By Brent IngramWhen coaches sit down and start conceptualizing their lineups, one of the key elements to a strong defensive unit is a set of vocal personalities. Kentucky is blessed with a vocal center back to anchor the backline in sophomore Jordan Wilson. “As a center back, being vocal is a part of the game,” Wilson said. “You can see the whole game in front of you so it is your job to be able to call things out and let them know what you are seeing. Being a leader on the team, that is something that I have always been like. Even growing up in Scotland, I just liked to take on a leadership role, just try to get other players involved and get them moving forward.  We are all in this together, we have the same common goal, and we are just keen to reach that.”A native of Auchterarder, Scotland, Wilson stepped right into the UK lineup as a true freshman in 2013, starting all 17 games he played in. “Playing a lot as a freshman, I can just take a lot from that as confidence going into this season,” Wilson said. “Having had that experience and that extra knowledge when seeing the field can be a big help.”A 6-foot-3, 173 pounder, Wilson helped anchor a strong backline in 2013 that allowed 20 goals in his games. Wilson logged the fourth-most minutes on the club (1,531), despite missing three games. Wilson helped lead the Wildcats to the Conference USA Tournament Semifinals, earning a spot on the all-tournament team.Entering his sophomore year, a strength of the UK roster could be the defense. Led by first-team All-Conference USA keeper Callum Irving and three returning starters on the backline, UK’s defense will be stingy.”We have a really strong back four,” Wilson said. “We played together a lot in the spring. A lot of the focus in the preseason has been on defensive structure and making sure that everyone coming in as a good base knowledge of how we play. We are working on getting that down first and then focusing on the attacking side of it.”In UK’s first win of the season over Belmont last Sunday, the Wildcats started Wilson and sophomore Kaelon Fox at center back, along with fellow returning starter Charlie Reymann at outside back. Sophomore Matt Quick has slid into the outside back role opposite Reymann. Fox, a 6-2, 155 pounder, has joined forces with Wilson at center back, giving UK a pair of athletic, physically imposing defenders. As a freshman in 2013, Fox played in 19 of UK’s 20 games, seeing time all over the field. “Kaelon is doing fantastic,” Wilson said. “I really enjoy working alongside Kaelon. We have a good understanding of each other on the field and we are really good friends off the field as well. We think that partnership is good for the team. I really enjoy playing with Kaelon, he is a great player.”The Wildcat’s defense as a whole will be looked to as a team-strength as the 2014 continues. UK has allowed one goal over its two games, posting a clean sheet in its home-opening win over Belmont, a 2-0 result. Going forward, the Wildcats will hope Wilson along with Fox will anchor the team.”When you look at Kaelon and Jordan we feel they are a really good partnership at the back,” UK head coach Johan Cedergren said. “You have Jordan who reads the game really well, and then Kaelon who likes to take chances and try to win balls. But he’s fast so if he gets beat he can recover. Then with Jordan as that steady guy at the back, they play off each other well.”The Wildcats will return to action with a grueling weekend tournament in South, Bend, Indiana, facing the last two NCAA Champions, Indiana and Notre Dame. UK opens the weekend on Friday at 5 p.m. vs. Indiana, before concluding the tournament on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Notre Dame, a team that went 17-1-6 a season ago.