Old faces in new places: Ex-Cats football players are flourishing at new schools

Quick hitters from the Chad Powers quarterback camp:

21. Kentucky football progress. One sign of the degree of advancement that the Wildcats program has made in the Mark Stoops era is that players who have transferred from UK — most seeking a greater opportunity to play — are, for the most part, performing well at their new schools in 2022.

In alphabetical order, this is how some ex-Cats who are now old faces in new places are faring this season:

20. R.J. Adams, Georgia Tech. Ex-UK offensive guard is not on the two-deep depth chart for the Yellow Jackets (1-3).

19. Beau Allen, Tarleton State. Former Lexington Catholic star quarterback is the reigning Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 316 yards and four touchdowns in a win at North Alabama last week. On the season, the ex-UK QB is completing 56.6 percent of his throws for 1,139 yards with 10 TDs vs. four interceptions for the Texans (3-1).

18. Marquez Bembry, Connecticut. Bembry is starting for new UConn Coach Jim Mora Jr. at left outside linebacker. Through five games, Bembry has four tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and half a sack for the Huskies (1-4).

17. Jamari Brown, Purdue. After starting 11 games for the Boilermakers (2-2) in 2021, the ex-Kentucky cornerback is serving as a depth piece for Jeff Brohm and Co. in 2022. Nevertheless, Brown has five tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and an interception.

16. Jared Casey, Indiana. Running second string at linebacker, the former Ballard High School star has made 10 tackles and half of a TFL for the Hoosiers (3-1).

15. M.J. Devonshire, Pittsburgh. The singular star of UK transfers, the Pitt cornerback scored the game-winning TD in the Panthers’ 38-31, season-opening victory over rival West Virginia on a 56-yard interception return. Devonshire also had an 82-yard TD on a punt return vs. Rhode Island. On the season, Devonshire has 12 tackles and five pass breakups for Pittsburgh (3-1).

14. Cedrick Dort, Wisconsin. After making 25 career starts at UK as a cornerback, Dort is the first-team nickelback for the Badgers (2-2). He has made five tackles and broken up a pass.

13. Moses Douglass, Alabama A&M. The ex-UK safety has made a team-high 17 tackles and has a pick for the Bulldogs (0-4).

12. Isaiah Epps, Tulsa. Formerly a Kentucky wide receiver, Epps had touchdown catches of 20 and 17 yards in the Golden Hurricane’s 35-27 loss at Mississippi last week. On the season, Epps has 13 catches for 217 yards and four TDs for Tulsa (2-2).

11. Isaiah Gibson, Marshall. A starting defensive tackle for the Thundering Herd (2-2), Gibson has a team-high three quarterback hurries and has made two tackles. In Marshall’s 26-21 upset of Notre Dame in South Bend, Gibson had two tackles and a QB hurry.

10. Jerquavion Mahone, Temple. As a defensive tackle for the Owls (2-2), Mahone has 10 tackles, 3.5 TFL and half a sack.

9. K.D. McDaniel, Central Florida. A second-team rush end at UCF (3-1), McDaniel has six tackles, a TFL and a QB hurry.

8. Bryce Oliver, Youngstown State. The ex-Wildcats wideout caught two passes for 40 yards in YSU’s 31-0 loss to UK at Kroger Field. On the season, Oliver has 12 catches for 161 yards and two TDs for the Penguins (2-1).

7. Jake Pope, Illinois State. Listed as the No. 2 left offensive tackle for the Redbirds (2-1).

6. Earnest Sanders, Saginaw Valley State. The 6-2, 218-pound wide receiver is third on the unbeaten Saginaw Valley State team (4-0) with eight receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Nik Scalzo, Samford. Plagued by knee injuries during his UK tenure, Scalzo was battling Michael Hiers to be the starting quarterback for Coach Chris Hatcher’s Bulldogs (3-1) — when a knee injury in training camp ended Scalzo’s season before it began.

4. Clevan Thomas, Montana State. The wideout has caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown for the Bobcats (3-1).

3. Travis Tisdale, Valdosta State. Former Kentucky running back has three carries for 50 yards and a touchdown and has returned two kickoffs for 44 yards for the Blazers (3-1).

2. Naasir Watkins, Liberty. Before suffering a knee injury against Wake Forest, Watkins was starting at left tackle for Coach Hugh Freeze’s Flames (3-1). Liberty is hopeful that Watkins will return to action this week at Old Dominion.

1. Joel Williams, Memphis. After transferring in late August, the former Kentucky safety has appeared in three games for the Tigers (3-1) and has made two tackles.