Eighteen Kentucky Wildcats Set for NFL Week One
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As National Football League Week One kicks off, 18 Kentucky Wildcats currently are on NFL club 53-man rosters with three additional players with other NFL roles.
Two Wildcats will be in action in the second primetime game of the season when the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles play Friday, Sept. 6, in Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, on Peacock.
Carrington Valentine is in his second season with the Packers, while Darian Kinnard is in his first year with the Eagles after being part of the Kansas City Chiefs organization his first two years in the NFL as the Chiefs won the Super Bowl the past two seasons.
Eight Kentucky Wildcats played in the 2024 NFL Playoffs with Mike Edwards and Kinnard winning the Super Bowl with the Chiefs.
Edwards, now with the Buffalo Bills, is a two-time Super Bowl winner having also made big plays during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2020-21 championship run.
Two Wildcats are on the Bills as Ray Davis was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Davis’ fellow Wildcats picked in the NFL Draft, Andru Phillips (New York Giants) and Trevin Wallace (Carolina Panthers), also are on opening week 53-man rosters.
Five Kentucky Wildcats will be NFL rookies with Keidron Smith (Denver Broncos) and Brenden Bates (New York Jets) joining Davis, Phillips and Wallace.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis was voted a team captain. Josh Hines-Allen is a Jacksonville Jaguars team captain as well.
The three Wildcats in other roles with the NFL include Champ Kelly, assistant general manager with the Las Vegas Raiders, Austin Moss, director of player engagement with the San Franscico 49ers and Corey Peters, a college scout with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The full list of Kentucky Wildcats on NFL Week One rosters is below.
Buffalo Bills
Ray Davis, RB (2023)
Mike Edwards, S (2015-2018)
Carolina Panthers
Trevin Wallace, LB (2021-23)
Cleveland Browns
Za’Darius Smith, OLB (2013-14)
Denver Broncos
Keidron Smith, DB (2022)
Detroit Lions
Josh Paschal, DE (2017-21)
Green Bay Packers
Carrington Valentine, DB (2020-22)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Hines-Allen, DE/LB (2015-18), Captain
Luke Fortner, C (2017-21)
LA Chargers
Bud Dupree, OLB (2011-14)
New Orleans Saints
Landon Young, OT (2016-17, 19-20)
New York Giants
Dru Phillips, DB (2020-23)
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (2021)
New York Jets
Brenden Bates, TE (2018-23)
Brandin Echols, CB (2019-20)
Philadelphia Eagles
Darian Kinnard, OT (2018-21)
Tennessee Titans
Will Levis, QB (2001-22), Captain
Washington Commanders
Jamin Davis, ILB (2018-20)
OTHER Cats in NFL ROLES
Assistant General Manager, Las Vegas Raiders
Champ Kelly, WR/DB (1998-2001)
Director of Player Engagement, San Francisco 49ers
Austin Moss, DE (2006-09)
College Scout, Jacksonville Jaguars
Corey Peters, DL (2006-09)
