Kentucky writer says the Wildcats never fully unlocked Kendrick Law, but the Lions can, maybe even at a different position
Kentucky played it safe with Kenrick Law in the return game, and the Lions and the NFL’s kickoff style might be just what he needs
The Detroit Lions shocked their fans just a little bit when they traded up in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft to get Kentucky wide receiver Kendrick Law.
We’ve already sort of solved why they felt they had to trade up and what we think Law can do for Detroit, now I think it’s a good time to talk with someone who has spent a lot of time covering Law.
We spoke with Jon Hale of the Lexington Herald-Leader, and here’s what he had to say:
Law looked like a gadget receiver at Kentucky, but do you also get the sense he could play some running back in the NFL?
“I think that’s in his skill set. He was promoting his versatility at the NFL combine and pro day, so I’m sure teams have at least explored that idea with him. Kentucky did occasionally line him up in the backfield, but the offense really needed him as a pass-catcher because there were so few other productive options.”
Why was Law not a bigger part of the Kentucky offense?
“His stats weren’t eye-popping by any means, but he had 25 more catches than any other player. The offense just wasn’t very good. Their most successful run last season came with a pretty drastic scheme overhaul that tried to overcome some issues in pass protection and quarterback inexperience. When they won three in a row in November, it was because they were calling plays that had quarterback Cutter Boley getting the ball out as quickly as possible. That usually meant short passes to Law. The offensive line wasn’t good enough to protect long enough to get the ball down the field, so Law didn’t have many opportunities to prove whether or not he could be a consistent deep threat.”
How impactful was Law on special teams? It feels like that’s his best chance to contribute in Detroit right away
“He arrived at Kentucky with the reputation of a dangerous kickoff returner, but we never saw much of that in action. The fact he was following Barion Brown, who was one of the best kickoff returners in SEC history, probably did hurt the perception of what he was able to do there. He didn’t look super comfortable as the punt returner when he was forced into that position by injuries and ineffectiveness from other options, but former Kentucky coach Mark Stoops was very conservative with his punt return strategy. He basically only cared about avoiding turnovers. I do think the NFL kickoff rules could give Law a chance to shine.”
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