Jamarrion “Chops” Harkless is back at his old Kentucky home. It doesn’t feel like that long ago when he was wrecking the trenches at Frederick Douglass High School, yet he’s been through a tumultuous few seasons in the college ranks.

Harkless, a 6-foot-3, 346-pound defensive tackle, was recruited to Purdue by Jeff Brohm. By the time he arrived in West Lafayette, Ryan Walters was the Boilermakers’ head coach. After five wins in two seasons, former Missouri linebacker and head coach Barry Odom took over the Purdue program and produced two wins in his debut season.

In his fourth year of Power Conference college football, Harkless will have his third different head coach. Walters and Will Stein were first-time head coaches. Even though it may seem like a similar situation from the outside looking in, everything feels different for Harkless at Kentucky.

“It’s a major difference from Purdue. Coming from one of the worst seasons of all-time at Purdue, my expectations were just try to make a bowl game at least,” Harkless told KSR at UK Football media day.

“With this team, it’s bigger than that. We’re trying to take Kentucky where Kentucky’s never been. With the guys we got in, the talent, I think we can do that for sure.”

Mediocrity is not the goal. This Kentucky team wants more. Harkless can feel it every time he steps onto the field with Anwar Stewart, who’s unlike any defensive line coach he’s had before.

“Coach Stew, he’s a character, fa show. It’s crazy because I’ve always had old-style, laid-back type of D-line coaches. He brings that energy. He brings that energy as soon as he steps in, and he’s probably roasting somebody. He’s always smiling, an energetic guy,” said Harkless. “It’s amazing having a D-line coach like that. It makes you want to pour your energy out, too.”

Chops went through hell at Purdue. He committed to a program that played in a Big Ten Championship Game, then pumped out a one-win and two-win season. That’s miserable. He’s getting a new lease on his college football life back in his hometown, dreaming of doing things never done before.

“Being back home and being able to do something like that, pshh, that would be a feeling — I don’t know. That would be crazy.”

Chops Harkless also shared the origin story of his nickname, why he’s wearing No. 7 this fall at Kentucky, and much more in this candid conversation.