On Tuesday, UK Football announced that Vito Tisdale, who missed the entire 2022 season due to a torn ACL and meniscus in his knee, has been dismissed from the team for violating team rules. The university did not provide any additional information regarding the matter.
Tisdale, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior, was expected to take on a full-time starting role in the secondary last season after appearing in nine games with two starts in 2021. He recorded 39 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass breakup in two seasons with the Wildcats.
Tisdale took to Twitter to express his gratitude for the opportunity to play and study at the university. He also thanked everyone who supported him throughout his career. Tisdale was a three-star prospect and a top-50 safety in the class of 2020 from Bowling Green High School in Kentucky, where he led the Purples to a state championship.
The Wildcats also lost safety Taj Dodson, who retired from football in February. Jalen Geiger, Jordan Lovett, and Zion Childress are among the other safeties on the team. Geiger suffered a season-ending leg injury in the Wildcats’ Week 2 win at Florida and missed the remainder of the season. The transfer portal will re-open after spring practice, and the Cats could look for additional help in the secondary.
In the 2020 season, Tisdale recorded 20 tackles in 10 games, including a career-best six tackles in UK’s win over NC State in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. He had 21 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry in his sophomore year in 2021.
Tisdale also tallied a team-high six tackles against Tennessee and recorded his first career sack and pass breakup while finishing with five stops against Mississippi State. Last spring, head coach Mark Stoops said they would experiment with Tisdale at outside cornerback, where the Wildcats were particularly thin and still needed help.
Read: Offseason Blueprint for Kentucky
Read: Pitino Signs 6 Year Deal | Heads To St. Johns
Read:Jay Bilas Weighs In On Calipari Future
Read: Mr & Mrs Kentucky Basketball Crowned
