Kentucky star defensive back to return for senior season, per report
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Kentucky star defensive back Ty Bryant is returning to Lexington for his senior season, according to a report on Friday afternoon by Kentucky Sports Radio.
Bryant will reportedly be a part of Will Stein‘s first defense at Kentucky instead of heading elsewhere to play next fall. Stein has been the offensive coordinator at Oregon for the past 3 seasons but will be getting his first head coaching chance in 2026 at Kentucky, and Stein will apparently have Bryant back in the fold on defense.
The standout safety is a Lexington native who stayed home to play his college football, and now Bryant will reportedly be staying put for one more season at Kentucky instead of entering the transfer portal next month. His return to UK for the 2026 season is a massive victory for Stein before he even coaches his first game at Kentucky.
Bryant led the Wildcats in tackles this past season with 76 total stops, including 46 solo tackles. He also had a team-high 4 interceptions, and that ball-hawking ability is something Stein was determined to keep around during his first year as head coach.
Mission accomplished with that.
Now, new Kentucky defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who was hired away from Texas A&M, will have Bryant at his disposal during his first season in Lexington, too. Bateman’s presence on the Wildcats’ coaching staff next season also played a key role in keeping Bryant around for his senior year.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
