GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Vanderbilt’s passing offense vs. Kentucky’s passing defense. UK ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards per game thanks to a terrific secondary led by cornerbacks Derrick Baity Jr. and Mike Edwards, and safety Darius West. Vanderbilt has a pair of big-play targets in wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb and tight end Jared Pinkney. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur will need to team up with the two for Vandy to have any shot at an upset. That’ll be a stiff challenge against the Wildcats, who’ve picked off seven passes and given up only five touchdowns.
DRAFT SLANT
–LT Justin Skule has yet to give up a sack. The 6-foot-6, 318-pound senior has started 34 straight games.
ROSTER REPORT:
–OLB Charles Wright, a preseason second-team All-SEC pick, has disappeared from the depth chart. Mason had hinted Wright would play against Florida, but he didn’t. Wright exited the Tennessee State game (Week Five) in the second half and hasn’t returned since. On Tuesday, coach Derek Mason said he could be out a while as he continues to nurse a leg injury.
–ILB Colin Anderson, who started the opener, played again for the first time last week. Anderson saw five snaps against Florida after being sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
–S Frank Coppet is listed as a starter for the Kentucky game. He’s started the last two games on the strong side. The redshirt sophomore is the third different player to start at the position. He has 15 tackles and an interception.
–OLB Caleb Peart will likely start in place of injured OLB Charles Wright. Peart has one start this season and three for his career, and has 10 tackles and a sack.