Scott Padgett’s son, Lucas, has committed to play football at Kentucky

Scott Padgett is an assistant coach for the New Mexico Lobos. But once upon a time, he was a star in Lexington.

Padgett played and integral role on Kentucky’s 1998 national championship team. He entered the NBA Draft in 1999 and was the first round selection of the Utah Jazz. Now 22 years after he left Lexington, Padgett gets to watch his son suit up in Lexington for the football team.

After playing most of his high school career in Alabama, Lucas Padgett moved to New Mexico with his dad only to have his senior season canceled due to COVID. He has been able to participate in national all-star games, and he may play a shortened center this spring, but the absence of his final year of high school football made recruiting tough.

Padgett was offered a role as a preferred walk-on by Mark Stoops last week. Less than a week later, he would make his official commitment to follow his father, and his mother, former volleyball star Cynthia Dozier Padgett, in his athletic career at the University of Kentucky.

Padgett is listed as a 6-4 center, and he will have some big competition to earn a scholarship and/or get some time on the field. But we have seen walk-on players make a big difference in the past.

And if Padgett’s work ethic is anything like his dad’s, I would not rule him out as a contributor to this program.

Here are some highlights of Lucas in action from his junior season.

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