Both ultimately decided they had to more work to do with a Wildcats defense that can certainly use their pass-rushing skills.
Smith and Dupree are back for their senior seasons, good news for Kentucky in many ways. The duo combined for 13 sacks — ranking top-10 individually in that category in the Southeastern Conference — 16 tackles for loss and 120 stops last season.
Dupree and Smith enter Saturday's opener against Tennessee-Martin bigger, stronger and more familiar with Kentucky's 4-3 base scheme. They've also become more vocal leaders following the departure of all-SEC linebacker Avery Williamson, critical for a defense that's still young at many spots.
