Kentucky football spring showcase today: UK practice updates, highlights from Kroger Field

LEXINGTON — Kentucky football will give fans a look at the team entering the 2025 season this morning at Kroger Field.

Coach Mark Stoops and the Wildcats are not holding a traditional intrasquad scrimmage, however, instead rebranding the spring-capping practice as “Kentucky Football’s Spring Showcase.” Even so, UK plans to have some game-like elements today, giving interested observers a glimpse at the overhauled roster, which includes 31 newcomers (20 transfers, 11 high school signees) — headlined by quarterback Zach Calzada — and returnees Jamarion Wilcox, Ja’Mori Maclin and Alex Afari Jr.

Who will stand out in front of fans in attendance today?

The Courier Journal will bring you live updates, highlights and analysis throughout the session. Check it out. 

Here’s a list of the UK football players who were dressed out but not taking part today:

The biggest news in the sport today is taking place just south of Kentucky: Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed players the program is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Read more from about this stunning development from Adam Sparks at the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Kentucky’s “spring showcase” will begin in approximately five minutes. Players and coaches are on the field now going through warmups.

As noted above, while there might be game-like parts of today’s practice, there will not be a traditional, four-quarter spring game between blue and white teams.

It will more closely resemble open practices Kentucky has held in the past.

The final practice of the spring for Kentucky football will not be televised or streamed. The only way to catch this morning’s festivities is attending in person.

While there’s no live TV coverage or stream, UK’s release noted snippets of Saturday’s session “will follow on social media and on the SEC Network in the coming weeks.”

• Date: Saturday, April 12
• Start time: 10 a.m.

The UK football “spring showcase” starts at 10 a.m. at Kroger Field in Lexington.

There is no cost of admission for today’s practice.

Per UK’s release, “Fans can choose to sit where they like within lower-level seating in the sideline sections.” End zone areas, the upper decks and the east and west concourses are closed as Kroger Field prepares to host a Tyler Childers concert April 19.

Parking for today’s event is free and available in the red, green, blue and orange lots.

• Aug. 30: vs. Toledo
• Sept. 6: vs. Ole Miss
• Sept. 13: vs. Eastern Michigan
• Sept. 27: at South Carolina
• Oct. 4: at Georgia
• Oct. 18: vs. Texas
• Oct. 25: vs. Tennessee
• Nov. 1: at Auburn
• Nov. 8: vs. Florida
• Nov. 15: vs. Tennessee Tech
• Nov. 22: at Vanderbilt
• Nov. 29: at Louisville

Want to learn the Wildcats’ roster?

Click here for player bios and more.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.