Ten potential All-SEC candidates for Kentucky football in 2026

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Two weeks from today, Will Stein will take the podium for his first SEC Media Days in Tampa, Florida. The Kentucky Wildcats are flying under-the-radar a bit because a lot of people are unsure what expect with all the turnover the team has seen. This young coaching staff revamped the roster and are hoping those moves pay off while facing a daunting schedule in 2026. Let’s take a look at 10 players for the Wildcats that could make All-SEC teams at the end of the year.

1. C Coleton Price

I believe Coleton Price has the best chance due to a lack of talent in the conference at center, really it is him and Georgia center Drew Bobo that standout heading into this season. Price started over 30 games for the Baylor Bears, and his experience will be relied upon from the staff to solidify this offensive line. Price is exceptional in pass protection and has seen multiple defensive fronts over his collegiate career. I fully expect Price to land on the preseason All-SEC team and follow it up this fall.

2. S Ty Bryant

Ty Bryant was voted second-team All-SEC by the coaches in 2025, and looks to build on that performance in a new defensive scheme. This new scheme under defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will count on Bryant’s experience and ball-hawking ability. Bryant was tied for the most interceptions in the SEC last season with four. There is plenty of high-level safeties in the conference this season and Bryant is one of the top guys.

3. DT Tavion Gadson

This one can be tricky because the way they vote for All-SEC on the defensive line allows them to vote four edge defenders and no defensive tackles if they see fit. However, there are three defensive tackles that standout compared to the rest of the conference this season: Will Echoles at Ole Miss, David Stone at Oklahoma and Tavion Gadson. We have highlighted that the scheme change on defense can greatly benefit Gadson’s production for 2026, moving him to his natural position as a three technique defensive tackle. Gadson has special pass rushing ability for his position and can find his way on an All-SEC team if he can increase his production.

4. OT Lance Heard

Lance Heard was voted third-team All-SEC last season at Tennessee. He now comes over to Kentucky to protect Kenny Minchey’s blindside at left tackle and has a ton of experience in the conference. Heard should be able to replicate his season from 2025 at Tennessee and make an All-SEC team this season. Between Heard and Price, this offensive line at Kentucky should be improved in 2026.

5. TE Willie Rodriguez

Similar to the center position, there just aren’t many game-changing tight ends in the SEC this season. LSU has a guy in Trey’Dez Green that will likely receive first-team votes for the preseason lists at SEC Media Days. Outside of that this is wide open, and I fully anticipate Willie Rodriguez to be a focal point of Kentucky’s offense in 2026. We have highlighted how Will Stein utilizes his tight ends in creative ways, working them from the slot or out wide and getting them involved in the screen game as well.

6. ED Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace

Outside of defensive tackle Tavion Gadson, arguably no one will benefit more from the scheme change on defense than Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace. Humphrey-Grace gets to return to a true edge defender alignment outside of the offensive tackle, which could increase his production in a big way. The SEC is loaded with incredible edge defenders, but Humphrey-Grace definitely has the opportunity to sneak into a third-team bid if he can get to the quarterback more. A true power rusher on the edge can coincide well with Gadson on creating mismatches for opposing offensive lines.

7. OG Tegra Tshabola

Tegra Tshabola has an All-Big Ten bid on his resume and started at guard for the Nation Champions at Ohio State in 2024. Tshabola puts a stamp on the experienced trio brought in to Lexington to overhaul this offensive line. Like I mentioned with the defensive line, the offensive line is similar because they can vote on multiple tackles and leave the guards out to dry in terms of voting. However, Tshabola is one of the more experienced guards in the conference and could have an impressive season in this revamped unit with offensive line coach Cutter Leftwich.

8. HB CJ Baxter

These last three are more long shots to make All-SEC compared to the first seven players mentioned. That being said, Baxter has always had the talent as we saw when he was a true freshman for the Texas Longhorns. If Baxter can stay healthy, he can put up numbers and sneak his way into a third-team bid. Staying healthy is a big “if” when talking about Baxter, but we know Stein and his staff will put an emphasis on running the football in creative ways.

9. WR DJ Miller

DJ Miller is being slept on more than any other player on this roster, he had a ton of buzz coming out of spring and all signs point to him being the WR1 for the Wildcats this season. The SEC is absolutely loaded with high-level wide receiver play, but in the past there have been ties that can allow three wide receivers to make an All-SEC team instead of just two. Miller could also sneak his way in if he leads the team in targets and has the production to match; we saw flashes last season as Miller had a breakout performance against Tennessee, hauling in five catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

10. QB Kenny Minchey

No one had more buzz coming out of spring ball for Kentucky than the signal caller, Kenny Minchey. We all know how Minchey had CJ Carr down to the wire last offseason in the position battle at Notre Dame, and now Carr is a Heisman trophy favorite per multiple sports books. If Minchey was truly that close to winning the job, combined with the success Stein has had at developing quarterbacks, he could find his way into a third-team bid. It is a dart throw however, because there are multiple talented quarterbacks in the SEC.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Ten potential All-SEC candidates for Kentucky football in 2026

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