Ramon Jefferson might become UK’s No. 1 running back option if Chris Rodriguez is suspended. (UK Athletics Photo)
If Kentucky is going to win at Florida on Sept. 10, it likely is going to have to do so without running back Chris Rodriguez.
Several media members noted Friday that Rodriguez is likely to be suspended for at least two games and maybe four. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops refused any in-depth comments after practice Saturday other than to say he would have more to say next week.
A week earlier Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart said it would be a “collective decision” on Rodriguez’s status meaning that it would be more than just Stoops deciding what would happen.
Rodriguez was arrested in May and charged with careless driving and operating a vehicle while under the influence. He paid a fine and his license was suspended as part of his plea.
The suspension could be DUI related even though Rodriguez was at every summer workout/practice according to offensive line coach Zach Yenser, was at Media Day with teammates and has been taking first-team snaps in practice this month.
Rodriguez is a huge part of Kentucky’s offense. He ran for 1,378 yards and nine touchdowns last season and has 2,739 yards and 27 touchdowns rushing in his career along with 15 receptions for 75yards and three scores.
Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has talked about making Rodriguez a bigger part of the passing game this season.
Stoops did say it was running back by committee after Rodriguez much like Scangarello said earlier in the week.
Sam Houston transfer Ramon Jefferson has created the most buzz of any running back in preseason camp other than Rodriguez. He ran for 3,997 yards and 41 touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per game during his career at Maine, Karen City Community College and Sam Houston.
However, Jefferson’s production has not been against Southeastern Conference competition. Rodriguez is a proven playmaker against SEC competition and if UK does not have him at Florida then that is a big problem for the Cats.
5 Responses
My opinion I think we will be ok if C-Rod does misses game, it just give the other backs a chance to showcase there skills and i know what smokes can do. Another thing is if Will Lewis is what we been hearing we may not need to depend on the running game as much.
UK will miss C-Rod big time. This is a big blow to the offense, and they are just putting lipstick on this with all the big talk about how deep the running back room is. We are about to find out how good they really are come Sept 3, and especially in Gainesville, Fl at the swamp for game 2. Whatever C-Rod did really ticked the brass off big time. They deny him a chance to break Snell’s record, and that is sad. We will probably never know the whole story. Here is a fact for you, If you can’t run the football in this league against your opponent you are in big trouble. You can’t sit a talented, bruising running back like Rodriquez and it not hurt. I hope I’m wrong.
With you Pup and UK coaches know how much they will miss Rodriguez
I have been convinced that UK would remain silent on this until game day. It seems public pressure for information may be reaching a breaking point.
As with most of you, I have read the reports that the DUI would give him 1 game, which is about what I was thinking, but additional games, up to 3 more, are due to an unrelated issue.
I have no idea what "an unrelated issue’ could possibly mean.
Anything over 1 game should have not just "some other issue" but a block buster issue attached to it.
Will we ever know the facts here?
With all the "know it all internet posters" and their "unnamed " sources we will eventually have the answer in the format of a muptiple-choice test question =>
The unrelated incident was:
A. XXX
B. YYY
C. ZZZ
D. NONE OF THE ABOVE
I’m picking D because by that time it won’t really matter anyway. 😁