Kentucky football’s new defensive coordinator, Jay Bateman, is a known “shark” on the recruiting trail, and Stein is ready to unleash his aggressive, hodgepodge defensive style on the SEC. So far, Bateman likes what he sees from the cupboard he inherited.
The hodgepodge defense
“I don’t want to give a whole lot away, but we had a lot of success at Texas A&M,” Bateman said. He isn’t just running one system; he’s blending pieces from his time at North Carolina, Florida, and his legendary Army units that finished in the top 10 nationally.
Bateman chose Kentucky because Stein gave him the autonomy to call the defense his way. After a year at A&M. where Mike Elko eventually took over play-calling, Bateman is clearly ready to get back in the driver’s seat.
How successful he is will go a long way in just how successful Kentucky can be.
Elite leadership already showing up in Ty Bryant and Sam Greene
While Bateman won’t give too much away scheme-wise, the leaders are crystal clear. Bateman was quick to point to Lexington native Ty Bryant as an “elite leader and person.” Bryant, coming off a season where he led the team in tackles (76) and interceptions (4), is the undisputed quarterback of the secondary…