Kentucky Football: Top 5 prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

The number of Kentucky football players in the NFL should continue to grow as the program will likely see 5-6 of their stars selected in 2021.

With Lynn Bowden Jr. and Logan Stenberg selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, seven Kentucky Wildcats have been drafted the last two seasons.

Quietly head coach Mark Stoops is building an elite program in Lexington as the Cats have reached bowl games in four straight seasons with wins over Penn State and Virginia Tech in their previous two appearances.

All in all, the Wildcats have gone 18-8 the last two seasons combined and with that, several players have caught the eyes of NFL scouts.

Their 2021 roster features several draft prospects as it’s possible north of five could hear their name called. For now, we look at the five UK draft prospects that appear the most likely to be selected.

5. Quinton Bohanna, DT

Quinton Bohanna will be returning to Lexington for his senior season despite some speculation he’d head for the pros a year early.

The 361-pound nose tackle has helped Kentucky form one of the nation’s top run defenses the last two seasons. In nine games in 2018, Bohanna made 17 total tackles with four coming for a loss and one being a sack. He also both recovered and forced a fumble.

As a full-time starter in 2019, Bohanna made 18 total tackles with three coming for a loss and a sack while adding a pass defended.

Bohanna has size that cannot be taught, but in order to solidify himself as a draft pick, he needs to continue to get into opponents backfields and shutting down the run.