Chris Rodriguez has shown he can do things no other Kentucky back can

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Kentucky has added two new running backs in the last week but neither can do what Chris Rodriguez can. (UK Athletics Photo)

Kentucky has recently added two running back transfers — Ramon Jefferson of Sam Houston State and Dee Beckwith of Tennessee — to the roster and both should be eligible for the upcoming season.

Jefferson is a sixth-year player with some impressive statistics and plenty of experience. Beckwith was a high profile recruit but has produced very little in two seasons at Tennessee.

Still, the additions fueled speculation that senior running back Chris Rodriguez might not be with the team this season or will have to sit out some games. Rodriguez had a recent DUI arrest in Lexington after spring practice and coach Mark Stoops has not issued any disciplinary statement.

However, there has also been speculation that Rodriguez might have another issue that could jeopardize his UK future. His name still remains on the UK roster and Stoops has not issued any statement indicating Rodriguez, who ran for 1,379 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021, will not be with the team.

It’s hard to replace a player who averaged 6.1 yards per carry and has been impossible to tackle for loss to more than negate the fumbling issues he’s had.

I talked to running backs coach John Settle about Rodriguez during spring practice before there was any speculation about what role he would have on the 2022 team. He said Rodriguez’s success last season carried over to the offseason where he worked diligently with the quarterbacks running routes on his own.

“Now he sees what he can do. I told him he could lead the team in receptions. (New offensive coordinator) Rich (Scangarello) echoes that. Chris is a really talented player with good ball skills,” Settle said.

“Last summer the running backs each made a commitment to catch a 1,000 balls. That was the beginning of him learning to be a receiver.”

Settle still understood that no matter what kind of receiver Rodriguez might be his strength is still power running. He goes downhill and can run through or past would-be tacklers. He falls forward and moves the chains.

“We are not going to take that part of his game away. That is who he is,” Settle said during spring practice. “Turn on the film and somebody mentions Chris and you see a physical runner. He runs through tackles and gets yards. That’s why we just want to enhance the other part of the game to go with what he already does very, very well.”

And hopefully will keep doing it for UK this season.

8 Responses

      1. Thanks Larry for the postive comment, why 2 RB transfer to ky last week makes me concern and I know they could use them in another position if that’s the case.

  1. This has become a huge distraction. IMO UK will not win 10 or more games without Chris Rodriquez on the field. He must have really "stepped in it." Very strange with no word on his status from the head coach as yet, and after all the rumors and talk.

    1. Concerning Rodriquez, I’m curious if UK still has the decades old zero tolerance policy concerning DUI’s? Could that explain the cloudiness surrounding his situation?

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