It seemed as though Jason Hatcher's fate was sealed after his latest arrest , and Kentucky didn't take long to make that official.

Just over an hour after Hatcher's arrest for drug trafficking was made public, UK'd star defensive end/linebacker has been dismissed for violation of team rules, head coach Mark Stoops has announced. The school is offering no additional comment on the matter, but this is a very tough loss for the Cats entering a critical 2016 season for the Stoops regime.

Coming out of Trinity (KY) in the 2013 recruiting cycle, Hatcher was rated a four-star defensive end prospect and easily the biggest get of Stoops' first class at Kentucky. Both Rivals and 247Sports ranked him as the eighth-best weakside defensive end in the 2013 class and a four-star prospect. Hatcher was ranked in 247Sports' Top 200 nationally, while Rivals placed him in its top 250.

But Hatcher has never lived up to his billing, and he's made more headlines off the field than he has on it. With him gone, UK will now have lost all of their starting linebackers from last season. Jabari Johnson, Josh Forrest and Ryan Flannigan have graduated, as to has top backup Khalid Henderson.

It's safe to say this position has become the biggest question mark next season.