Redshirt Report: Against Auburn, the second freshman burns his redshirt

Here’s an update on every freshman from Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class.

The Wildcats picked up their first non-MAC win of the season on Saturday, defeating Auburn 10–3. While many of the same freshmen saw action, tight end Mikkel Skinner made his first appearance. Interestingly, one of the final additions to last year’s class, edge rusher CJ Works, became the second freshman to lose his redshirt this season — the only other being Works himself.

Kentucky’s 2025 class ranked No. 25 nationally with 21 total signees. Below is a breakdown of each freshman’s current status based on the official UK participation report:

No Games Played (Eligible for up to four more)

OT Jermiel Atkins, OT Bryan Auguste, WR Preston Bowman, DL Javeon Campbell (pictured), WR Montavin Quisenberry, QB Stone Saunders, WR Quintin Simmons Jr., DL Nic Smith, QB Brennen Ward

Notably, Daniel Mincey — younger brother of Gerald Mincey — was the only freshman who didn’t see the field last season. He has since transferred.

One Game Played (Can play in three more)

OT Jayden Clark (Eastern Michigan), DL Kalen Edwards (Eastern Michigan), CB Demarcus Gardner (Eastern Michigan), CB Andrew Purcell (Eastern Michigan), OT Darrin Strey (Eastern Michigan), S Dyllon Williams (Eastern Michigan)

Last season, six freshmen appeared in exactly one game: K Jacob Kauwe, CB Jiquavious Marshall, RB Tovani Mizell, OG Marc Nave Jr., LB Quintavion Norman, and LB Devin Smith.

Two Games Played (Can play in two more)

Last season, four players reached this mark — OL Hayes Johnson, EDGE Caleb Redd, DL Brian Robinson, and OL Aba Selm. The year before that, DL Tommy Ziesmer was the only freshman to play in two games.

This season:
S Martels Carter Jr. (Toledo, Ole Miss, Eastern Michigan)
WR DJ Miller (Texas, Tennessee, Auburn)

Three Games Played (Can play one more)

Over the past two years, DL Tavion Gadson was the only freshman to play in exactly three games.

This season:
WR Cameron Miller (Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Auburn)

Four Games Played (Redshirt burned if they appear again)

In the past two seasons, four freshmen reached the four-game mark — QB Cutter Boley, RB Jason Patterson, EDGE Jacob Smith, and NB Jaden Smith.

This season:
CB Grant Grayton (Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Auburn)
EDGE Cedric Works (Toledo, Ole Miss, Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn)

1. Last year, nine freshmen officially burned their redshirts:
S Cam Dooley, WR Hardley Gilmore IV, CB Terhyon Nichols, TE Willie Rodriguez, CB Quaysheed Scott, EDGE Antwan Smith, DL Jerod Smith II, EDGE Steven Soles Jr., and WR David Washington Jr.

Two years ago, five Wildcats did the same:
S Ty Bryant, WR Anthony Brown-Stephens, TE Khamari Anderson, CB Nasir Addison, and LB Jayvant Brown.