Best opposing player you saw in person in Commonwealth Stadium - offense and defense

[Jaxcat]

I attended every home game from the opening of CWS until I graduated in 1985 from UK, so my picks are only from that 13-year period.

Offense - Herschel Walker; IIRC, he didn't have ridiculous stats against us but it was obvious he was much better athlete than pretty much everyone else on the field; even when we defensed him well, he still picked up YAC as I don't think any one player on UK's team was going to bring him down solo

Defense - Bruce Smith; I'm almost positive we scheduled Va Tech as homecoming opponent when BS was there and lost 27-3. Had a date who was NOT a football fan and probably got a bit tired of my continuing to complain: 'Who in the h*ll is that DE for Va Tech and why can't we block him?'; it really seemed like he should've suited up in Blue and White the amount of time he spent in our backfield; needless to say, I fairly quickly became acquainted with just how great BS was and became as an NFL HOF'er

[Pete Hogwallop]

For me, it was probably Cam Newton...as much as I hate to say that. I have never been a fan of him. But at QB, he still somehow looked like the biggest player on the field.

[EKYCat]

Tim Tebow was the best college football player I ever saw. Herschel was a little before my time but my dad says he's the best he ever saw. Defensively, Bradie James from LSU may not have been the best I've ever seen but he was the day we were there. It was like he made every single tackle for them that day. A quick wikipedia search says he set the single season tackle record for LSU. By the way, that was the Bluegrass Miracle...

[NewWildcatOrder]

Could that have been Cincy for the Homecoming Game??

[Helix]

Stafford for me. Kid had an arm!

[Old School]

This is a tough one. Marcus Lattimore might’ve been the best offensive player, but the best opposing performance was probably Peyton Manning in 1997 (523 yards passing vs. Tim Couch). Defense, maybe Jevon Kearse as the best overall player, but the best performance was probably Courtney Brown or LaVar Arrington in the second half of the 1998 (1/1/99) Outback Bowl. I hate to say it but some Indiana RBs in the 1990s or so were outstanding and they put on a relentless clinic in 1994. Antwaan Randle-El was a remarkable athlete but didn’t have much around him and he was never successful against Kentucky. Several Florida players had huge games against Bill Curry’s teams.

[DA#23]

^ Old School, whew those are some names!

[EKYCat]

This is a tough one. Marcus Lattimore might’ve been the best offensive player, but the best opposing performance was probably Peyton Manning in 1997 (523 yards passing vs. Tim Couch). Defense, maybe Jevon Kearse as the best overall player, but the best performance was probably Courtney Brown or LaVar Arrington in the second half of the 1998 (1/1/99) Outback Bowl. I hate to say it but some Indiana RBs in the 1990s or so were outstanding and they put on a relentless clinic in 1994. Antwaan Randle-El was a remarkable athlete but didn’t have much around him and he was never successful against Kentucky. Several Florida players had huge games against Bill Curry’s teams.

Good pull on Randle-El. I'll tell you another great running back I saw was Garrison Hearst at Georgia. I think he's second all time to Herschel in the UGA record books. Speaking of UGA, I saw Chubb at UGA when they just clobbered us a few years back. Fun place to watch a game though.

[Shydog]

On offense, Lamar Jackson.

[The-Hack]

I posted without reading other responses.

Offensively, the best opposing player was Peyton Manning, in the 1998 game . . . he and Couch had over 980 yards passing, pretty evenly divided between them, and UT completed a “half-back” pass that pushed the passing totals for the day to 1,023 yards, IIRC, a stadium record that may never be broken.

On Defense, I’ll go with the dynamic duo from Mississippi State, Fred Smoot and Pig Prather, versatile defensive backs who anchored the SEC’s strongest defensive unit in the mid/late 90’s.

[WildcatRick]

Had to be Peyton or Tebow on offense. Dak had some great games against us,too.

Marcus Buggs(Vandy) on defense. Cause I coached him as a kid.😁

[Spica Orbit]

Herschel Walker for me. Did Bo Jackson play in Commonwealth? I had season tickets for decades but can't remember if I saw him here.

[Old School]

I posted without reading other responses.

Offensively, the best opposing player was Peyton Manning, in the 1998 game . . . he and Couch had over 980 yards passing, pretty evenly divided between them, and UT completed a “half-back” pass that pushed the passing totals for the day to 1,023 yards, IIRC, a stadium record that may never be broken.

On Defense, I’ll go with the dynamic duo from Mississippi State, Fred Smoot and Pig Prather, versatile defensive backs who anchored the SEC’s strongest defensive unit in the mid/late 90’s.

Mississippi State had a running back named Anthony Dixon who had a monster game at Commonwealth in 2009. 252 yards on the ground, 2 catches, 2 TDs. Kentucky still led most of the game, but Dixon scored the go ahead and winning TD and Kentucky couldn’t get on the board in the fourth quarter - one of many frustrating losses to the Bulldogs that easily could’ve been wins: 1992, one point game; 1995, Bill Curry special, fourth quarter tie ended up a ten point loss; 1997, blown lead in a very early Mumme/Couch game (their first road game, I think, and vs. Joe Lee Dunn); 1999, one point road loss despite Anthony White’s effort (Mississippi State was 7-0 and ranked #8 in the country as the reigning SEC West champions entering the game, and finished 10-2 after beating Clemson in the Peach Bowl); 2001 (17-14); 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013 (one score losses); 2014 (they were ranked #1 in the country and Kentucky pulled within 7 late, Commonwealth was rocking, but the onside kick was returned for a TD) - it would be easy to despise that team but for the context of Tennessee.

[Old School]

Herschel Walker for me. Did Bo Jackson play in Commonwealth? I had season tickets for decades but can't remember if I saw him here.

Yes, in 1983. Auburn 49, Kentucky 21.

[M4Cat]

AJ Green