NFL. The depth behind Davis was OK, if not explosive. Senior Ramon Jefferson will move on, as will transfer JuTahn McClain. NC State transfer Demie Sumo-Karngbaye returns (20 carries for 139 yards) and will be joined by Ohio State transfer Chip Trayanum. Freshman Jamarion Wilcox will have an opportunity to step up as well, but Davis’ departure leaves this spot as a bit of a mystery.

WR: C+

Kentucky struggled to catch the ball. The good news is that sophomores Barion Brown and Dane Key have each shown explosiveness and gained valuable experience. The bad news is that neither has emerged as particularly consistent. UK significantly lacked depth, and has already been active in the transfer portal. Returning a pair of 40-catch wideouts will help, but UK has work to do.

OL: C

A season ago, Kentucky’s offensive line was awful. It did improve this season, with the Wildcats managing 5.0 yards per rush and allowing only 22 QB sacks (after allowing 46 last year). That said, there’s room to develop. Kentucky picked up far too many costs flags up front, and the line struggled with consistency in avoiding negative plays. The majority of UK’s linemen return, but tackle Jeremy Flax is finished, and the Wildcats figure to add a tackle or two in the portal to bolster experience and depth on the edges.

DL: B-

This group made significant strides this year, led by the emergence of Deone Walker as a true standout. The massive tackle registered 55 tackles (12.5 tackle for loss), which sets up nicely for 2024 stardom. He closed the season with 2 sacks in the Gator Bowl. Depth guys like Tre’vonn Rybka, Josiah Hayes and Octavious Oxendine all fit into a rotation that held opponents to 3.3 yards per rush and totaled 33 sacks. The long-term news is good, as freshmen Jerod Smith and Brian Robinson could be day one standouts in 2024.

LB: B

Kentucky’s solid work up front also reflects on a talented linebacker corps, with leading tackler D’Eryk Jackson and early NFL Draft entrant Trevin Wallace combining for 169 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss. Veteran JJ Weaver, who also had 2 sacks in the Gator Bowl, and Jackson will return, but Wallace won’t. That loss has already been assuaged by the addition of Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson, who figures to see the field early and often.

DB: C-

This group disappointed and will get thin. The numbers didn’t lie: 3rd-worst in the SEC in QB completion percentage allowed (67.7%), tied for 5th-most TD passes allowed (20), 2nd-most passing yards allowed (3,126), etc.

Also, top CB Andru Phillips is NFL-bound. Likewise, Jalen Geiger, who was talented but often injured, is in the transfer portal. Kentucky should return leading interceptor Maxwell Hairston, but safeties Zion Childress and Jordan Lovett struggled with consistency. Freshman Ty Bryant saw plenty of action, but he’ll need help. Freshman Quay’sheed Scott is mentioned as a possible frosh to watch, but a portal add seems likely.

Special teams: B-

Georgia Southern transfer Alex Raynor was a nice additional at kicker. He lacks 60-yard range, but was consistent inside 50 yards and should return. Barion Brown was a difference-maker as a kick returner, but UK could improve its punt return game. The Wildcats either have to replace punter Wilson Berry or figure out how to develop him, as the Aussie averaged under 40 yards per kick. Kentucky will also need a new kickoff specialist, as Raynor doesn’t seem ideal in the role and senior Chance Poore is finished. Consistency in place-kicking and big play threats in the return game were nice, but punting needs an overhaul, and as Mizzou’s fake punt TD showed, UK’s personnel seemed a little underwhelming at key moments.

Coaching: C-

Mark Stoops has been great at Kentucky. Undeniably so. However, the past 2 seasons have been disappointing, and much of the disappointment lands on the coaching staff. Both of those things can be — and are — true. From a crawling pace of play to defensive strategy issues to consistently awful end-of-half results, many of Kentucky’s problems in 2023 looked an awful lot like coaching issues.

Stoops has nothing to prove in Lexington. He has elevated the program — never more clear than when 7-6 seasons, once sought-after, are now below the standard he himself has set. But it also seems like his tank may be trending toward empty. The past 2 seasons have featured losses to South Carolina, an embarrassing beatdown from Mizzou, and a home loss to Vandy. Those are the kind of games Kentucky can’t afford to lose if the Wildcats want to make progress in an even beefier SEC.

Meanwhile, minor PR flaps like this year’s “pony up” comments about NIL investment have made it seem like Stoops’ sights could be set elsewhere … as did the flirtation with Texas A&M.

Much of Stoops’ improvement at UK has been praised as continuity, but continuity might be turning to complacency. Which isn’t particularly healthy for either party.

For all the shots at NIL donors, it might be Stoops himself who ultimately needs to “pony up,” with another year of outworking and out-thinking bigger spenders and traditional powers. If he does, the past 2 years are a hiccup. If not, they’ll be a trend.