The Kentucky football team completed the largest road comeback in program history as they defeated South Carolina after being down 17-0 in the second quarter. The offense was the highlight of this comeback, and the defense struggled in areas in Columbia. However, the defense also made plays in critical moments, enough of those plays to put the offense in position to get the win. Here are a few defensive players that made an impact in the Wildcats comeback win on the road.
DT Tavion Gadson
Tavion Gadson is the true difference maker on this defense. He has the highest potential of any player on the defensive side of the football for Jay Bateman's defense. Gadson got a few quick wins in the run game and the pass game that created negative plays for the South Carolina
offense. Gadson has to continue to create havoc in the middle for the defense for this defense to reach their potential.
ED Sam Greene
Sam Greene is 10 months removed from an ACL injury that ended his 2025 season. Greene plays with relentless effort on the edge, he does not have elite edge rusher traits but he is simply just a great football player. Greene has consistently made incredible game altering plays all season long, and he did it again ripping the football out to force a fumble as the Wildcats faced a 17-point deficit. This single play jumpstarted the comeback, and we saw him make these game altering plays on the road at Texas A&M in week three as well.
ED Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace
Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace has also made plays off the edge all season, he is a handful for offensive tackles. We saw him get quick pressures on LaNorris Sellers in this game on a couple of occasions. Kentucky created a lot of pressure on Sellers and made him uncomfortable in the pocket. However, they have to do a better job at converting those pressures into sacks and we saw on Saturday that is much easier said than done against a guy with the strength of Sellers; they have to get ready this weekend as they face another physical runner in Sam Leavitt who is tough to bring down.
LB Grant Godfrey
Grant Godfrey has been developing nicely as the green dot of the defense and had a standout performance on Saturday. A lot was put on Godfrey and Bo Barnes shoulders as the Wildcats became dangerously thin at linebacker, after Tavion Wallace was ruled out, Alex Afari was ruled ineligible on the day before the game and we saw Antwan Smith unfortunately get carted off the field with an injury on Saturday. Godfrey made an impact leading the team in tackles, he also had 1.5 tackles for loss and the only registered sack of the day for the defense. Godfrey and Barnes have to improve in coverage, but both guys are making plays and getting better with each rep.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky defensive spotlights in win over South Carolina
