RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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LEXINGTON, KY - OCTOBER 18: Cedric "CJ" Works #15 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts after a defensive stop during a college football game against the Texas Longhorns on October 18, 2025 at Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Josh Hines-Allen is one of the best players in Kentucky Football history. A unanimous All-American, a multiple All-SEC selection, and winner of numerous awards during his time at Kentucky, including the Chuck Bednarik Award for National Defensive Player of the Year.
On Wednesday, defensive line coach Anwar Stewart, who worked closely with Allen during his time at Kentucky, gave current player Cedric “CJ” Works a lofty comparison to Allen.
“CJ has a lot of talent,” Stewart said. “Long. Athletic. You can see some Josh Allen in him. Coach [Tony] Washington has done a really good job with him. He still hasn’t even scratched the surface. He’s still a baby. Right? He’s still a baby.”
A promising sophomore, Works appeared in all 12 games last season as a true freshman, totaling 16 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, and showed promise as a run defender.
Under new Defensive Coordinator Jay Bateman, Works will play the JACK position in a more aggressive scheme designed to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks with the pass rush, something that Kentucky’s defense has struggled with in recent seasons under the previous staff.
The former 4-star recruit out of Lexington is looking forward to that new system.
“He allows us to play fast,” Works said. “The type of scheme it is, he’s gonna allow us to get after the quarterback, get on edges, do what we need to do to win games.”
Just a sophomore, Works acknowledges he still has a lot of room to develop, but he is grateful for the high praise and confidence that the staff has in him to give such a comparison.
“I have seen a lot of Josh Allen,” Works said. “It’s kind of hard not to see a lot of his tape. I just want to stay focused and have the best season I could possibly have.”
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