June 18, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. –  Safety Dakotah Tyler has returned to the Kentucky football team, Coach Joker Phillips has announced.

Upon the completion of summer-school courses, Tyler will be able to play in the 2012 season and will be a junior in eligibility.  He sat out the 2011-12 school year for personal reasons.

Tyler saw action in the last 11 games of the 2010 season, including one start, after missing the first two contests that year because of an ankle sprain.  He totaled 13 tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup and caused one fumble.  He had a season-high three tackles at Mississippi State and in the win over Vanderbilt. He had a tackle for loss and caused a fumble in the regular-season finale at Tennessee.  He also contributed on special teams.

Tyler came to Kentucky as a tailback in 2009 and redshirted that season.  He moved to the defensive backfield in the spring of 2010.

The return of Tyler gives the team another experienced player at safety.  The Wildcats have two returning starters at safety, seniors Martavius Neloms and Mikie Benton, along with sophomore lettermen Ashely Lowery and Glenn Faulkner.