Kentucky Wildcats Football: UK could lose top defenders to 2018 NFL Draft

Kentucky football could be down a couple of key defenders next year, as safety Mike Edwards and linebacker Josh Allen confirmed they’ve been considering the NFL Draft.

Allen, one of Kentucky’s blitz bros. had 59 tackles, 10.5 for loss and seven sacks in the regular season. He also had two forced fumbles. Edwards had 89 tackles, four for loss and one sack. He had four interceptions and six pass defenses.

“Of course I have (thought about the draft), but I ain’t declared nothing or decided what I’m going to do," Allen said, according to Jon Hale of the Louisville Courier-Journal. "I’m just taking my time, wait until after the bowl game and going to sit down with my family and go over everything that’s happening and go from there."

Allen has been projected as high as a first round pick, and earned All-SEC honors from the AP and Pro Football Focus.

"It’s really my mom and my girlfriend who I’m going to sit down and talk to about my final decision, but I still have to keep my family a part of everything I do because family is a big thing for me," Allen said, according to Hale. "Whatever I do, they do too.”

There’s not a clear read on Edwards’ draft stock, but he’s one of the SEC’s top safeties.

"Worried about the bowl game right now, but if that time comes and I’m lucky for me to go a high draft pick then that’s what I would do," Edwards said, according to Hale.

January 15 is the deadline for underclassmen to file declaration papers with the league for the 2018 NFL Draft.