University of Kentucky linebacker DeAndre Square will play a fifth season of college football.
Square, a senior who’s played in 49 games since arriving at UK in 2018, announced his decision Monday night during an appearance on “BBN Tonight,” a daily UK sports TV program that airs on WLEX-18.
Fellow senior linebackers Jordan Wright and Jacquez Jones announced Sunday that they would also opt into a fifth year of eligibility at Kentucky. In addition to Jones, Square and Wright, UK’s linebacking corps is expected to bring back J.J. Weaver, a budding star, Trevin Wallace, a true freshman who played significant snaps this season, and sophomore D’Eryk Jackson, who was in contention for a starting job in the spring before suffering an Achilles injury that sidelined him until late November. Martez Thrower, another true freshman who played some this season, rounds out the returning players of note at the position. Kentucky also signed two four-star recruits, Tyrese Fearbry and Keaten Wade, who could see the field this fall.
“If healthy, I think we can be one of the top defenses in the country,” Square said during his appearance. “… It’s not just about the seniors or upperclassmen. You need everybody.
Square in the 2021 season recorded 80 tackles, third on the team behind Jones and Yusuf Corker, and was third on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss behind full-time pass-rushers Josh Paschal and J.J. Weaver. In the Wildcats’ Citrus Bowl win over Iowa, Square recorded a game-sealing interception after earlier exiting the game due to an ankle injury.
“I wanted to think that I wasn’t done, but I was pretty sure I was done,” Square said of that injury. “ … I was like, ‘I have to get back out there,’ but I didn’t feel like I could play again.”
A former four-star recruit out of Detroit, Mich., Square has been an rotation member of UK’s linebackers group since he arrived in 2018. He’s made 35 starts over his career, which has coincided with four bowl trips and two 10-win seasons.
Square was an All-Southeastern Conference Fourth Team selection by Phil Steele this year.