Kavosiey Smoke has earned the trust of UK offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. (Vicky Graff Photo)
From all I had heard, there was a time that fifth-year senior Kavosiey Smoke was fifth on the Kentucky running back depth chart.
He had surprised some by announcing in January he would return to UK for another season rather than potentially transfer.
The 5-9, 200-pound Smoke averaged 5.1 yards per carry in 2021 when he gained 416 yards and four touchdowns on 81 carries — has 104 yards on 12 carries in the win over LSU. He has 1,300 yards and 12 scores on 229 carries in his career.
Still, Kentucky had Chris Rodriguez, perhaps the SEC’s best running back in front of him. Redshirt freshman La’Vell Wright seemed poised for a bigger role. Transfer Ramon Jefferson immediately impressed UK coaches. Michael Drennen and JuTahn McClain seemed like good fits for new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s system.
Smoke was never mentioned prominently during spring practice or summer workouts. You didn’t hear his name a lot earlier this month until Scangarello praised him last week.
“He’s maturing as an individual, and I think that’s what it takes to be successful and count on a guy. You add that with some real dynamic ability, I think he can really help us this year,” Scangarello said.
Smoke said the same day he had “nothing to prove” and his goals were to play in the SEC championship game and win a national title.
Now he’s going to be the starting running back when UK hosts Miami of Ohio to open the season Saturday night. With Rodriguez “suspended” for at least this game, Smoke is going to have his chance to shine.
“We expect him to be who he is. He has this opportunity right now. We’re excited, I’m excited for him, to see what he does with it. I have a good feeling, what he’ll do, because I’ve seen him play through the years, I’ve seen his preparation,” Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops said Monday.
“I like the way he’s responded this camp. I think the coaches put pressure on him because we expect a lot out of him. I’m proud of the way he responded the last couple of weeks because he didn’t start out there. He didn’t start out in the number one spot. Whether Chris was there or not, he’s worked his way.”
Not every player can do what Smoke did. Many would have transferred. Many would have perhaps pouted when he seemed buried on the depth chart a month ago.
Now with no certainty about when Rodriguez might return, Smoke has a chance to show Stoops and Scangarello why they should stick with him.
“He is taking the coaching, he is taking the criticism in the proper way to make him better. Realizing that these coaches have high expectations for him, and our standard is high, and he has responded to that,” Stoops said.
“I do not want to get into the negatives, I want to look at the positives that he has done, and he has handled it, he’s done it. He put himself in a position to get this start, and I am excited for him.”
