Six Kentucky Football Players Included on Athlon Sports’ 2026 All-SEC Team
Six University of Kentucky football players have been included on Athlon Sports’ 2026 All-Southeastern Conference Team, the publication announced. The Wildcats recognized include offensive lineman Lance Heard, tight end Willie Rodriguez, offensive lineman Coleton Price, defensive lineman Tavion Gadson, defensive back Ty Bryant and defensive lineman Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace.
Heard, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound offensive lineman from Bonita, Louisiana, was named to the second team offense. The senior transferred to Kentucky after two seasons at Tennessee (2024-25) and one season at LSU (2023), where he combined for 35 career games made 24 starts. During his college career, he has seen action on more than 1,700 snaps and allowed just three sacks overall. He was named to the All-SEC Third Team after making all 12 starts at left tackle for the Volunteers in 2025.
Rodriguez, a 6-4, 249-pound tight end from Taylor Mill, Kentucky, and Price, a 6-3, 308-pound offensive lineman from Bowie Texas, were both named to the third team offense.
Rodriguez started in seven of 12 games played as a sophomore for the Wildcats in 2025, making 23 catches for 310 yards and one touchdown. He had two receptions for 28 yards and the first touchdown of his college career against Eastern Michigan and a career-high six receptions for a career-best 78 yards at Vanderbilt. His six receptions were the most for a tight end in program history since C.J. Conrad caught six at Mississippi State in 2015.
Price transferred to Kentucky after four seasons at Baylor (2022-25), where he played in 32 career games and had 30 career starting assignments at center. Last season, Price, who was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, allowed only one sack on 526 pass block snaps in 2025. He later was named to the All-Big 12 Offensive Linemen Second Team by Pro Football and Sports Network.
Gadson, a 6-5, 303-pound defensive lineman out of Savannah, Georgia, and Bryant, a 6-0, 196-pound defensive back from Lexington, Kentucky, are on the third team defense.
Gadson, who was named to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List as a sophomore last season, played in 11 games with one start in 2025. He totaled 28 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hurries and 2.5 sacks, which was tied for the second most on the team. He earned a career-high four tackles three times on the season at South Carolina, at Georgia and again Texas.
Bryant was outstanding as a sophomore in 2025, pacing the team with 76 tackles and leading the league with four interceptions, highlighted by a two-pick performance against Ole Miss. He started all 12 games and added 2.0 tackles for loss and a pass breakup, further showcasing his all-around impact on the defense. He was named All-SEC Second Team for his efforts.
Humphrey-Grace, a 6-4, 271-pound defensive lineman from Cincinnati, Ohio, was named to the fourth team defense. The now-junior arrived in the Bluegrass from South Dakota in Fall 2025, and he was omnipresent on the team’s defensive line. He started all 12 games and led the defensive line with 31 total tackles on the season. He added a team-high tying seven tackles for loss (for -47 yards) and 3.5 sacks (for -39 yards), which also tied a team best. He had six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. He also received praise from the coaching staff, not only for the plays he received credit but also for his ability to hold the point of attack and steer plays to teammates.
The football season will kick off in just 72 days, as Kentucky will play host to Youngstown State on Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
For more information on the UK football team, visit ukathletics.com/football and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and X.
