SIMPSONVILLE — Jeremy Jarmon started 31 games during his three-year playing career at Kentucky and earned all-Southeastern Conference honors his junior year when he had 38 tackles, including 10 for losses and 4.5 quarterback sacks.
The Tennessee native had his UK career cut short when he tested positive for a banned supplement he purchased as an over the counter dietary aid at a Lexington nutrition store, and the NCAA suspended him for his senior year. He entered the NFL supplemental draft and was taken with a third-round pick by the Washington Redskins. He spent two years in Washington before being traded to Denver and later cut from the Broncos.
Now he’s retired from the NFL and recently became director of player relations for the Kentucky football team under coach Joker Phillips. He was in Simpsonville on Thursday for the Governor’s Cup press conference promoting the Kentucky-Louisville game Sept. 2 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium:
UK Football: Former Wildcat Jarmon says Wildcats aren't that far off
Question: Does your new job include duties where you might be out speaking and spreading the word about UK football?
Jarmon: “That is something pending the direction they see me going. That is something I can’t rule out if they want to use me in that kind of role. It is something I would definitely embrace. For the time being, I am just do the things they ask me to do and if and when that opportunity presents itself, I will take it.”
Question: Wouldn’t it be good to have a person like yourself available during the season to talk to fans and sell UK football?
Jarmon: “I believe in UK football not only because I played here and was part of it, but because I did have success. I saw how close we were. A couple of players away, couple of injuries here and there that prevented us from having a couple more upsets. And a couple more upsets, you are talking BCS bowl game. To get a taste and experiences I had, particularly in those 2007-08 season, I just knew how close we were. That is the message that I have. UK football is not as far off as some people think. We had a graduating class that all they saw was bowl games in four years. That is the start of building tradition. When you can look at say every December or every January you are going to a bowl game, that is special. That is what we are trying to do.”
Question: With all the possible career directions you talked about maybe going during your UK playing career, what has you back in football in an administrative role?
Jarmon: “You are not remembering wrong. I have always been interested in a lot of different things. I am interested in politics. I was a political science major. I was interested in the military, but I didn’t go join the Marines like I thought I would when I was in high school. I was in the Thespian Honor Society. I don’t plan on going down the road of being an actor.
“Being here at UK and being in the NFL for three years, I really became fascinated by the front office aspect of running a football team or organization. As I got to know people here at UK as well as Washington and the contacts I still have at Denver, it just seemed like the way I kind of bonded with those kind of people was a natural fit for me. Here at UK is a great start for me in this position and role. I am really going to try and bring the community and campus a little closer with UK football and help put our message out there and help build our players into even higher character individuals to where they have good interaction with the community, teachers and different department personnel.”
