By LARRY VAUGHT

Maybe Jordan Aumiller just didn’t want to admit how well he had been playing, but Kentucky coach Joker Phillips certainly had no problem indicating how the redshirt freshman tight end has done when he said after Friday’s practice that Aumiller is currently No. 1 on the depth chart.

“If we played today, (Jordan) Aumiller,” Phillips said about who might start against Louisville Sept. 4. “Aumiller has been playing well enough to be the first guy that comes out on the field.”

An injury to Nick Melillo, UK’s only experienced tight end, opened a big competition at tight end and Aumiller and true freshman Tyler Robinson are now one-two on the depth chart. Going into preseason drills, most thought either redshirt freshman Anthony Kendrick or true freshman Alex Smith would win the job. However, Aumiller’s consistency, blocking and pass-catching ability have him No. 1 while Robinson’s blocking and surprising ability to get down the field on pass routes have him next. That leaves Smith as a likely redshirt candidate even though he was considered one of the stars of Phillips’ first recruiting class.

Remember, Aumiller played linebacker last year when he was redshirted before being moved to tight end in spring practice. Now he could be starting just as another former Boyle County star — Jacob Tamme — did for the Wildcats.

Center, right tackle, strongside linebacker and placekicker still do not have a clear No. 1.

Senior Jacob Dufrene has a slight edge over sophomore Ridge Wilson at linebacker going into Saturday’s scrimmage, the final one UK will have before playing Louisville.