No one is more enthusiastic for Kentucky’s November 2 game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium
than new Wildcats offensive tackle Gerald Mincey.
Mincey played his first two college seasons at Florida before transferring to Tennessee. He started 14 games for the
Vols in 2022 and 2023, eight at left tackle and six at right tackle. During his inaugural press conference in Lexington
on Wednesday, Mincey addressed November 2 four times.
“I think I owe it to all the Kentucky fans that we got to handle business on November 2,” Mincey said in a statement.
Now, Mincey is in Lexington, where he expected to begin his collegiate career. On February 11, 2019, the 6-foot-6,
337-pound offensive tackle committed to Kentucky out of high school, but later decommitted and attended
Gainesville and Knoxville before returning to the Bluegrass State.
“Coach Gran (then offensive coordinator) Eddie Gran was the first to offer from an SEC school,” Mincey said at the
time. “Now I have a chance to be a part of the Big Blue Wall and I’m excited.”
Mincey did not play in the Vols’ 2022 win over the Cats, but he did start at right tackle when the Volunteers defeated
Kentucky 33-27 at Kroger Field this season.
“The workouts have been crazy. I had to tell you something now. I was thinking, “Dang, I didn’t realize the guys
worked so hard, but it shows.” They work out that hard,” Mincey said of his new teammates, whom he previously
competed against. “It is cool; it has been a lot of fun.
Since announcing his decision to transfer to Tennessee, Mincey had received an earful from the volunteer fan base.
Mincey responded to the criticism about the “X” posting: “Really gave my all to Tennessee reading all these negative
comments hurts man not gonna lie played this past season with a torn MCL and was able to help my team win a bowl
game with a big smile on my face because I did love being a Volunteer but business is business.”
