Three Kentucky football players Ole Miss will need to keep quiet in Week 5

Kentucky may sit at 2-2, but Ole Miss knows how dangerous this Wildcats team can be. In Week 3, they pushed Georgia to the end, losing 13-12 in a high-class defensive performance. They held the Bulldogs to under 300 offensive yards, which deserved to win the game.

The offense has stars but has yet to get going, so the Rebels must ensure that doesn't happen against them. Below are three players Ole Miss will need to keep quiet to help them win this game.

J.J. Weaver, Linebacker

The Kentucky defense has been the cornerstone of this team through four games and will likely need to be again when they face Ole Miss. J.J. Weaver is in his fifth season with the Wildcats and is an essential piece at the linebacker position. This season, he already has ten tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection. He also recorded a forced fumble against South Carolina and a fumble recovery against Ohio.

Weaver attacks from the edge and is persistent in pursuit. Dart will need that sixth sense if Weaver gets behind him, as he has numerous sacks coming from behind. It would be a good start if both tackles could lock Weaver up.

Barion Brown, Wide Receiver

The Kentucky passing game has struggled to get going this season with transfer quarterback Brock Vandagriff and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan. However, give wide receiver Barion Brown any type of space, and he can punish you. Brown is such an electric player that he is used in the passing and rushing game and is effective in jet sweeps.

In his first two seasons, he averaged over 12.0 yards per reception, which is way above his 7.5 yards per reception through four games this season. In 2023, he averaged over 12.0 yards per rushing attempt from 12 attempts. If this passing game can find a rhythm, Brown becomes a danger Ole Miss will need to limit.

Deone Walker, Defensive tackle

Deone Walker is an integral part of the Kentucky defensive front, which has allowed just 74.8 rushing yards per game. At a huge 6 foot 6 inches and 350 pounds, Walker has helped limit South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders and Georgia running back Trevor Etienne to under 80 rushing yards.

Alongside Keeshawn Silver and Tre'vonn Rybka, Walker and the defensive front will play a big part in stopping the impressive run game we have seen from Ole Miss inside four games. Can they help stop one part of this lethal offense?