247 Sports recently released their “2017 Best College Players” list and three Kentucky players made the list of 255.
Linebacker Jordan Jones was the highest UK player on the list, coming in at #104 on the list.
As a sophomore last year, Jones was named second team All-SEC while finishing third in the conference in tackles per game. Jones finished the season with 15.5 tackles for loss per game, good enough for sixth in the conference.
Jones is expected to once again be the team’s leading tackler and among the top in the conference in tackles and tackles for loss this upcoming season after building on a very successful sophomore season.
Coming in at #130 is safety Mike Edwards.
Edwards, also a junior, is coming off of a successful sophomore season last year in which he started all 13 games and was named second team All-SEC by the AP.
Edwards lead all SEC defensive backs with 100 tackles and came away with three interceptions last season. He recorded two interceptions in last year’s victory over Louisville.
Edwards will be a key part of a secondary that has the looks of a top-level SEC secondary, alongside Chris Westry, Derrick Baity, and Darius West.
Finally, the last UK player to make the list is running back Benny Snell at #247.
Snell had a breakout year last year as a freshman, racking up several post-season awards including being named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team and ESPN’s True Freshman All-American team.
Snell set the freshman rushing record with 1,091 yards and had the second-most rushing touchdowns in school history with 13 (second in the SEC).
Snell will be the featured back in the Wildcats’ offensive attack this year and figures to see an even larger load of the carries with Stanley “Boom” Williams leaving for the NFL Draft.