Moore alumn J.J. Weaver is growing into his role as a freshman for Kentucky football

LEXINGTON – Ask Kentucky linebacker Boogie Watson about new teammate J.J. Weaver, and Watson will mention summer weekends.

“He’s been working out on Saturdays, just by himself sometimes, just getting extra work,” said Watson of Weaver. “He’s very dedicated to get work in. I’m excited to see his progress.”

So is much of Big Blue Nation.

A 6-foot-5, 237-pound edge rusher and four-star prospect with size, length and loads of athletic potential at a valued defensive position, Weaver became one of the prized additions in Kentucky’s 2019 class when he signed out of Louisville's Moore Traditional School. He committed to the Wildcats on his birthday: Nov. 30.

A year later, he’ll be a part of the Kentucky team facing rival Louisville on the same day.

“It’s going to feel amazing,” Weaver said.

After some uncertainty about whether he’d sign with the Wildcats during December’s early period, Weaver did put pen to paper, ending his recruitment early.

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Unlike fellow Louisville-area linebacker signee Jared Casey of Ballard High School, Weaver didn’t enroll early at UK, instead opting to play a final season of high school basketball before enrolling in July.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve just been grinding,” Weaver said prior to the start of UK’s preseason practice. “(Teammates) say I’ve got the size, and I’ve got the hard work ethic. It’s just on me to be physical and just go 100 miles per hour every day.”

So far, Weaver appears to have been doing that. Like any freshman, he’s having to adjust to the speed of the game and learn the defense and how he fits into that scheme.

There haven’t been gripes, however, about Weaver’s physicality or courage.

“He is not afraid of contact,” said UK defensive coordinator Brad White of Weaver. “That’s a positive, to be as big and as long as he is, to not be afraid. You just never know with some guys when they transition to this level of football. Some guys it takes a little bit before they really want to put their face in.

“From day one, he has not been afraid to go strike a puller, strike a fullback, a tackle. Obviously, it’s a fair amount of defense he’s trying to wade through, so he still is finding his role there. But he is improving by the day, and I am encouraged by his progress.”

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The promotion of White to defensive coordinator, considering he still doubles as UK’s outside linebackers coach, was a big deal during his recruitment, Weaver said.

Kentucky is playing Weaver at the “Jack” position, the Cats’ hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role that propelled Josh Allen to national stardom a season ago.

“I love it,” Weaver said. “I can do it all. I can drop in coverage. I can guard people. And I can rush.”

With the Aug. 31 season opener against Toledo soon approaching, Weaver has continued to vie in practice for playing time this season.

Even before preseason, he was aware of the challenge awaiting him.

“A lot of pressure. A lot of hard work. A lot of discipline. A lot of everything,” Weaver said of being at UK. “There’s grown men out here.”

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Gentry Estes: 502-582-4205; gestes@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Gentry_Estes. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/gentrye.