Kentucky Football will have senior outside linebacker Sam Greene available for its season opener against Youngstown State, but the Wildcats will be without Oklahoma transfer running back Jovantae Barnes.
Greene has recovered from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season, while Barnes will miss the opener after suffering an injury early in the spring, head coach Will Stein announced on Tuesday.
Greene suffered his season-ending injury against Florida on Nov. 8. The 6-foot-2, 251-pound senior transferred
to Kentucky after spending two seasons at Southern Cal and has 12 career starts between the two programs.
In 2025, Greene finished with 25 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one sack, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. He also recorded a career-high seven tackles in Kentucky’s win over Auburn while tying career highs with two tackles for loss and one sack.
His return gives Kentucky an experienced player on the edge as the Wildcats prepare for their first game under coach Will Stein.
Barnes, meanwhile, was expected to compete for a significant role in Kentucky’s running back room after transferring from Oklahoma. Stein said the injury Barnes suffered was something the running back picked up early in the spring.
Barnes’ absence leaves Kentucky with another question to answer heading into Saturday’s opener. Stein offered an honest assessment of the position group when asked about the running back room.
“I feel okay. I don’t feel great,” Stein said.
Kentucky will look to its remaining running backs to help fill Barnes’ absence, while Greene’s availability provides a major boost for the Wildcats’ defense.
